Late Payment of Stamp Duty

You are required to stamp a document before you sign it. However, if you have signed a document and stamped it within the following time frame, no penalty will be charged: 

Within 14 days after signing the document if it is signed in Singapore or

Within 30 days after receiving* the document in Singapore if the document is signed overseas

*For electronic documents, they are treated as received in Singapore in any of the following scenarios:
(a) the electronic document is retrieved or accessed by a person in Singapore; or
(b) the electronic document is stored on a device (including a computer) and brought into Singapore; or
(c) the electronic document is stored on a computer in Singapore.

Actions will be taken against taxpayers who do not pay their Stamp Duty on time or fail to pay altogether.

A Demand Note will be issued to inform taxpayers of the penalties when the payment of Stamp Duty is not made by the due date.

Delay in Payment Not Exceeding 3 Months

A penalty of $10 or an amount equal to the duty payable, whichever is greater, will be imposed for late payments not exceeding 3 months.

Delay in Payment Exceeding 3 Months

 A penalty of $25 or 4 times of the duty payable, whichever is greater, will be imposed for late payments exceeding 3 months.

Taxpayers that receive a Demand Note should pay the Stamp Duty and the penalty by the due date stated in the Demand Note to avoid further enforcement actions such as additional penalties or summons.

A penalty of 5% per annum calculated on a daily basis on duty payable for Voluntary disclosures which qualify under IRAS’ Voluntary Disclosure Programme. 

After the Due Date in the Demand Note

The outstanding duty will be recovered without prior notice by:

1.  Appointing your bank, employer, tenant or lawyer as an agent to pay us
2.  Taking legal action

 Release of Agent Appointment

 Your bank is released as agent only after the unpaid Stamp Duty and penalty are paid.

 Therefore, this can be either:

1.  After the bank remits the full amount to IRAS. The appointment of agent would be automatically released; or
2. After you have paid the full amount to IRAS. If you do so, please contact us so that the appointment can be released early.

Please note that banks do not process requests for release on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays. Any request for release after 2pm on weekdays can only be processed on the next working day.