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Lower Property Tax Rates for Owner-Occupied Residential Properties

Residential properties that are owner-occupied enjoy lower tax rates than residential properties that are not occupied by the owner(s).
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Owner-Occupier Tax Rates

The policy intent of owner-occupier tax rates is to encourage home ownership in Singapore. They are only applicable if owners are residing in their residential property.

The owner-occupier tax rates are progressive tax rates based on the annual value of your property. This means residential properties of higher annual value are taxed at higher rates while most owner-occupied properties (including all HDB flats) will continue to enjoy lower tax rates.

Owner-Occupier Tax Rates
Annual Value ($)Effective 1 Jan 2015Property Tax Payable

First $8,000
Next $47,000

0%
4%

 $0
$1 ,880

First $55,000
Next $15,000

-
6%

$1,880
$   900

First $70,000
Next $15,000

-
8%

$2,780
$1,200

First $85,000
Next $15,000

-
10%

$3,980
$1,500

First $100,000
Next $15,000

-
12%

$5,480
$1,800

First $115,000
Next $15,000

-
14%

$7,280
$2,100

First $130,000
Above $130,000

-
16%

$9,380

Example 1: AV of your house is $12,000
Annual Value ($)Tax Rate
Effective 2015		Property Tax Payable
First 8,000X 0%= 0
Remaining 4,000X 4%= $160
Property Tax Payable for 2015= $ 160
Example 2: AV of your house is $36,000
Annual Value ($)Tax Rate
Effective 2015		Property Tax Payable
First 8,000X 0%= 0
Next 28,000X 4%= $1,120
Property Tax Payable for 2015= $1,120
Example 3: AV of your house is $84,000
Annual Value ($)Tax Rate
Effective 2015		Property Tax Payable

First 8,000

X 0%

= 0

Next 47,000

X 4%

= $1,880

Next 15,000

X 6%

= $ 900

Remaining 14,000

X 8%

= $1,120

Property Tax Payable for 2015

= $3,900

Prior to 1 Jan 2015
Owner-Occupier Tax Rates

Annual Value ($)

Tax Rates for 2014

Property Tax Payable

First $8,000
Next $47,000

0%
4%

 $      0
$1,880

First $55,000
Next $5,000

-
5%

$1,880
$   250

First $60,000
Next $10,000

-
6%

$2,130
$  600

First $70,000
Next $15,000

-
7%

$2,730
$1,050

First $85,000
Next $15,000

-
9%

$3,780
$1,350

First $100,000
Next $15,000

-
11%

$5,130
$1,650

First $115,000
Next $15,000

-
13%

$6,780
$1,950

First $130,000
Above $130,000

-
15%

$8,730

Owner-Occupier Tax Rates
(Prior to 1 Jan 2014)

Annual Value ($)

Tax Rate

First 6,000

0

Next 59,000

4%

Amount exceeding 65,000

6%

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Eligibility for Owner-Occupier Tax Rates

The owner-occupier tax rates can only be applied to one home owned and occupied by an individual or a married couple. Even if a married couple were to occupy two homes, the owner-occupier tax rates can only apply to one of the homes.

Owner-Occupier Tax Rates Scenarios

Scenario 1: Owning More than One Home

If you own a private property or HDB flat (A) and have recently purchased another private property (B), you can apply for the owner-occupier tax rates to be applied to property (B) if you are living in it. The concession on property (A) will be withdrawn from the date you enjoy the owner-occupier tax rates on property (B).

Scenario 2: Owning a Property with a Non-Spouse

If you jointly own a residential property (A) and another residential property (B) with another party other than your spouse (e.g. parents, siblings, etc.), you can each apply for concession for each of the properties .

Example: If you occupy residential property (A) and your parents occupy residential property (B), you can apply for the owner-occupier tax rates for property (A). Your parents can apply for the concession for property (B).
Scenario 3: Renting Part of Your Home

If you partially let out your home while still living in it, you are still eligible for the owner-occupier tax rates.

Owner-Occupier Tax Rates for Properties with Deceased Owners


The concessionary owner-occupier tax rates apply when the owner owns and lives in the residential property.  Deceased owners are not eligible for owner-occupier tax rates. The tax rates will be adjusted upon death and the properties will be taxed at higher residential tax rates. Legal Personal Representative (LPR) should complete the legal transfer of the property to the beneficiaries as soon as possible and IRAS will consider the application of owner-occupier tax rates based on the new ownership structure.

Extension of Owner-Occupier Tax Rates After Owner’s Passing

If owner-occupier tax rates were applied on the residential property prior to the passing of the owner, IRAS will continue to apply the owner-occupier tax rates for an extended period of up to either two years from the owner’s passing or the date of transfer of the property, whichever is earlier. This will allow some time for the property transfer arrangements to be made upon the owner’s passing before the higher Residential Tax Rates are applied.  

However, if the owner-occupier tax rates were not applied on residential property prior to the passing of the owner (i.e. the property was rented out or vacant), the concession is not applicable and the property will continue to be taxed at the Residential Tax Rates. 

Further Extension of Owner-Occupier Tax Rates After Owner’s Passing

Should the property be legally constrained from being transferred to the beneficiaries, for example, if the beneficiary is below the legal age of 21, you can submit an appeal via email using this template (42KB) for consideration to extend the owner-occupier tax rates. Beneficiaries should be occupying the property and not be enjoying owner-occupier tax rates on other properties to qualify for consideration.

The owner-occupier tax rates are not applicable in any of the following scenarios: 

  1. You have wholly rented out your property;
  2. You have sold the property;
  3. The residential property is owned by a company, association or a body of persons; and
  4. The property is a commercial or industrial building or land.
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Automatic Application of Owner-Occupier Tax Rates

For your convenience, the owner-occupier tax rates will automatically apply to the following:

  1. Buyers of HDB, DBSS Flats and Executive Condominiums (EC)
     If you buy a new or resale HDB, DBSS flat or new EC, you do not need to apply for the owner-occupier tax rates.
  2. Buyers of Private Residential Property*
    If you are a Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident who has purchased a private residential property, the owner-occupier tax rates will be automatically applied when you or your spouse is not currently enjoying owner-occupier tax rates on any other property.
     *This initiative started from 1 Jan 2011

If you do not intend to live in the property, you should inform IRAS immediately to avoid any penalty for late or non-notification.

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Checking Owner-Occupier Tax Rates

To check if the owner-occupier tax rates are applied on your property, you can refer to the tax rate indicator stated in the latest property tax bill sent to you. It should indicate "Owner-Occupier Tax Rates". Alternatively, you can also check using our e-Service "View Property Portfolio" > select the intended property address you wish to check.

 

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Applying for Owner-Occupier Tax Rates

If you are residing in your property but it is currently taxed at "Residential Tax Rates", you can apply for the owner-occupier tax rates using our e-Service “Apply for Owner-Occupier Tax Rates”.

    Checking Status of Application

    Once you have submitted an application, you can check the status of your application using our e-Service “Apply for Owner-Occupier Tax Rates” > select View Claim Status..

     

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