Non-owner-occupier tax rates are the progressive property tax rates on homes the owner does not live in — rented out, left vacant, or a second home. From 1 January 2024 they run from 12% on the first SGD 30,000 of Annual Value to 36% on the part above SGD 60,000 — against 0% to 32% for a home the owner lives in.
Key takeaways
- Owner-occupier rates apply to one home the owner lives in. Other residential property — such as a home rented out in full, a vacant home, a second home, or one owned by a company or trust — is taxed at non-owner-occupier rates; hotels, serviced apartments and workers’ dormitories on IRAS’s exclusion list are outside them.
- The rates rose in two steps under Budget 2022. Until 2022 they were 10% on the first SGD 30,000, then 12%, 14%, 16% and 18% on successive SGD 15,000 bands, and 20% above SGD 90,000; in 2023 they became 11%, 16%, 21%, 27% with the top band above SGD 60,000; from 1 January 2024 they are 12%, 20%, 28%, 36%.
- Annual Value is IRAS’s estimate of the gross yearly rent the property would fetch, excluding furniture and maintenance, based on comparable market rents rather than the actual rent. The tax is Annual Value times the rates.
- Renting out the whole home moves it to non-owner-occupier rates from the date of letting; renting out part while still living there does not. When a tenancy ends, owner-occupier rates do not return automatically; an owner who moves back in must reapply.
- The one-off 2026 rebate — 15% for HDB flats and 10% capped at SGD 500 for private homes — is for owner-occupied homes only; non-owner-occupied property gets none.
Owner-occupied, non-owner-occupied, non-residential
IRAS taxes property on three scales. Which one applies depends on how the property is used and, in some cases, on who owns it — a home owned by a company or trust cannot get owner-occupier rates.
A married couple gets owner-occupier rates on one home only, whether the homes are owned jointly or separately. Hotels, serviced apartments and workers’ dormitories with planning approval for that use are outside the non-owner-occupier residential rates.
IRAS’s example: a home with an Annual Value of SGD 84,000
Non-owner-occupier rates from 1 January 2024, applied band by band. Each band’s rate applies only to the Annual Value inside it.
| Annual Value | Rate | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| First SGD 30,000 | 12% | SGD 3,600 |
| Next SGD 15,000 | 20% | SGD 3,000 |
| Next SGD 15,000 | 28% | SGD 4,200 |
| Above SGD 60,000 | 36% | SGD 8,640 |
| Total | SGD 19,440 |
Not lived in vs owner-occupied: IRAS’s comparisons
IRAS’s own comparisons, before any rebate. For the HDB flat the non-owner-occupier bill is 12% of the whole Annual Value, against 4% on the part above SGD 12,000 when owner-occupied.
When the higher rates apply
Five things people get wrong
- IRAS — Property Tax Rates — the rate tables, their history and the worked examples
- IRAS — Lower Property Tax Rates for Owner-Occupied Residential Properties — who qualifies for owner-occupier rates
- IRAS — Renting out my property — letting, notifying IRAS and reapplying
- IRAS — Information for HDB Flat Owners — the HDB flat example
- MOF and IRAS — One-off property tax rebate for owner-occupied homes in 2026 — who the 2026 rebate covers
- IRAS — Annual Value — how Annual Value is set
- IRAS — Moving out of my property — notifying IRAS within 15 days
- IRAS — Late payment or non-payment of Property Tax — the 31 January due date and 5% penalty
Official IRAS property tax rules and examples, for general information only. Not financial advice.
This page is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice. All figures and worked examples are estimates for illustrative purposes, are subject to change, and do not reflect any individual’s circumstances. Always refer to IRAS and seek independent professional advice before making any financial decisions.