Things to note when acting for your client in the sale or purchase of property.

Acting for buyer in newly completed Condominiums

IRAS will notify developers on the Annual Values (AVs) of newly completed condominium units within 2 weeks to facilitate them in tax apportionment. Developers will then decide on their approach to carry out tax apportionment with the buyers.

Please check with the developer's lawyer on the approach they have chosen and note the action required of you as follows:

A) Developers opting for AV listing

The developer is required to work out and pay their share of property tax to the buyer. Please ensure that the correct amount of tax is paid to your client.

B) Developers opting for Valuation Notices for the individual units

The developer is required to pay the outstanding amount by the due date of the Valuation Notice (VN). Your client will be required to reimburse the developer for his share of property tax from date of tax liability or date agreed upon by both parties.

Acting for buyer in newly completed Landed Housing/ Commercial/ Industrial Buildings

If the VN is issued to the buyer, they will be billed for the property tax that starts from the TOP date. You are required to assist your client to seek reimbursement of property tax from the seller/developer if the property is transferred to your client after the TOP date.

Acting for buyer in Sale of Properties

Make legal requisition search

Upon transfer, buyers are liable for any outstanding property tax including arrears if not settled by the previous owner. Thus, it is important as a conveyancing lawyer, to make a legal requisition to check on any outstanding property tax and apportion the property tax between the buyer and seller before transfer.

Request Statement of Account

A) For InteReq Subscribers via InteReq System

Once a legal requisition is filed on the property, law firms authorised by the property owners or interested parties can access the latest statement of accounts within 93 days from the date the legal requisition is filed.

B) For Non-InteReq Subscribers at Crimsonlogic Service Bureaus

Non-InteReq subscribers can request the SOAs from Crimsonlogic's Service Bureaus within 93 days from the date the legal requisition is filed. Crimsonlogic charges non-InteReq subscribers a fee of $3.00 per request.

If you have requested but there is no legal requisition filed on the property, you will not be able to obtain a copy of the SOA. You will not be charged for the request.

Crimsonlogic Service Bureaus are located at:

1) Service Bureau - Supreme Court
1 Supreme Court Lane
Level 1, Supreme Court Building
Singapore 178879

Tel: (65) 6337 9164
Fax: (65) 6337 9980
Email: [email protected]

2) Service Bureau - State Courts
1 Havelock Square, Level 2
Singapore 059724

Tel: (65) 6538 9507
Fax: (65) 6438 6350
Email: [email protected]

Business Hours

Monday to Friday (At both locations)

8.30am to 12.30pm and 2.00pm to 5.00pm

Saturday (Only at State Courts Tower)8.30am to 12.30pm
Sunday and Public Holidays Closed

Acting for seller in Sale of Properties

A) Seek reimbursement from buyer

If your client has already made payment in full for the whole year, you are to seek reimbursement from the buyer for any sum paid for the period after the transfer date regardless of the tax rate your client was paying. IRAS does not apportion property tax liabilities between the parties.

You can check if your client has made payment in full by obtaining the statement of account via the InteReq System.

B) Submit Notice of Transfer

You are required to e-file the Notice of Transfer within one month after the sale or transfer of property. Please ensure that you perform due diligence in checking the details prior to submission to prevent any delay in the update of the ownership records.