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. This is
regardless of whether it is owned jointly or separately by the spouses.
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 property.
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).
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 non-owner-occupier 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 non-owner-occupier 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 non-owner-occupier 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 (PDF, 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:
- You have wholly rented out your property;
- You have sold the property;
- The residential property is owned by a company, trust, association or a body of persons; and
- The property is a commercial or industrial building or land.
- The property is vacant.