Singapore Property Taxes: Complete Guide for Buyers

Vincent Ow
2 days ago
3 min read

Singapore has one of the most transparent property tax systems in the world. However, foreign buyers, including US citizens, must understand several types of taxes before purchasing a residential property. These taxes significantly impact total acquisition cost and cash flow. This guide covers :

Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD)
Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)
Sellers Stamp Duty ( SSD )
Annual Property Tax
Capital Gains Tax (or lack thereof)
Other costs

1. Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD)

BSD is apply to all property purchase in Singapore that include the Residential, Commercial and Industry on the higher of the purchase price or market value.

Property Value (SGD)	BSD Rate
First 180,000	1%
Next 180,000 (180,001–360,000)	2%
Next 640,000 (360,001–1,000,000)	3%
Remaining >1,000,000	4%

Example Calculation: Purchase price: SGD 1,500,000BSD = (180,000 × 1%) + (180,000 × 2%) + (640,000 × 3%) + (500,000 × 4%)BSD = 1,800 + 3,600 + 19,200 + 20,000 = SGD 44,600

Key Points:

BSD is a one-time upfront cost
Payable within 14 days of signing the Sale & Purchase Agreement

2. Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)

ABSD is an "additional tax on top of Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD)" to manage property demand. The ABSD rate depends on:

Buyer’s residency status
Number of properties owned
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) membership
Commercial and Industry property is 0% ABSD for foreigner

ABSD Rates for Residential Properties (as of Dec 2025)

Buyer Type	ABSD Rate
Singapore Citizen, 1st property	0%
Singapore Citizen, 2nd property	17%
Singapore PR, 1st property	5%
Singapore PR, 2nd property	25%
Foreigners (non-FTA member)	60%
Foreigners from eligible FTA countries	0%

📌 Eligible FTA Member Countries for ABSD Exemption

Only foreigners from the following FTA member countries qualify for 0% ABSD on residential properties:

United States
Norway
Switzerland
Iceland
Liechtenstein

Example ABSD Calculations

Non-FTA foreigner buying SGD 1,500,000 condo

ABSD rate: 60%
ABSD = 1,500,000 × 60% = SGD 900,000

FTA member buying SGD 1,500,000 condo

ABSD rate: 0%
ABSD = SGD 0%

Key Points:

ABSD is payable within 14 days of signing the Sale & Purchase Agreement.
ABSD is non-refundable.
Only USA, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland/Liechtenstein are eligible for the exemption.

3. Seller’s Stamp Duty (SSD)

SSD is a tax payable by sellers who sell residential property within a certain holding period, designed to discourage short-term speculation.

SSD Rates (for residential property) as at DEC 2025:

Holding Period	SSD Rate
1 year	12%
2 years	8%
3 years	4%
4 years	0%

Key Notes:

Applies to all buyers, including foreigners.
Only for residential properties.
No SSD after holding more than 3 years.

4. Property Tax (Annual)

Property tax is an annual tax based on the annual value (AV) of your property. The AV is the estimated rental income the property can earn per year at current market rates.

Residential Property Tax Rates (Owner-Occupied): Reference only

Annual Value (AV)	Tax Rate
First SGD 8,000	0%
Next SGD 47,000 (8,001–55,000)	4%
Next SGD 15,000 (55,001–70,000)	6%
Next SGD 15,000 (70,001–85,000)	8%
Next SGD 15,000 (85,001–100,000)	10%
Above 100,000	12%

Non-Owner Occupied / Rented Residential Property : Reference only

Annual Value (AV)	Tax Rate
0–30,000	10%
30,001–50,000	12%
50,001–75,000	14%
75,001–100,000	16%
100,001–150,000	18%
150,001–200,000	19%
Above 200,000	20%

Example Calculation:

Rented property with AV = SGD 50,000

Property Tax = 30,000 × 10% + 20,000 × 12% = 3,000 + 2,400 = SGD 5,400 per year

5. Capital Gains Tax

Good news for foreign buyers: Singapore does not have a capital gains tax on residential property.
This means that any profit made from selling a property is generally not taxable, even for foreign investors.

Exception: If you are considered a property trader or developer (buying and selling properties frequently as a business), IRAS may treat profits as income, which would be taxable.

6. Summary of Singapore Property Taxes

ABSD is high for non-FTA foreigners, but US citizens benefit from exemption.
Annual property tax depends on rental value.
No capital gains tax for typical investors.
Factor in legal, valuation, and maintenance costs when budgeting.

About Me: Singapore Property Investment Services for Foreign Buyers

I am a ERA Singapore licensed real estate professional in Singapore, specializing in helping foreign investors and US citizens navigate the Singapore property market. With extensive experience in residential property investments, I provide clear guidance on tax planning, ABSD exemptions, financing, and new launch or resale condominium purchases.

My services include:

Market advisory for new launch and resale condos
Assistance with taxes, ABSD eligibility, and stamp duty calculations
Mortgage and financing coordination with local banks
End-to-end transaction support, from property selection to key collection

With a focus on making property investment simple and compliant, I ensure every client makes informed decisions with confidence.

Contact me today to explore your Singapore property investment opportunities.

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