Summary of Additional Buyer Stamp Duty Changes

Updated 10 Dec 2011: Updated about countries which have FTAs with Singapore.

Seems like the Singapore government has taken note of the strong buying interest of private properties and has implemented the additional buyer stamp duty (ABSD) to be paid by certain profiles of people who buy or acquire residential properties (including residential land).The following affected buyers on and after 8 December 2011 will have to pay ABSD on top of the existing buyer’s stamp duty (BSD):

1. Foreigners, companies, partnership and societies;
2. Singapore Permanent Residents (PR) who already own 1 or more residential properties, whether owned wholly, partially, or jointly with others; and
3. Singapore Citizens (SC) who already own 2 or more residential properties, whether owned wholly, partially, or jointly with others.

Refer to the table below for the changes.

Transaction	On and before 7 Dec 2011	On or after 8 Dec 2011
	BSD rates on the total purchase price or market value (whichever is higher)	BSD rates on the total purchase price or market value (whichever is higher)	ABSD rates on the total purchase price or market value (whichever is higher)
Foreigners and non-individuals (corporate entities) buying any residential property	1% on first $180,000 2% on next $180,000 3% for the remainder	1% on first $180,000 2% on next $180,000 3% for the remainder	+ 10%
PRs owning one and buying the second and subsequent residential property			+ 3%
SCs owning two and buying the third and subsequent residential property			+ 3%
PRs buying the first residential property	1% on first $180,000 2% on next $180,000 3% for the remainder	1% on first $180,000 2% on next $180,000 3% for the remainder	NIL
SCs buying the first and/ or second residential property

PR = Permanent Residents
SC = Singapore Citizens

Do note that foreigner nationals of United States of America, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland that fall within the scope of the respective FTAs will be accorded with the same treatment as SCs.

You can refer to IRAS website here for more information.