Stamp duty is a tax on dutiable documents in Singapore — chiefly transfers of property and shares, leases and mortgages — administered by IRAS and payable by the party named in the document.
Key takeaways
- Dutiable documents include property transfer documents, lease and tenancy agreements, mortgages and share transfers, in both physical and electronic form.
- Three duties can arise on a property transaction: BSD on any purchase, ABSD on residential purchases, and SSD when residential or industrial property is sold within its holding period.
- Documents executed in Singapore have to be stamped within 14 days; documents executed overseas within 30 days of being received in Singapore.
- Lease duty is 0.4% of the rent, and is exempt where the average annual rent does not exceed SGD 1,000.
- Mortgage duty is 0.4% of the loan amount granted, capped at SGD 500.
Duties on a property purchase or sale
- Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) — payable on the purchase or acquisition of any property, at rates topping out at 6% for residential and 5% for non-residential property from 15 February 2023
- Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) — payable on residential property acquired on or after 8 December 2011, at a rate set by the buyer’s profile
- Seller’s Stamp Duty (SSD) — payable where residential property acquired on or after 20 February 2010, or industrial property acquired on or after 12 January 2013, is sold within the holding period
Duty on leases, mortgages and shares
Lease duty is computed on the contractual rent or the market rent, whichever is higher. A lease is exempt where the average annual rent does not exceed SGD 1,000; above that, duty is 0.4% of the total rent for a lease of four years or less, or 0.4% of four times the average annual rent for a longer or indefinite term. Mortgage duty is 0.4% of the loan amount granted on the mortgage, capped at SGD 500. Share duty is 0.2% of the purchase price or value of the shares transferred. Each is rounded down to the nearest dollar, subject to a minimum duty of SGD 1.
When a document has to be stamped
A document executed in Singapore has to be stamped within 14 days of execution, and a document executed outside Singapore within 30 days of being received in Singapore. A document counts as duly stamped only once the duty is paid in full, and payment of stamp duty cannot be deferred. Late or short payment attracts penalties, and under the Stamp Duties Act a penalty of up to four times the unpaid duty can be imposed.
Key stamp duty figures
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Buyer’s Stamp Duty — top marginal rate, residential | 6% |
| Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty — entities and trustees | 65% |
| Seller’s Stamp Duty — residential, sold within 1 year | 16% |
| Lease duty | 0.4% of rent (exempt at or below SGD 1,000 average annual rent) |
| Deadline to stamp a document executed in Singapore | 14 days |
Figures as at 2026. Source: IRAS.
Worked example
On a residential property bought for SGD 1,000,000, Buyer’s Stamp Duty is SGD 1,800 on the first SGD 180,000, SGD 3,600 on the next SGD 180,000 and SGD 19,200 on the next SGD 640,000 — SGD 24,600 in total. Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty may apply on top, depending on the buyer’s profile.
Related terms
All Singapore glossary terms →Related calculator
Estimate BSD, ABSD and SSD on a Singapore property transaction using the IRAS rate bands.
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.