🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 145 (from laksa167)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa145.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://dollarsandsense.sg/much-absd-singaporeans-prs-foreigners-need-pay/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://dollarsandsense.sg/much-absd-singaporeans-prs-foreigners-need-pay/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/much-absd-singaporeans-prs-foreigners-need-pay\/","crawl_time":1775721643,"first_indexed_time":1596430139,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"sg,dollarsandsense!\/much-absd-singaporeans-prs-foreigners-need-pay\/ s443","src_root_hash":"5651999613980250745","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"How Much Buyer's Stamp Duty (BSD) And ABSD Singaporeans, PRs And Foreigners Need To Pay - And When","meta_descriptions":["Singaporeans buying a second home, and PRs and foreigners buying a first home, need to pay between 5% and 20% in ABSD – which is on top of the normal Buyer’s Stamp Duty."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"When we buy a property in Singapore, we have to pay a tax for the documents executed in relation to the transaction. This tax mainly comprises the \nBuyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD)\nand, if we are liable, an\nAdditional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)\nfor residential properties.\nHow Much Is The Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD)?\nThe Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) is taxed based on the purchase price or market value, whichever is higher, on all property purchases in Singapore. This includes both residential and non-residential properties.\nPurchase Price or Market Value of Property\nBuyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) for Residential Properties\nBuyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) for Non-Residential Properties\nFirst $180,000\n1%\n1%\nNext $180,000\n2%\n2%\nNext $640,000\n3%\n3%\nNext $500,000\n4%\n4%\nNext $1.5 million\n5%\n5%\nAmount exceeding $3 million\n6%\n5%\nAs you can see the BSD is taxed at an incremental rate based on the purchase price or market value of the home. This way, those who are able to afford more expensive homes will end up paying a higher BSD, while those who purchase less expensive homes pay less.\nThe BSD is also levied at a slightly different rate for residential properties and non-residential properties. The BSD for residential property purchases can go as high as 6%, while BSD for non-residential property purchases is capped at 5%. This was recently adjusted for properties purchased from 15 February 2023.\nFor a quick mental calculation, the first $360,000 of our home value will be charged at $5,400, the first $1 million will be charged at $24,600, the first $1.5 million will be charged at $44,600, and the first $3 million will be charged at $119,600. So, for example, if we purchase a home worth $500,000, we need to pay\n$5,400 + $4,200\n($140,000 X 3%), which is $9,800. Similarly, if we purchase a home worth $2 million, we need to pay\n$44,600 + $25,000\n($500,000 X 5%), which is $69,600.\nWhat Is The Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)?\nThe\nAdditional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)\n, as its name suggests, is paid\non top\nof the Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD). This only affects residential property buyers. Typically, it is for Singaporeans buying their second and subsequent residential property, as well as for PRs and foreigners buying their first home in Singapore.\nFirst introduced on 8 December 2011, the ABSD is one aspect of a slew of cooling measures implemented since 2009 to curb speculative demand for residential properties in Singapore. Arguably, it has been one of the most “painful” property cooling measures as it potentially increases our home purchase cost by a whopping 12% to 20%. Furthermore, the ABSD has to be paid lump sum.\nProfile of the Buyer\nAdditional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)\n[FROM 16 December 2021 TO 26 April 2023]\nAdditional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)\n[FROM 27 April 2023]\nSingapore Citizens\n \nSingapore Citizen buying 1\nst\n residential property\nNo ABSD\nNo ABSD\n(no change)\nSingapore Citizen buying 2\nnd\n residential property\n17%\n20%\n(increase of 3 percentage points)\nSingapore Citizen buying 3\nrd\n and subsequent residential property\n25%\n30%\n(increase of 5 percentage points)\nSingapore Permanent Residents\n \nSingapore Permanent Resident buying 1\nst\n residential property\n5%\n5%\n(no change)\nSingapore Permanent Resident buying 2\nnd\nresidential property\n25%\n30%\n(increase of 5 percentage points)\nSingapore Permanent Resident buying 3\nrd\n and subsequent residential property\n30%\n35%\n(increase of 5 percentage points)\nForeigners\n \nForeigners buying any residential property\n30%\n60%\n(increase of 30 percentage points)\nEntities\n \nEntities buying any residential property\n35% + Additional 5% for Housing Developers\n65%\n(increase of 30 percentage points)\nHousing Developers\n: 35% + Additional 5% for Housing Developers\n(no change)\n* Housing Developers may apply for remission of the ABSD rate, but not for the additional 5% they pay.\nUnlike the BSD, the ABSD is a fixed percentage of the entire property price (and not levied incrementally). As depicted in the table above, how much ABSD we have to pay depends on whether we are Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents (PRs), foreigners or buying as an entity, as well as the number of properties we already own under our name.\nFor example, a Singapore Citizen buying a second home have to pay an ABSD of 20%. If we are purchasing a second home worth $3.5 million, here’s what we need to pay:\nType of Stamp Duty\nStamp Duty Rate\nHow much we have to pay\nBuyers Stamp Duty (BSD)\n1% x $180,000\n$1,800\n$149,600\n2% x $180,000\n$3,600\n3% x $640,000\n$19,200\n4% x $500,000\n$20,000\n5% x $1.5 million\n$75,000\n6% x $500,000\n$30,000\nAdditional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)\n20% x $3.5 million\n$700,000\nTotal\n$849,600\nThe ABSD can be a very substantial amount, and as we can see, can add up to over 20% on top of the purchase price for a $3.5 million property.\nThe fact that we have to fork out the BSD and ABSD upfront in cash is another big hurdle. While we are able to apply for a reimbursement from CPF or get a refund after selling our first home (if we are eligible), we still need to have this amount in spare cash – and beyond what we already need to pay in downpayment and BSD. Furthermore, since the ABSD can be a very costly, we may not have enough in our CPF for the full reimbursement. Careful financial planning is required to ensure we have sufficient funds to make this payment.\nBuyers should note that a full count will be applied whether we have full ownership, partial ownership or joint ownership of another property or properties.\nRead Also: \nAdditional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD): How Much You Have To Pay To Own Multiple Properties & 5 Ways To Avoid ABSD\nPaying ABSD If You Buy Under A Trust\nAs of 9 May 2022, a higher rate of \nAdditional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)\nwill apply on any transfer of residential property into a living trust. This rate was recently increased to 65%.\nPrior to this, when a residential property is transferred into a living trust, Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) is payable. Depending on the profile of the beneficial owner(s) of the residential property transferred into the trust, ABSD may also be payable. However, if the living trust is structured such that there is no identifiable beneficial owner at the time when the residential property is transferred into the trust, no ABSD was payable.\nFollowing the 9 May 2022 change, ABSD (Trust) is to be payable upfront, when the residential property is transferred into any living trust. Eligible trustees may apply to IRAS for a refund of ABSD (Trust). This refund amount will be based on the difference between the ABSD (Trust) rate of 65% and the ABSD rate corresponding to the profile of the beneficial owner with the highest applicable ABSD rate. Trustees have six months to make the refund application after the instrument is executed.\nRead Also:\nTenancy In Common VS Joint Tenancy: Pros And Cons Of Each Option And Which Should You Choose For Your HDB Flat\nWhen Do I Have To Pay The BSD And ABSD?\nThe BSD and ABSD are upfront costs that we have to pay when purchasing a property in Singapore. We should set aside this amount, as well as other upfront costs, when determining whether we can afford to buy a home.\nThe BSD and, if applicable to you, the ABSD has to be paid within 14 days from the date of the signed Contract or Agreement. Our documents for the home purchase will be considered to be duly stamped only when we have fully paid the stamp duty.\nWhile this means we will typically need to pay for the BSD and ABSD upfront in cash, we can include this amount when applying for a one-time reimbursement from our CPF account, together with our application to use our CPF savings to buy the home. In short, we can pay for our BSD and ABSD with our CPF funds. Since the ABSD can be a very significant amount, we may not even have enough in CPF when applying for reimbursement.\nForeigners Eligible For ABSD Remission\nUnder the respective Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), Nationals and Permanent Residents of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and Nationals of the USA, are\naccorded the same Stamp Duty treatment as Singapore Citizens\n.\nThis means such foreigners will only have to pay the BSD when they purchase their first home in Singapore, and do not need to pay any ABSD. This is even better than the treatment of Singapore PRs buying a residential property in Singapore.\nRead Also:\nGuide To Understanding Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) – And How It Helps Companies And Businesses\nABSD Refund For Married Couples Buying A Second Home Together\nThis refund is meant to avoid penalising married couples who want to move from one home to another, as it requires the couple to sell the first property which they own or co-own. There are many detailed scenarios, which involve residency status of spouses and the number of residential properties they co-own or individually own, that the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) lists, which\nyou can find here\n.\nIn general, the refund applies to:\nMarried couples, with at least one Singapore Citizen spouse, who do not own interest in more than one home at the date of purchasing the second home together\nThe first home is sold within six months after the date of purchase of the second home (for completed property) or the issue date of the Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP)\/Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC), whichever is earlier (for uncompleted property)\nMarried couple remains married and there is no change in ownership of the second home at the point of selling the first home\nMarried couple has not purchased or acquired other homes since the purchase of their second home\nThe application for the ABSD refund has to be made within six months after the date of sale of the first home.\nIn any case, we need to note that the ABSD still has to be paid upfront while we apply for the refund.\nABSD refunds on second home purchase only applies to married couples. Thus singles who purchase a second home, but sell off their first home within six months are not eligible to apply for an ABSD refund.\nSimilarly, this will not apply to couples who are seeking the sell-1-buy-2 strategy to own two residential properties after selling their homes. This is because there is a change in the ownership structure of the second homes. Couples intending to do this should sell their first property before purchasing their individual properties.\nAnother thing to note is that our residency status at the date of purchasing our home matters. Even if we are in the process of obtaining our Singapore Citizen or Singapore PR status, we still need to pay the applicable ABSD as at the date of purchase. We will be unable to apply for any ABSD refund regarding a new residency status after the date of purchasing our home.\nRead Also: \n4 Ways You May Not Be Eligible For ABSD Refund (Even If You Don’t Intend To Own Multiple Properties)\nDo I Have To Pay Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) And Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) For An Inherited Property\nAccording to IRAS, we do not have to pay BSD or ABSD on a property we inherit in accordance to the Intestacy Law, Muslim Inheritance Law or a Will. This is regardless of the property value and\/or how many properties we already own.\nThis article was first published on 3 August 2020 and updated with new information. \nAdvertiser Message\nInvest In Institutional-Grade Global Real Estate From $10,000\nJoin RealVantage, a MAS-licensed investment platform, for access to curated real estate opportunities across 7+ global markets. Diversify into residential and commercial properties starting from $10,000.\nSign up today\n to receive a SGD10 Grab voucher and SGD100 investment credit. T&Cs apply.","attrs_markdown":"![](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/tr?id=268614870269011&ev=PageView&noscript=1)\n\n[![DollarsAndSense.sg](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/DNS-Logo-Web.png)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/)\n\n- [Money](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/savings-spending\/)\n  - [Budgeting 101](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/savings-spending\/budgeting-101\/)\n  - [Saving Accounts](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/savings-spending\/saving-accounts\/)\n  - [Credit Cards](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/savings-spending\/credit-cards\/)\n  - [Loans](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/savings-spending\/loans-savings-spending\/)\n  - [Travel Planning](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/lifestyle\/travel-planning\/)\n  - [Family Planning](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/lifestyle\/family-planning\/)\n  - [Lifestyle](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/lifestyle\/)\n    - [Lifelong Learning](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/lifestyle\/lifelong-learning\/)\n    - [Life Hacks](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/lifestyle\/life-hacks\/)\n    - [Street Smart](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/columns\/street-smart\/)\n    - [Money Changer](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/columns\/money-changer\/)\n- [Insurance](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/insurance\/)\n  - [Insurance 101](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/insurance\/insurance-101\/)\n  - [Life Insurance](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/insurance\/life-insurance\/)\n  - [Health Insurance](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/insurance\/health-insurance\/)\n  - [General Insurance](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/insurance\/general-insurance\/)\n  - [Estate Planning](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/insurance\/estate-planning\/)\n  - [Investment Linked Policies](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/insurance\/investment-linked-policies\/)\n- [Investing](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/investing\/)\n  - [Investing 101](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/investing\/investing-101\/)\n  - [Stock Investing](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/investing\/stock-investing\/)\n  - [Bonds and Fixed Income](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/investing\/bonds-and-fixed-income\/)\n  - [Mutual Funds and ETFs](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/investing\/mutual-funds-and-etfs\/)\n  - [REITS](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/investing\/reits\/)\n  - [Retirement Planning](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/investing\/retirement-planning\/)\n  - [Alternative Investments](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/investing\/alternative-investments\/)\n- [Markets](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/markets\/)\n  - [4 Stocks This Week](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/markets\/4-stocks-this-week\/)\n  - [Companies](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/markets\/companies\/)\n  - [ESG](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/markets\/esg\/)\n- [Trading](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/trading\/)\n  - [Forex](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/trading\/forex\/)\n  - [CFD](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/trading\/cfd\/)\n  - [Options](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/trading\/options\/)\n  - [Commodities](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/trading\/commodities\/)\n  - [Cryptocurrency](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/trading\/cryptocurrency\/)\n  - [DollarsAndSense Explains](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/dollarsandsense-explains\/)\n- [Property](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/property\/)\n  - [Property 101](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/property\/property-101\/)\n  - [HDB](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/property\/hdb\/)\n  - [Residential Properties](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/property\/residential-properties\/)\n  - [Commercial Properties](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/property\/commercial-properties\/)\n  - [Industrial Properties](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/property\/industrial-properties\/)\n- [Policies & Columns](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/policies\/)\n  - [Videos](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/videos\/)\n  - [Policies](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/policies\/)\n    - [CPF](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/policies\/cpf\/)\n    - [1M65](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/tag\/1m65\/)\n    - [Taxes](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/policies\/taxes\/)\n    - [Singapore Budget](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/policies\/singapore-budget\/)\n  - [News](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/news\/)\n    - [Insights](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/news\/insights\/)\n    - [Daily Updates](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/news\/dailyupdates\/)\n  - [Entrepreneurship](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/columns\/entrepreneurship\/)\n  - [Economics](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/columns\/economics\/)\n  - [Opinions](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/columns\/2-cent-rant\/)\n  - [Career](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/columns\/career-advice\/)\n  - [Successful Singaporeans](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/columns\/successful-singaporeans\/)\n- [Business](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/business\/)\n- [Hong Kong](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/hong-kong\/)\n- [Malaysia](http:\/\/dollarsandsense.my\/)\n\nConnect with us\n\n[![DollarsAndSense.sg](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/DNS-Logo-Web.png)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/)\n\n## DollarsAndSense.sg\n\nConnect with us\n\n- [Money](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/savings-spending\/)\n  - [Budgeting 101](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/savings-spending\/budgeting-101\/)\n  - [Saving Accounts](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/savings-spending\/saving-accounts\/)\n  - [Credit Cards](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/savings-spending\/credit-cards\/)\n  - [Loans](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/savings-spending\/loans-savings-spending\/)\n  - [Travel Planning](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/lifestyle\/travel-planning\/)\n  - [Family Planning](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/lifestyle\/family-planning\/)\n  - [Lifestyle](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/lifestyle\/)\n    - [Lifelong Learning](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/lifestyle\/lifelong-learning\/)\n    - [Life Hacks](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/lifestyle\/life-hacks\/)\n    - [Street Smart](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/columns\/street-smart\/)\n    - [Money Changer](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/columns\/money-changer\/)\n- [Insurance](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/insurance\/)\n  - [Insurance 101](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/insurance\/insurance-101\/)\n  - [Life Insurance](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/insurance\/life-insurance\/)\n  - [Health Insurance](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/insurance\/health-insurance\/)\n  - [General Insurance](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/insurance\/general-insurance\/)\n  - [Estate Planning](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/insurance\/estate-planning\/)\n  - [Investment Linked Policies](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/insurance\/investment-linked-policies\/)\n- [Investing](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/investing\/)\n  - [Investing 101](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/investing\/investing-101\/)\n  - [Stock Investing](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/investing\/stock-investing\/)\n  - [Bonds and Fixed Income](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/investing\/bonds-and-fixed-income\/)\n  - [Mutual Funds and ETFs](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/investing\/mutual-funds-and-etfs\/)\n  - [REITS](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/investing\/reits\/)\n  - [Retirement Planning](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/investing\/retirement-planning\/)\n  - [Alternative Investments](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/investing\/alternative-investments\/)\n- [Markets](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/markets\/)\n  - [4 Stocks This Week](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/markets\/4-stocks-this-week\/)\n  - [Companies](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/markets\/companies\/)\n  - [ESG](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/markets\/esg\/)\n- [Trading](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/trading\/)\n  - [Forex](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/trading\/forex\/)\n  - [CFD](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/trading\/cfd\/)\n  - [Options](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/trading\/options\/)\n  - [Commodities](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/trading\/commodities\/)\n  - [Cryptocurrency](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/trading\/cryptocurrency\/)\n  - [DollarsAndSense Explains](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/dollarsandsense-explains\/)\n- [Property](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/property\/)\n  - [Property 101](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/property\/property-101\/)\n  - [HDB](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/property\/hdb\/)\n  - [Residential Properties](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/property\/residential-properties\/)\n  - [Commercial Properties](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/property\/commercial-properties\/)\n  - [Industrial Properties](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/property\/industrial-properties\/)\n- [Policies & Columns](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/policies\/)\n  - [Videos](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/videos\/)\n  - [Policies](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/policies\/)\n    - [CPF](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/policies\/cpf\/)\n    - [1M65](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/tag\/1m65\/)\n    - [Taxes](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/policies\/taxes\/)\n    - [Singapore Budget](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/policies\/singapore-budget\/)\n  - [News](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/news\/)\n    - [Insights](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/news\/insights\/)\n    - [Daily Updates](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/news\/dailyupdates\/)\n  - [Entrepreneurship](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/columns\/entrepreneurship\/)\n  - [Economics](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/columns\/economics\/)\n  - [Opinions](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/columns\/2-cent-rant\/)\n  - [Career](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/columns\/career-advice\/)\n  - [Successful Singaporeans](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/columns\/successful-singaporeans\/)\n- [Business](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/business\/)\n- [Hong Kong](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/hong-kong\/)\n- [Malaysia](http:\/\/dollarsandsense.my\/)\n\n### [Property](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/category\/property\/)\n# How Much Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) And ABSD Singaporeans, PRs And Foreigners Need To Pay – And When\nThe Monetary Authority of Singapore has stated there are no plans to loosen property cooling measures.\n\n- ![](https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/502c177fa4aa20dbccf78413e0fe0b94?s=46&d=blank&r=g)\n- by\n  [Dinesh Dayani](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/author\/dinesh\/ \"Posts by Dinesh Dayani\")\n- May 1, 2023\n\n![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/chuttersnap-149286.jpg)\n\nWhen we buy a property in Singapore, we have to pay a tax for the documents executed in relation to the transaction. This tax mainly comprises the **Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD)** and, if we are liable, an **Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)** for residential properties.\n\n### How Much Is The Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD)?\nThe Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) is taxed based on the purchase price or market value, whichever is higher, on all property purchases in Singapore. This includes both residential and non-residential properties.\n\n|   |   |   |\n|---|---|---|\n| **Purchase Price or Market Value of Property** | **Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) for Residential Properties** | **Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) for Non-Residential Properties** |\n| First \\$180,000 | 1% | 1% |\n| Next \\$180,000 | 2% | 2% |\n| Next \\$640,000 | 3% | 3% |\n| Next \\$500,000 | 4% | 4% |\n| Next \\$1.5 million | 5% | 5% |\n| Amount exceeding \\$3 million | 6% | 5% |\n\nAs you can see the BSD is taxed at an incremental rate based on the purchase price or market value of the home. This way, those who are able to afford more expensive homes will end up paying a higher BSD, while those who purchase less expensive homes pay less.\n\nThe BSD is also levied at a slightly different rate for residential properties and non-residential properties. The BSD for residential property purchases can go as high as 6%, while BSD for non-residential property purchases is capped at 5%. This was recently adjusted for properties purchased from 15 February 2023.\n\nFor a quick mental calculation, the first \\$360,000 of our home value will be charged at \\$5,400, the first \\$1 million will be charged at \\$24,600, the first \\$1.5 million will be charged at \\$44,600, and the first \\$3 million will be charged at \\$119,600. So, for example, if we purchase a home worth \\$500,000, we need to pay **\\$5,400 + \\$4,200** (\\$140,000 X 3%), which is \\$9,800. Similarly, if we purchase a home worth \\$2 million, we need to pay **\\$44,600 + \\$25,000** (\\$500,000 X 5%), which is \\$69,600.\n\n### What Is The Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)?\nThe **Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)**, as its name suggests, is paid **on top** of the Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD). This only affects residential property buyers. Typically, it is for Singaporeans buying their second and subsequent residential property, as well as for PRs and foreigners buying their first home in Singapore.\n\nFirst introduced on 8 December 2011, the ABSD is one aspect of a slew of cooling measures implemented since 2009 to curb speculative demand for residential properties in Singapore. Arguably, it has been one of the most “painful” property cooling measures as it potentially increases our home purchase cost by a whopping 12% to 20%. Furthermore, the ABSD has to be paid lump sum.\n\n|   |   |   |\n|---|---|---|\n| **Profile of the Buyer** | **Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)** **\\[FROM 16 December 2021 TO 26 April 2023\\]** | **Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)** **\\[FROM 27 April 2023\\]** |\n| **Singapore Citizens** |   |   |\n| Singapore Citizen buying 1st residential property | No ABSD | No ABSD  (no change) |\n| Singapore Citizen buying 2nd residential property | 17% | 20%  (increase of 3 percentage points) |\n| Singapore Citizen buying 3rd and subsequent residential property | 25% | 30%  (increase of 5 percentage points) |\n| **Singapore Permanent Residents** |   |   |\n| Singapore Permanent Resident buying 1st residential property | 5% | 5%  (no change) |\n| Singapore Permanent Resident buying 2nd residential property | 25% | 30%  (increase of 5 percentage points) |\n| Singapore Permanent Resident buying 3rd and subsequent residential property | 30% | 35%  (increase of 5 percentage points) |\n| **Foreigners** |   |   |\n| Foreigners buying any residential property | 30% | 60%  (increase of 30 percentage points) |\n| **Entities** |   |   |\n| Entities buying any residential property | 35% + Additional 5% for Housing Developers | 65%  (increase of 30 percentage points) **Housing Developers**: 35% + Additional 5% for Housing Developers  (no change) |\n\n*\\* Housing Developers may apply for remission of the ABSD rate, but not for the additional 5% they pay.*\n\nUnlike the BSD, the ABSD is a fixed percentage of the entire property price (and not levied incrementally). As depicted in the table above, how much ABSD we have to pay depends on whether we are Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents (PRs), foreigners or buying as an entity, as well as the number of properties we already own under our name.\n\nFor example, a Singapore Citizen buying a second home have to pay an ABSD of 20%. If we are purchasing a second home worth \\$3.5 million, here’s what we need to pay:\n\n|   |   |   |   |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| **Type of Stamp Duty** | **Stamp Duty Rate** | **How much we have to pay** |   |\n| Buyers Stamp Duty (BSD) | 1% x \\$180,000 | \\$1,800 | \\$149,600 |\n| 2% x \\$180,000 | \\$3,600 |   |   |\n| 3% x \\$640,000 | \\$19,200 |   |   |\n| 4% x \\$500,000 | \\$20,000 |   |   |\n| 5% x \\$1.5 million | \\$75,000 |   |   |\n| 6% x \\$500,000 | \\$30,000 |   |   |\n| Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) | 20% x \\$3.5 million | \\$700,000 |   |\n| **Total** | **\\$849,600** |   |   |\n\nThe ABSD can be a very substantial amount, and as we can see, can add up to over 20% on top of the purchase price for a \\$3.5 million property.\n\nThe fact that we have to fork out the BSD and ABSD upfront in cash is another big hurdle. While we are able to apply for a reimbursement from CPF or get a refund after selling our first home (if we are eligible), we still need to have this amount in spare cash – and beyond what we already need to pay in downpayment and BSD. Furthermore, since the ABSD can be a very costly, we may not have enough in our CPF for the full reimbursement. Careful financial planning is required to ensure we have sufficient funds to make this payment.\n\nBuyers should note that a full count will be applied whether we have full ownership, partial ownership or joint ownership of another property or properties.\n\n***Read Also: [Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD): How Much You Have To Pay To Own Multiple Properties & 5 Ways To Avoid ABSD](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/additional-buyers-stamp-duty-absd-5-ways-avoid-absd\/)***\n\n### Paying ABSD If You Buy Under A Trust\nAs of 9 May 2022, a higher rate of **Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)** will apply on any transfer of residential property into a living trust. This rate was recently increased to 65%.\n\nPrior to this, when a residential property is transferred into a living trust, Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) is payable. Depending on the profile of the beneficial owner(s) of the residential property transferred into the trust, ABSD may also be payable. However, if the living trust is structured such that there is no identifiable beneficial owner at the time when the residential property is transferred into the trust, no ABSD was payable.\n\nFollowing the 9 May 2022 change, ABSD (Trust) is to be payable upfront, when the residential property is transferred into any living trust. Eligible trustees may apply to IRAS for a refund of ABSD (Trust). This refund amount will be based on the difference between the ABSD (Trust) rate of 65% and the ABSD rate corresponding to the profile of the beneficial owner with the highest applicable ABSD rate. Trustees have six months to make the refund application after the instrument is executed.\n\n***Read Also:*** [***Tenancy In Common VS Joint Tenancy: Pros And Cons Of Each Option And Which Should You Choose For Your HDB Flat***](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/tenancy-common-vs-joint-tenancy-pros-cons-option-choose\/)\n\n### When Do I Have To Pay The BSD And ABSD?\nThe BSD and ABSD are upfront costs that we have to pay when purchasing a property in Singapore. We should set aside this amount, as well as other upfront costs, when determining whether we can afford to buy a home.\n\nThe BSD and, if applicable to you, the ABSD has to be paid within 14 days from the date of the signed Contract or Agreement. Our documents for the home purchase will be considered to be duly stamped only when we have fully paid the stamp duty.\n\nWhile this means we will typically need to pay for the BSD and ABSD upfront in cash, we can include this amount when applying for a one-time reimbursement from our CPF account, together with our application to use our CPF savings to buy the home. In short, we can pay for our BSD and ABSD with our CPF funds. Since the ABSD can be a very significant amount, we may not even have enough in CPF when applying for reimbursement.\n\n### Foreigners Eligible For ABSD Remission\nUnder the respective Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), Nationals and Permanent Residents of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and Nationals of the USA, are **accorded the same Stamp Duty treatment as Singapore Citizens**.\n\nThis means such foreigners will only have to pay the BSD when they purchase their first home in Singapore, and do not need to pay any ABSD. This is even better than the treatment of Singapore PRs buying a residential property in Singapore.\n\n***Read Also:*** [***Guide To Understanding Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) – And How It Helps Companies And Businesses***](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/business\/guide-to-understanding-free-trade-agreements-ftas-and-how-it-helps-companies-and-businesses\/)\n\n### ABSD Refund For Married Couples Buying A Second Home Together\nThis refund is meant to avoid penalising married couples who want to move from one home to another, as it requires the couple to sell the first property which they own or co-own. There are many detailed scenarios, which involve residency status of spouses and the number of residential properties they co-own or individually own, that the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) lists, which [you can find here](https:\/\/www.iras.gov.sg\/irashome\/uploadedFiles\/IRASHome\/Other_Taxes\/Stamp_Duty_for_Property\/Claiming_Refunds_Remissions_Reliefs\/Remissions\/ABSD%20Rates%20or%20Remission%20for%20Joint%20Purchase%20by%20a%20Married%20Couple_2018-07-06.pdf).\n\nIn general, the refund applies to:\n\n- Married couples, with at least one Singapore Citizen spouse, who do not own interest in more than one home at the date of purchasing the second home together\n- The first home is sold within six months after the date of purchase of the second home (for completed property) or the issue date of the Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP)\/Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC), whichever is earlier (for uncompleted property)\n- Married couple remains married and there is no change in ownership of the second home at the point of selling the first home\n- Married couple has not purchased or acquired other homes since the purchase of their second home\n\nThe application for the ABSD refund has to be made within six months after the date of sale of the first home.\n\nIn any case, we need to note that the ABSD still has to be paid upfront while we apply for the refund.\n\nABSD refunds on second home purchase only applies to married couples. Thus singles who purchase a second home, but sell off their first home within six months are not eligible to apply for an ABSD refund.\n\nSimilarly, this will not apply to couples who are seeking the sell-1-buy-2 strategy to own two residential properties after selling their homes. This is because there is a change in the ownership structure of the second homes. Couples intending to do this should sell their first property before purchasing their individual properties.\n\nAnother thing to note is that our residency status at the date of purchasing our home matters. Even if we are in the process of obtaining our Singapore Citizen or Singapore PR status, we still need to pay the applicable ABSD as at the date of purchase. We will be unable to apply for any ABSD refund regarding a new residency status after the date of purchasing our home.\n\n***Read Also: [4 Ways You May Not Be Eligible For ABSD Refund (Even If You Don’t Intend To Own Multiple Properties)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/4-ways-may-not-eligible-absd-refund-even-dont-intend-multiple-properties\/)***\n\n### Do I Have To Pay Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) And Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) For An Inherited Property\nAccording to IRAS, we do not have to pay BSD or ABSD on a property we inherit in accordance to the Intestacy Law, Muslim Inheritance Law or a Will. This is regardless of the property value and\/or how many properties we already own.\n\n***This article was first published on 3 August 2020 and updated with new information.***\n\n**Advertiser Message**\n\n### Invest In Institutional-Grade Global Real Estate From \\$10,000\nJoin RealVantage, a MAS-licensed investment platform, for access to curated real estate opportunities across 7+ global markets. Diversify into residential and commercial properties starting from \\$10,000.  \n [Sign up today](https:\/\/dollarsandsensesg.link\/Property_footer) to receive a SGD10 Grab voucher and SGD100 investment credit. T\\&Cs apply.\n\n![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/DNS-Logo-Web.png)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/RV-Property-Side-Banner-Desktop.gif)](https:\/\/dollarsandsensesg.link\/Property_sidebanner)\n\n- [Latest](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/much-absd-singaporeans-prs-foreigners-need-pay\/#mvp-tab-col1)\n- [Trending](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/much-absd-singaporeans-prs-foreigners-need-pay\/#mvp-tab-col2)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/iStock-2213525719-80x80.jpg)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/why-it-makes-sense-to-invest-in-real-estate-via-alternative-investment-platforms-instead-of-buying-a-residential-property-directly\/)\n\n### Alternative Investments\n## [Why It Makes Sense To Invest In Real Estate Via Alternative Investment Platforms Instead Of Buying A Residential Property Directly](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/why-it-makes-sense-to-invest-in-real-estate-via-alternative-investment-platforms-instead-of-buying-a-residential-property-directly\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netflix_Disney_Amazon_HBO_Viu-80x80.jpg)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/disney-plus-vs-netflix-vs-amazon-prime-vs-hbo-go-video-streaming-subscription-worth-paying\/)\n\n### Lifestyle\n## [Disney Plus, Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Go Or Viu? Which Video Streaming Subscription Is Worth Paying For?](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/disney-plus-vs-netflix-vs-amazon-prime-vs-hbo-go-video-streaming-subscription-worth-paying\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/chronomarchie-wallet-3548021_1280-80x80.jpg)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/6-ways-to-achieve-a-truly-minimalist-finance-lifestyle-in-singapore\/)\n\n### Life Hacks\n## [6 Ways To Achieve A Truly Minimalist Finance Lifestyle In Singapore](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/6-ways-to-achieve-a-truly-minimalist-finance-lifestyle-in-singapore\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/iStock-1346494416-80x80.jpg)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/closing-the-health-protection-gap-what-singaporeans-need-to-know-about-the-rising-cost-of-healthcare-financing\/)\n\n### Health Insurance\n## [Closing the Health Protection Gap: What Singaporeans Need to Know About The Rising Cost Of Healthcare Financing](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/closing-the-health-protection-gap-what-singaporeans-need-to-know-about-the-rising-cost-of-healthcare-financing\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/SingTel-.jpg)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/older-singaporeans-never-bought-stocks-singtel-shares-cpf-account\/)\n\n### Investing\n## [Why Do Older Singaporeans (Who Never Bought Stocks) Have SingTel Shares In Their CPF Account?](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/older-singaporeans-never-bought-stocks-singtel-shares-cpf-account\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Electricity-Tarriffs-80x80.png)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/what-are-the-factors-that-contribute-to-electricity-tariffs-rising-in-singapore\/)\n\n### Columns\n## [What Are The Factors That Contribute To Electricity Tariffs Rising In Singapore?](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/what-are-the-factors-that-contribute-to-electricity-tariffs-rising-in-singapore\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/neildodhia-mother-1171569_1920-80x80.jpg)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/7-examples-of-good-life-decisions-that-may-not-necessarily-be-smart-financial-decisions\/)\n\n### Life Hacks\n## [7 Examples Of Good Life Decisions That May Not Necessarily Be Smart Financial Decisions](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/7-examples-of-good-life-decisions-that-may-not-necessarily-be-smart-financial-decisions\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/LawrenceWong-80x80.jpg)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/what-you-need-to-know-about-pm-wongs-message-amid-rising-oil-prices\/)\n\n### News\n## [What You Need To Know About PM Wong’s Message Amid Rising Oil Prices](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/what-you-need-to-know-about-pm-wongs-message-amid-rising-oil-prices\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/iStock-1397937755-80x80.jpg)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/best-performing-stocks-of-q1-2026\/)\n\n### 4 Stocks This Week\n## [7 Best Performing Stocks Of Q1 2026](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/best-performing-stocks-of-q1-2026\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/STI-ETF-80x80.png)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/spdr-sti-etf-vs-nikko-singapore-sti-etf-whats-difference-2-straits-times-index-etfs-listed-sgx\/)\n\n### Investing\n## [SPDR STI ETF VS Amova Singapore STI ETF: What’s The Difference Between The 2 STI ETFs Listed On SGX?](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/spdr-sti-etf-vs-nikko-singapore-sti-etf-whats-difference-2-straits-times-index-etfs-listed-sgx\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/maid-cover-80x80.jpg)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/much-cost-hire-maid-singapore\/)\n\n### Lifestyle\n## [How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Maid In Singapore?](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/much-cost-hire-maid-singapore\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/STI-ETF-80x80.png)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/spdr-sti-etf-vs-nikko-singapore-sti-etf-whats-difference-2-straits-times-index-etfs-listed-sgx\/)\n\n### Investing\n## [SPDR STI ETF VS Amova Singapore STI ETF: What’s The Difference Between The 2 STI ETFs Listed On SGX?](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/spdr-sti-etf-vs-nikko-singapore-sti-etf-whats-difference-2-straits-times-index-etfs-listed-sgx\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netflix_Disney_Amazon_HBO_Viu-80x80.jpg)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/disney-plus-vs-netflix-vs-amazon-prime-vs-hbo-go-video-streaming-subscription-worth-paying\/)\n\n### Lifestyle\n## [Disney Plus, Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Go Or Viu? Which Video Streaming Subscription Is Worth Paying For?](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/disney-plus-vs-netflix-vs-amazon-prime-vs-hbo-go-video-streaming-subscription-worth-paying\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/clement-h-544786-unsplash-80x80.jpg)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/understanding-endowus-how-this-fintech-investment-advisor-will-help-spore-investors-access-superior-global-portfolios-at-low-cost\/)\n\n### Investing\n## [Understanding Endowus: How This FinTech Investment Advisor Will Help S’pore Investors Access Superior Global Portfolios At Low Cost](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/understanding-endowus-how-this-fintech-investment-advisor-will-help-spore-investors-access-superior-global-portfolios-at-low-cost\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/SingTel-.jpg)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/older-singaporeans-never-bought-stocks-singtel-shares-cpf-account\/)\n\n### Investing\n## [Why Do Older Singaporeans (Who Never Bought Stocks) Have SingTel Shares In Their CPF Account?](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/older-singaporeans-never-bought-stocks-singtel-shares-cpf-account\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Savings-Money-Cover-80x80.jpg)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/things-cpf-enhanced-retirement-sum-ers\/)\n\n### CPF\n## [8 Things To Know About The CPF Enhanced Retirement Sum (ERS)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/things-cpf-enhanced-retirement-sum-ers\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/stencil.maskpiggybank-min-80x80.jpg)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/3-3-5-rule-of-buying-an-hdb-flat-how-much-can-singaporeans-really-afford\/)\n\n### HDB\n## [3-3-5 Rule Of Buying An HDB Flat: How Much Can Singaporeans Really Afford?](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/3-3-5-rule-of-buying-an-hdb-flat-how-much-can-singaporeans-really-afford\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/VossWater-80x80.jpg)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/understanding-why-voss-water-is-so-expensive\/)\n\n### Lifestyle\n## [Understanding Why Voss Water Is So Expensive](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/understanding-why-voss-water-is-so-expensive\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DBSScam-80x80.jpg)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/how-the-dbs-posb-phishing-scam-works-and-how-to-avoid-similar-online-scams\/)\n\n### Money\n## [How The DBS\/POSB Phishing Scam Works And How To Avoid Similar Online Scams](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/how-the-dbs-posb-phishing-scam-works-and-how-to-avoid-similar-online-scams\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/rajam_karthik-currency-notes-5319801_1920-80x80.jpg)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/4-ways-investors-are-managing-their-cash-as-markets-turn-volatile\/)\n\n### Investing\n## [4 Ways Investors Are Managing Their Cash As Markets Turn Volatile](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/4-ways-investors-are-managing-their-cash-as-markets-turn-volatile\/)\n\nLoad More\n\n[Renting VS Co-Living VS Serviced Apartments: How Much Do These Living Arrangements Cost For A Year?](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/renting-vs-co-living-vs-serviced-apartments-much-living-arrangements-cost-year\/)\n\n[Neighbourhood Estate Guide: Is Bedok The Best Value Estate In Terms Of Affordability And Amenities?](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/neighbourhood-estate-guide-bedok-best-value-estate-affordability-amenities\/)\n\n[![DollarsAndSense.sg](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/DNS-Grey-Footer-Logo.png)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/)\n\nCopyright © 2019 DollarsAndSense.","attrs_readable_markdown":"![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/chuttersnap-149286.jpg)\n\nWhen we buy a property in Singapore, we have to pay a tax for the documents executed in relation to the transaction. This tax mainly comprises the **Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD)** and, if we are liable, an **Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)** for residential properties.\n\n### How Much Is The Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD)?\nThe Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) is taxed based on the purchase price or market value, whichever is higher, on all property purchases in Singapore. This includes both residential and non-residential properties.\n\n|   |   |   |\n|---|---|---|\n| **Purchase Price or Market Value of Property** | **Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) for Residential Properties** | **Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) for Non-Residential Properties** |\n| First \\$180,000 | 1% | 1% |\n| Next \\$180,000 | 2% | 2% |\n| Next \\$640,000 | 3% | 3% |\n| Next \\$500,000 | 4% | 4% |\n| Next \\$1.5 million | 5% | 5% |\n| Amount exceeding \\$3 million | 6% | 5% |\n\nAs you can see the BSD is taxed at an incremental rate based on the purchase price or market value of the home. This way, those who are able to afford more expensive homes will end up paying a higher BSD, while those who purchase less expensive homes pay less.\n\nThe BSD is also levied at a slightly different rate for residential properties and non-residential properties. The BSD for residential property purchases can go as high as 6%, while BSD for non-residential property purchases is capped at 5%. This was recently adjusted for properties purchased from 15 February 2023.\n\nFor a quick mental calculation, the first \\$360,000 of our home value will be charged at \\$5,400, the first \\$1 million will be charged at \\$24,600, the first \\$1.5 million will be charged at \\$44,600, and the first \\$3 million will be charged at \\$119,600. So, for example, if we purchase a home worth \\$500,000, we need to pay **\\$5,400 + \\$4,200** (\\$140,000 X 3%), which is \\$9,800. Similarly, if we purchase a home worth \\$2 million, we need to pay **\\$44,600 + \\$25,000** (\\$500,000 X 5%), which is \\$69,600.\n\n### What Is The Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)?\nThe **Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)**, as its name suggests, is paid **on top** of the Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD). This only affects residential property buyers. Typically, it is for Singaporeans buying their second and subsequent residential property, as well as for PRs and foreigners buying their first home in Singapore.\n\nFirst introduced on 8 December 2011, the ABSD is one aspect of a slew of cooling measures implemented since 2009 to curb speculative demand for residential properties in Singapore. Arguably, it has been one of the most “painful” property cooling measures as it potentially increases our home purchase cost by a whopping 12% to 20%. Furthermore, the ABSD has to be paid lump sum.\n\n|   |   |   |\n|---|---|---|\n| **Profile of the Buyer** | **Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)** **\\[FROM 16 December 2021 TO 26 April 2023\\]** | **Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)** **\\[FROM 27 April 2023\\]** |\n| **Singapore Citizens** |   |   |\n| Singapore Citizen buying 1st residential property | No ABSD | No ABSD  (no change) |\n| Singapore Citizen buying 2nd residential property | 17% | 20%  (increase of 3 percentage points) |\n| Singapore Citizen buying 3rd and subsequent residential property | 25% | 30%  (increase of 5 percentage points) |\n| **Singapore Permanent Residents** |   |   |\n| Singapore Permanent Resident buying 1st residential property | 5% | 5%  (no change) |\n| Singapore Permanent Resident buying 2nd residential property | 25% | 30%  (increase of 5 percentage points) |\n| Singapore Permanent Resident buying 3rd and subsequent residential property | 30% | 35%  (increase of 5 percentage points) |\n| **Foreigners** |   |   |\n| Foreigners buying any residential property | 30% | 60%  (increase of 30 percentage points) |\n| **Entities** |   |   |\n| Entities buying any residential property | 35% + Additional 5% for Housing Developers | 65%  (increase of 30 percentage points) **Housing Developers**: 35% + Additional 5% for Housing Developers  (no change) |\n\n*\\* Housing Developers may apply for remission of the ABSD rate, but not for the additional 5% they pay.*\n\nUnlike the BSD, the ABSD is a fixed percentage of the entire property price (and not levied incrementally). As depicted in the table above, how much ABSD we have to pay depends on whether we are Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents (PRs), foreigners or buying as an entity, as well as the number of properties we already own under our name.\n\nFor example, a Singapore Citizen buying a second home have to pay an ABSD of 20%. If we are purchasing a second home worth \\$3.5 million, here’s what we need to pay:\n\n|   |   |   |   |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| **Type of Stamp Duty** | **Stamp Duty Rate** | **How much we have to pay** |   |\n| Buyers Stamp Duty (BSD) | 1% x \\$180,000 | \\$1,800 | \\$149,600 |\n| 2% x \\$180,000 | \\$3,600 |   |   |\n| 3% x \\$640,000 | \\$19,200 |   |   |\n| 4% x \\$500,000 | \\$20,000 |   |   |\n| 5% x \\$1.5 million | \\$75,000 |   |   |\n| 6% x \\$500,000 | \\$30,000 |   |   |\n| Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) | 20% x \\$3.5 million | \\$700,000 |   |\n| **Total** | **\\$849,600** |   |   |\n\nThe ABSD can be a very substantial amount, and as we can see, can add up to over 20% on top of the purchase price for a \\$3.5 million property.\n\nThe fact that we have to fork out the BSD and ABSD upfront in cash is another big hurdle. While we are able to apply for a reimbursement from CPF or get a refund after selling our first home (if we are eligible), we still need to have this amount in spare cash – and beyond what we already need to pay in downpayment and BSD. Furthermore, since the ABSD can be a very costly, we may not have enough in our CPF for the full reimbursement. Careful financial planning is required to ensure we have sufficient funds to make this payment.\n\nBuyers should note that a full count will be applied whether we have full ownership, partial ownership or joint ownership of another property or properties.\n\n***Read Also: [Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD): How Much You Have To Pay To Own Multiple Properties & 5 Ways To Avoid ABSD](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/additional-buyers-stamp-duty-absd-5-ways-avoid-absd\/)***\n\n### Paying ABSD If You Buy Under A Trust\nAs of 9 May 2022, a higher rate of **Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)** will apply on any transfer of residential property into a living trust. This rate was recently increased to 65%.\n\nPrior to this, when a residential property is transferred into a living trust, Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) is payable. Depending on the profile of the beneficial owner(s) of the residential property transferred into the trust, ABSD may also be payable. However, if the living trust is structured such that there is no identifiable beneficial owner at the time when the residential property is transferred into the trust, no ABSD was payable.\n\nFollowing the 9 May 2022 change, ABSD (Trust) is to be payable upfront, when the residential property is transferred into any living trust. Eligible trustees may apply to IRAS for a refund of ABSD (Trust). This refund amount will be based on the difference between the ABSD (Trust) rate of 65% and the ABSD rate corresponding to the profile of the beneficial owner with the highest applicable ABSD rate. Trustees have six months to make the refund application after the instrument is executed.\n\n***Read Also:*** [***Tenancy In Common VS Joint Tenancy: Pros And Cons Of Each Option And Which Should You Choose For Your HDB Flat***](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/tenancy-common-vs-joint-tenancy-pros-cons-option-choose\/)\n\n### When Do I Have To Pay The BSD And ABSD?\nThe BSD and ABSD are upfront costs that we have to pay when purchasing a property in Singapore. We should set aside this amount, as well as other upfront costs, when determining whether we can afford to buy a home.\n\nThe BSD and, if applicable to you, the ABSD has to be paid within 14 days from the date of the signed Contract or Agreement. Our documents for the home purchase will be considered to be duly stamped only when we have fully paid the stamp duty.\n\nWhile this means we will typically need to pay for the BSD and ABSD upfront in cash, we can include this amount when applying for a one-time reimbursement from our CPF account, together with our application to use our CPF savings to buy the home. In short, we can pay for our BSD and ABSD with our CPF funds. Since the ABSD can be a very significant amount, we may not even have enough in CPF when applying for reimbursement.\n\n### Foreigners Eligible For ABSD Remission\nUnder the respective Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), Nationals and Permanent Residents of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and Nationals of the USA, are **accorded the same Stamp Duty treatment as Singapore Citizens**.\n\nThis means such foreigners will only have to pay the BSD when they purchase their first home in Singapore, and do not need to pay any ABSD. This is even better than the treatment of Singapore PRs buying a residential property in Singapore.\n\n***Read Also:*** [***Guide To Understanding Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) – And How It Helps Companies And Businesses***](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/business\/guide-to-understanding-free-trade-agreements-ftas-and-how-it-helps-companies-and-businesses\/)\n\n### ABSD Refund For Married Couples Buying A Second Home Together\nThis refund is meant to avoid penalising married couples who want to move from one home to another, as it requires the couple to sell the first property which they own or co-own. There are many detailed scenarios, which involve residency status of spouses and the number of residential properties they co-own or individually own, that the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) lists, which [you can find here](https:\/\/www.iras.gov.sg\/irashome\/uploadedFiles\/IRASHome\/Other_Taxes\/Stamp_Duty_for_Property\/Claiming_Refunds_Remissions_Reliefs\/Remissions\/ABSD%20Rates%20or%20Remission%20for%20Joint%20Purchase%20by%20a%20Married%20Couple_2018-07-06.pdf).\n\nIn general, the refund applies to:\n\n- Married couples, with at least one Singapore Citizen spouse, who do not own interest in more than one home at the date of purchasing the second home together\n- The first home is sold within six months after the date of purchase of the second home (for completed property) or the issue date of the Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP)\/Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC), whichever is earlier (for uncompleted property)\n- Married couple remains married and there is no change in ownership of the second home at the point of selling the first home\n- Married couple has not purchased or acquired other homes since the purchase of their second home\n\nThe application for the ABSD refund has to be made within six months after the date of sale of the first home.\n\nIn any case, we need to note that the ABSD still has to be paid upfront while we apply for the refund.\n\nABSD refunds on second home purchase only applies to married couples. Thus singles who purchase a second home, but sell off their first home within six months are not eligible to apply for an ABSD refund.\n\nSimilarly, this will not apply to couples who are seeking the sell-1-buy-2 strategy to own two residential properties after selling their homes. This is because there is a change in the ownership structure of the second homes. Couples intending to do this should sell their first property before purchasing their individual properties.\n\nAnother thing to note is that our residency status at the date of purchasing our home matters. Even if we are in the process of obtaining our Singapore Citizen or Singapore PR status, we still need to pay the applicable ABSD as at the date of purchase. We will be unable to apply for any ABSD refund regarding a new residency status after the date of purchasing our home.\n\n***Read Also: [4 Ways You May Not Be Eligible For ABSD Refund (Even If You Don’t Intend To Own Multiple Properties)](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/4-ways-may-not-eligible-absd-refund-even-dont-intend-multiple-properties\/)***\n\n### Do I Have To Pay Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) And Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) For An Inherited Property\nAccording to IRAS, we do not have to pay BSD or ABSD on a property we inherit in accordance to the Intestacy Law, Muslim Inheritance Law or a Will. This is regardless of the property value and\/or how many properties we already own.\n\n***This article was first published on 3 August 2020 and updated with new information.***\n\n**Advertiser Message**\n\n### Invest In Institutional-Grade Global Real Estate From \\$10,000\nJoin RealVantage, a MAS-licensed investment platform, for access to curated real estate opportunities across 7+ global markets. Diversify into residential and commercial properties starting from \\$10,000.  \n [Sign up today](https:\/\/dollarsandsensesg.link\/Property_footer) to receive a SGD10 Grab voucher and SGD100 investment credit. T\\&Cs apply.\n\n![](https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/DNS-Logo-Web.png)","meta_canonical":null}

3. Robots.txt Check

Query:

Response:

4. Spam/Ban Check

Query:

Response:

5. Seen Status Check

ℹ️ Skipped - page is already crawled

📄

INDEXABLE

✅

CRAWLED

7 hours ago

🤖

ROBOTS ALLOWED

Page Info Filters

Filter	Status	Condition	Details
HTTP status	PASS	`download_http_code = 200`	HTTP 200
Age cutoff	PASS	`download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH`	0 months ago
History drop	PASS	`isNull(history_drop_reason)`	No drop reason
Spam/ban	PASS	`fh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0`	ml_spam_score=0
Canonical	PASS	`meta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsed`	Not set

Page Details

Property	Value
URL	https://dollarsandsense.sg/much-absd-singaporeans-prs-foreigners-need-pay/
Last Crawled	2026-04-09 08:00:43 (7 hours ago)
First Indexed	2020-08-03 04:48:59 (5 years ago)
HTTP Status Code	200
Meta Title	How Much Buyer's Stamp Duty (BSD) And ABSD Singaporeans, PRs And Foreigners Need To Pay - And When
Meta Description	Singaporeans buying a second home, and PRs and foreigners buying a first home, need to pay between 5% and 20% in ABSD – which is on top of the normal Buyer’s Stamp Duty.
Meta Canonical	null
Boilerpipe Text	When we buy a property in Singapore, we have to pay a tax for the documents executed in relation to the transaction. This tax mainly comprises the Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) and, if we are liable, an Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) for residential properties. How Much Is The Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD)? The Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) is taxed based on the purchase price or market value, whichever is higher, on all property purchases in Singapore. This includes both residential and non-residential properties. Purchase Price or Market Value of Property Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) for Residential Properties Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) for Non-Residential Properties First $180,000 1% 1% Next $180,000 2% 2% Next $640,000 3% 3% Next $500,000 4% 4% Next $1.5 million 5% 5% Amount exceeding $3 million 6% 5% As you can see the BSD is taxed at an incremental rate based on the purchase price or market value of the home. This way, those who are able to afford more expensive homes will end up paying a higher BSD, while those who purchase less expensive homes pay less. The BSD is also levied at a slightly different rate for residential properties and non-residential properties. The BSD for residential property purchases can go as high as 6%, while BSD for non-residential property purchases is capped at 5%. This was recently adjusted for properties purchased from 15 February 2023. For a quick mental calculation, the first $360,000 of our home value will be charged at $5,400, the first $1 million will be charged at $24,600, the first $1.5 million will be charged at $44,600, and the first $3 million will be charged at $119,600. So, for example, if we purchase a home worth $500,000, we need to pay $5,400 + $4,200 ($140,000 X 3%), which is $9,800. Similarly, if we purchase a home worth $2 million, we need to pay $44,600 + $25,000 ($500,000 X 5%), which is $69,600. What Is The Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)? The Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) , as its name suggests, is paid on top of the Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD). This only affects residential property buyers. Typically, it is for Singaporeans buying their second and subsequent residential property, as well as for PRs and foreigners buying their first home in Singapore. First introduced on 8 December 2011, the ABSD is one aspect of a slew of cooling measures implemented since 2009 to curb speculative demand for residential properties in Singapore. Arguably, it has been one of the most “painful” property cooling measures as it potentially increases our home purchase cost by a whopping 12% to 20%. Furthermore, the ABSD has to be paid lump sum. Profile of the Buyer Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) [FROM 16 December 2021 TO 26 April 2023] Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) [FROM 27 April 2023] Singapore Citizens Singapore Citizen buying 1 st residential property No ABSD No ABSD (no change) Singapore Citizen buying 2 nd residential property 17% 20% (increase of 3 percentage points) Singapore Citizen buying 3 rd and subsequent residential property 25% 30% (increase of 5 percentage points) Singapore Permanent Residents Singapore Permanent Resident buying 1 st residential property 5% 5% (no change) Singapore Permanent Resident buying 2 nd residential property 25% 30% (increase of 5 percentage points) Singapore Permanent Resident buying 3 rd and subsequent residential property 30% 35% (increase of 5 percentage points) Foreigners Foreigners buying any residential property 30% 60% (increase of 30 percentage points) Entities Entities buying any residential property 35% + Additional 5% for Housing Developers 65% (increase of 30 percentage points) Housing Developers : 35% + Additional 5% for Housing Developers (no change) * Housing Developers may apply for remission of the ABSD rate, but not for the additional 5% they pay. Unlike the BSD, the ABSD is a fixed percentage of the entire property price (and not levied incrementally). As depicted in the table above, how much ABSD we have to pay depends on whether we are Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents (PRs), foreigners or buying as an entity, as well as the number of properties we already own under our name. For example, a Singapore Citizen buying a second home have to pay an ABSD of 20%. If we are purchasing a second home worth $3.5 million, here’s what we need to pay: Type of Stamp Duty Stamp Duty Rate How much we have to pay Buyers Stamp Duty (BSD) 1% x $180,000 $1,800 $149,600 2% x $180,000 $3,600 3% x $640,000 $19,200 4% x $500,000 $20,000 5% x $1.5 million $75,000 6% x $500,000 $30,000 Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) 20% x $3.5 million $700,000 Total $849,600 The ABSD can be a very substantial amount, and as we can see, can add up to over 20% on top of the purchase price for a $3.5 million property. The fact that we have to fork out the BSD and ABSD upfront in cash is another big hurdle. While we are able to apply for a reimbursement from CPF or get a refund after selling our first home (if we are eligible), we still need to have this amount in spare cash – and beyond what we already need to pay in downpayment and BSD. Furthermore, since the ABSD can be a very costly, we may not have enough in our CPF for the full reimbursement. Careful financial planning is required to ensure we have sufficient funds to make this payment. Buyers should note that a full count will be applied whether we have full ownership, partial ownership or joint ownership of another property or properties. Read Also: Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD): How Much You Have To Pay To Own Multiple Properties & 5 Ways To Avoid ABSD Paying ABSD If You Buy Under A Trust As of 9 May 2022, a higher rate of Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) will apply on any transfer of residential property into a living trust. This rate was recently increased to 65%. Prior to this, when a residential property is transferred into a living trust, Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) is payable. Depending on the profile of the beneficial owner(s) of the residential property transferred into the trust, ABSD may also be payable. However, if the living trust is structured such that there is no identifiable beneficial owner at the time when the residential property is transferred into the trust, no ABSD was payable. Following the 9 May 2022 change, ABSD (Trust) is to be payable upfront, when the residential property is transferred into any living trust. Eligible trustees may apply to IRAS for a refund of ABSD (Trust). This refund amount will be based on the difference between the ABSD (Trust) rate of 65% and the ABSD rate corresponding to the profile of the beneficial owner with the highest applicable ABSD rate. Trustees have six months to make the refund application after the instrument is executed. Read Also: Tenancy In Common VS Joint Tenancy: Pros And Cons Of Each Option And Which Should You Choose For Your HDB Flat When Do I Have To Pay The BSD And ABSD? The BSD and ABSD are upfront costs that we have to pay when purchasing a property in Singapore. We should set aside this amount, as well as other upfront costs, when determining whether we can afford to buy a home. The BSD and, if applicable to you, the ABSD has to be paid within 14 days from the date of the signed Contract or Agreement. Our documents for the home purchase will be considered to be duly stamped only when we have fully paid the stamp duty. While this means we will typically need to pay for the BSD and ABSD upfront in cash, we can include this amount when applying for a one-time reimbursement from our CPF account, together with our application to use our CPF savings to buy the home. In short, we can pay for our BSD and ABSD with our CPF funds. Since the ABSD can be a very significant amount, we may not even have enough in CPF when applying for reimbursement. Foreigners Eligible For ABSD Remission Under the respective Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), Nationals and Permanent Residents of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and Nationals of the USA, are accorded the same Stamp Duty treatment as Singapore Citizens . This means such foreigners will only have to pay the BSD when they purchase their first home in Singapore, and do not need to pay any ABSD. This is even better than the treatment of Singapore PRs buying a residential property in Singapore. Read Also: Guide To Understanding Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) – And How It Helps Companies And Businesses ABSD Refund For Married Couples Buying A Second Home Together This refund is meant to avoid penalising married couples who want to move from one home to another, as it requires the couple to sell the first property which they own or co-own. There are many detailed scenarios, which involve residency status of spouses and the number of residential properties they co-own or individually own, that the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) lists, which you can find here . In general, the refund applies to: Married couples, with at least one Singapore Citizen spouse, who do not own interest in more than one home at the date of purchasing the second home together The first home is sold within six months after the date of purchase of the second home (for completed property) or the issue date of the Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP)/Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC), whichever is earlier (for uncompleted property) Married couple remains married and there is no change in ownership of the second home at the point of selling the first home Married couple has not purchased or acquired other homes since the purchase of their second home The application for the ABSD refund has to be made within six months after the date of sale of the first home. In any case, we need to note that the ABSD still has to be paid upfront while we apply for the refund. ABSD refunds on second home purchase only applies to married couples. Thus singles who purchase a second home, but sell off their first home within six months are not eligible to apply for an ABSD refund. Similarly, this will not apply to couples who are seeking the sell-1-buy-2 strategy to own two residential properties after selling their homes. This is because there is a change in the ownership structure of the second homes. Couples intending to do this should sell their first property before purchasing their individual properties. Another thing to note is that our residency status at the date of purchasing our home matters. Even if we are in the process of obtaining our Singapore Citizen or Singapore PR status, we still need to pay the applicable ABSD as at the date of purchase. We will be unable to apply for any ABSD refund regarding a new residency status after the date of purchasing our home. Read Also: 4 Ways You May Not Be Eligible For ABSD Refund (Even If You Don’t Intend To Own Multiple Properties) Do I Have To Pay Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) And Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) For An Inherited Property According to IRAS, we do not have to pay BSD or ABSD on a property we inherit in accordance to the Intestacy Law, Muslim Inheritance Law or a Will. This is regardless of the property value and/or how many properties we already own. This article was first published on 3 August 2020 and updated with new information. Advertiser Message Invest In Institutional-Grade Global Real Estate From $10,000 Join RealVantage, a MAS-licensed investment platform, for access to curated real estate opportunities across 7+ global markets. Diversify into residential and commercial properties starting from $10,000. Sign up today to receive a SGD10 Grab voucher and SGD100 investment credit. T&Cs apply.
Markdown	![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=268614870269011&ev=PageView&noscript=1) [![DollarsAndSense.sg](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/DNS-Logo-Web.png)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/) - [Money](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/savings-spending/) - [Budgeting 101](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/savings-spending/budgeting-101/) - [Saving Accounts](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/savings-spending/saving-accounts/) - [Credit Cards](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/savings-spending/credit-cards/) - [Loans](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/savings-spending/loans-savings-spending/) - [Travel Planning](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/lifestyle/travel-planning/) - [Family Planning](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/lifestyle/family-planning/) - [Lifestyle](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/lifestyle/) - [Lifelong Learning](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/lifestyle/lifelong-learning/) - [Life Hacks](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/lifestyle/life-hacks/) - [Street Smart](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/columns/street-smart/) - [Money Changer](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/columns/money-changer/) - [Insurance](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/insurance/) - [Insurance 101](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/insurance/insurance-101/) - [Life Insurance](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/insurance/life-insurance/) - [Health Insurance](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/insurance/health-insurance/) - [General Insurance](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/insurance/general-insurance/) - [Estate Planning](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/insurance/estate-planning/) - [Investment Linked Policies](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/insurance/investment-linked-policies/) - [Investing](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/investing/) - [Investing 101](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/investing/investing-101/) - [Stock Investing](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/investing/stock-investing/) - [Bonds and Fixed Income](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/investing/bonds-and-fixed-income/) - [Mutual Funds and ETFs](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/investing/mutual-funds-and-etfs/) - [REITS](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/investing/reits/) - [Retirement Planning](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/investing/retirement-planning/) - [Alternative Investments](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/investing/alternative-investments/) - [Markets](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/markets/) - [4 Stocks This Week](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/markets/4-stocks-this-week/) - [Companies](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/markets/companies/) - [ESG](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/markets/esg/) - [Trading](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/trading/) - [Forex](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/trading/forex/) - [CFD](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/trading/cfd/) - [Options](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/trading/options/) - [Commodities](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/trading/commodities/) - [Cryptocurrency](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/trading/cryptocurrency/) - [DollarsAndSense Explains](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/dollarsandsense-explains/) - [Property](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/property/) - [Property 101](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/property/property-101/) - [HDB](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/property/hdb/) - [Residential Properties](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/property/residential-properties/) - [Commercial Properties](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/property/commercial-properties/) - [Industrial Properties](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/property/industrial-properties/) - [Policies & Columns](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/policies/) - [Videos](https://dollarsandsense.sg/videos/) - [Policies](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/policies/) - [CPF](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/policies/cpf/) - [1M65](https://dollarsandsense.sg/tag/1m65/) - [Taxes](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/policies/taxes/) - [Singapore Budget](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/policies/singapore-budget/) - [News](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/news/) - [Insights](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/news/insights/) - [Daily Updates](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/news/dailyupdates/) - [Entrepreneurship](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/columns/entrepreneurship/) - [Economics](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/columns/economics/) - [Opinions](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/columns/2-cent-rant/) - [Career](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/columns/career-advice/) - [Successful Singaporeans](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/columns/successful-singaporeans/) - [Business](https://dollarsandsense.sg/business/) - [Hong Kong](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/hong-kong/) - [Malaysia](http://dollarsandsense.my/) Connect with us [![DollarsAndSense.sg](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/DNS-Logo-Web.png)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/) ## DollarsAndSense.sg Connect with us - [Money](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/savings-spending/) - [Budgeting 101](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/savings-spending/budgeting-101/) - [Saving Accounts](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/savings-spending/saving-accounts/) - [Credit Cards](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/savings-spending/credit-cards/) - [Loans](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/savings-spending/loans-savings-spending/) - [Travel Planning](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/lifestyle/travel-planning/) - [Family Planning](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/lifestyle/family-planning/) - [Lifestyle](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/lifestyle/) - [Lifelong Learning](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/lifestyle/lifelong-learning/) - [Life Hacks](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/lifestyle/life-hacks/) - [Street Smart](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/columns/street-smart/) - [Money Changer](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/columns/money-changer/) - [Insurance](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/insurance/) - [Insurance 101](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/insurance/insurance-101/) - [Life Insurance](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/insurance/life-insurance/) - [Health Insurance](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/insurance/health-insurance/) - [General Insurance](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/insurance/general-insurance/) - [Estate Planning](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/insurance/estate-planning/) - [Investment Linked Policies](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/insurance/investment-linked-policies/) - [Investing](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/investing/) - [Investing 101](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/investing/investing-101/) - [Stock Investing](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/investing/stock-investing/) - [Bonds and Fixed Income](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/investing/bonds-and-fixed-income/) - [Mutual Funds and ETFs](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/investing/mutual-funds-and-etfs/) - [REITS](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/investing/reits/) - [Retirement Planning](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/investing/retirement-planning/) - [Alternative Investments](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/investing/alternative-investments/) - [Markets](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/markets/) - [4 Stocks This Week](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/markets/4-stocks-this-week/) - [Companies](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/markets/companies/) - [ESG](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/markets/esg/) - [Trading](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/trading/) - [Forex](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/trading/forex/) - [CFD](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/trading/cfd/) - [Options](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/trading/options/) - [Commodities](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/trading/commodities/) - [Cryptocurrency](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/trading/cryptocurrency/) - [DollarsAndSense Explains](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/dollarsandsense-explains/) - [Property](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/property/) - [Property 101](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/property/property-101/) - [HDB](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/property/hdb/) - [Residential Properties](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/property/residential-properties/) - [Commercial Properties](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/property/commercial-properties/) - [Industrial Properties](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/property/industrial-properties/) - [Policies & Columns](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/policies/) - [Videos](https://dollarsandsense.sg/videos/) - [Policies](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/policies/) - [CPF](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/policies/cpf/) - [1M65](https://dollarsandsense.sg/tag/1m65/) - [Taxes](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/policies/taxes/) - [Singapore Budget](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/policies/singapore-budget/) - [News](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/news/) - [Insights](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/news/insights/) - [Daily Updates](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/news/dailyupdates/) - [Entrepreneurship](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/columns/entrepreneurship/) - [Economics](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/columns/economics/) - [Opinions](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/columns/2-cent-rant/) - [Career](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/columns/career-advice/) - [Successful Singaporeans](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/columns/successful-singaporeans/) - [Business](https://dollarsandsense.sg/business/) - [Hong Kong](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/hong-kong/) - [Malaysia](http://dollarsandsense.my/) ### [Property](https://dollarsandsense.sg/category/property/) # How Much Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) And ABSD Singaporeans, PRs And Foreigners Need To Pay – And When The Monetary Authority of Singapore has stated there are no plans to loosen property cooling measures. - ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/502c177fa4aa20dbccf78413e0fe0b94?s=46&d=blank&r=g) - by [Dinesh Dayani](https://dollarsandsense.sg/author/dinesh/ "Posts by Dinesh Dayani") - May 1, 2023 ![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/chuttersnap-149286.jpg) When we buy a property in Singapore, we have to pay a tax for the documents executed in relation to the transaction. This tax mainly comprises the Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) and, if we are liable, an Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) for residential properties. ### How Much Is The Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD)? The Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) is taxed based on the purchase price or market value, whichever is higher, on all property purchases in Singapore. This includes both residential and non-residential properties. \| \| \| \| \|---\|---\|---\| \| Purchase Price or Market Value of Property \| Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) for Residential Properties \| Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) for Non-Residential Properties \| \| First \$180,000 \| 1% \| 1% \| \| Next \$180,000 \| 2% \| 2% \| \| Next \$640,000 \| 3% \| 3% \| \| Next \$500,000 \| 4% \| 4% \| \| Next \$1.5 million \| 5% \| 5% \| \| Amount exceeding \$3 million \| 6% \| 5% \| As you can see the BSD is taxed at an incremental rate based on the purchase price or market value of the home. This way, those who are able to afford more expensive homes will end up paying a higher BSD, while those who purchase less expensive homes pay less. The BSD is also levied at a slightly different rate for residential properties and non-residential properties. The BSD for residential property purchases can go as high as 6%, while BSD for non-residential property purchases is capped at 5%. This was recently adjusted for properties purchased from 15 February 2023. For a quick mental calculation, the first \$360,000 of our home value will be charged at \$5,400, the first \$1 million will be charged at \$24,600, the first \$1.5 million will be charged at \$44,600, and the first \$3 million will be charged at \$119,600. So, for example, if we purchase a home worth \$500,000, we need to pay \$5,400 + \$4,200 (\$140,000 X 3%), which is \$9,800. Similarly, if we purchase a home worth \$2 million, we need to pay \$44,600 + \$25,000 (\$500,000 X 5%), which is \$69,600. ### What Is The Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)? The Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD), as its name suggests, is paid on top of the Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD). This only affects residential property buyers. Typically, it is for Singaporeans buying their second and subsequent residential property, as well as for PRs and foreigners buying their first home in Singapore. First introduced on 8 December 2011, the ABSD is one aspect of a slew of cooling measures implemented since 2009 to curb speculative demand for residential properties in Singapore. Arguably, it has been one of the most “painful” property cooling measures as it potentially increases our home purchase cost by a whopping 12% to 20%. Furthermore, the ABSD has to be paid lump sum. \| \| \| \| \|---\|---\|---\| \| Profile of the Buyer \| Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) \[FROM 16 December 2021 TO 26 April 2023\] \| Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) \[FROM 27 April 2023\] \| \| Singapore Citizens \| \| \| \| Singapore Citizen buying 1st residential property \| No ABSD \| No ABSD (no change) \| \| Singapore Citizen buying 2nd residential property \| 17% \| 20% (increase of 3 percentage points) \| \| Singapore Citizen buying 3rd and subsequent residential property \| 25% \| 30% (increase of 5 percentage points) \| \| Singapore Permanent Residents \| \| \| \| Singapore Permanent Resident buying 1st residential property \| 5% \| 5% (no change) \| \| Singapore Permanent Resident buying 2nd residential property \| 25% \| 30% (increase of 5 percentage points) \| \| Singapore Permanent Resident buying 3rd and subsequent residential property \| 30% \| 35% (increase of 5 percentage points) \| \| Foreigners \| \| \| \| Foreigners buying any residential property \| 30% \| 60% (increase of 30 percentage points) \| \| Entities \| \| \| \| Entities buying any residential property \| 35% + Additional 5% for Housing Developers \| 65% (increase of 30 percentage points) Housing Developers: 35% + Additional 5% for Housing Developers (no change) \| \ Housing Developers may apply for remission of the ABSD rate, but not for the additional 5% they pay.* Unlike the BSD, the ABSD is a fixed percentage of the entire property price (and not levied incrementally). As depicted in the table above, how much ABSD we have to pay depends on whether we are Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents (PRs), foreigners or buying as an entity, as well as the number of properties we already own under our name. For example, a Singapore Citizen buying a second home have to pay an ABSD of 20%. If we are purchasing a second home worth \$3.5 million, here’s what we need to pay: \| \| \| \| \| \|---\|---\|---\|---\| \| Type of Stamp Duty \| Stamp Duty Rate \| How much we have to pay \| \| \| Buyers Stamp Duty (BSD) \| 1% x \$180,000 \| \$1,800 \| \$149,600 \| \| 2% x \$180,000 \| \$3,600 \| \| \| \| 3% x \$640,000 \| \$19,200 \| \| \| \| 4% x \$500,000 \| \$20,000 \| \| \| \| 5% x \$1.5 million \| \$75,000 \| \| \| \| 6% x \$500,000 \| \$30,000 \| \| \| \| Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) \| 20% x \$3.5 million \| \$700,000 \| \| \| Total \| \$849,600 \| \| \| The ABSD can be a very substantial amount, and as we can see, can add up to over 20% on top of the purchase price for a \$3.5 million property. The fact that we have to fork out the BSD and ABSD upfront in cash is another big hurdle. While we are able to apply for a reimbursement from CPF or get a refund after selling our first home (if we are eligible), we still need to have this amount in spare cash – and beyond what we already need to pay in downpayment and BSD. Furthermore, since the ABSD can be a very costly, we may not have enough in our CPF for the full reimbursement. Careful financial planning is required to ensure we have sufficient funds to make this payment. Buyers should note that a full count will be applied whether we have full ownership, partial ownership or joint ownership of another property or properties. *Read Also: [Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD): How Much You Have To Pay To Own Multiple Properties & 5 Ways To Avoid ABSD](https://dollarsandsense.sg/additional-buyers-stamp-duty-absd-5-ways-avoid-absd/)* ### Paying ABSD If You Buy Under A Trust As of 9 May 2022, a higher rate of Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) will apply on any transfer of residential property into a living trust. This rate was recently increased to 65%. Prior to this, when a residential property is transferred into a living trust, Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) is payable. Depending on the profile of the beneficial owner(s) of the residential property transferred into the trust, ABSD may also be payable. However, if the living trust is structured such that there is no identifiable beneficial owner at the time when the residential property is transferred into the trust, no ABSD was payable. Following the 9 May 2022 change, ABSD (Trust) is to be payable upfront, when the residential property is transferred into any living trust. Eligible trustees may apply to IRAS for a refund of ABSD (Trust). This refund amount will be based on the difference between the ABSD (Trust) rate of 65% and the ABSD rate corresponding to the profile of the beneficial owner with the highest applicable ABSD rate. Trustees have six months to make the refund application after the instrument is executed. *Read Also:* [*Tenancy In Common VS Joint Tenancy: Pros And Cons Of Each Option And Which Should You Choose For Your HDB Flat](https://dollarsandsense.sg/tenancy-common-vs-joint-tenancy-pros-cons-option-choose/) ### When Do I Have To Pay The BSD And ABSD? The BSD and ABSD are upfront costs that we have to pay when purchasing a property in Singapore. We should set aside this amount, as well as other upfront costs, when determining whether we can afford to buy a home. The BSD and, if applicable to you, the ABSD has to be paid within 14 days from the date of the signed Contract or Agreement. Our documents for the home purchase will be considered to be duly stamped only when we have fully paid the stamp duty. While this means we will typically need to pay for the BSD and ABSD upfront in cash, we can include this amount when applying for a one-time reimbursement from our CPF account, together with our application to use our CPF savings to buy the home. In short, we can pay for our BSD and ABSD with our CPF funds. Since the ABSD can be a very significant amount, we may not even have enough in CPF when applying for reimbursement. ### Foreigners Eligible For ABSD Remission Under the respective Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), Nationals and Permanent Residents of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and Nationals of the USA, are accorded the same Stamp Duty treatment as Singapore Citizens. This means such foreigners will only have to pay the BSD when they purchase their first home in Singapore, and do not need to pay any ABSD. This is even better than the treatment of Singapore PRs buying a residential property in Singapore. Read Also:* [*Guide To Understanding Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) – And How It Helps Companies And Businesses](https://dollarsandsense.sg/business/guide-to-understanding-free-trade-agreements-ftas-and-how-it-helps-companies-and-businesses/) ### ABSD Refund For Married Couples Buying A Second Home Together This refund is meant to avoid penalising married couples who want to move from one home to another, as it requires the couple to sell the first property which they own or co-own. There are many detailed scenarios, which involve residency status of spouses and the number of residential properties they co-own or individually own, that the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) lists, which [you can find here](https://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/uploadedFiles/IRASHome/Other_Taxes/Stamp_Duty_for_Property/Claiming_Refunds_Remissions_Reliefs/Remissions/ABSD%20Rates%20or%20Remission%20for%20Joint%20Purchase%20by%20a%20Married%20Couple_2018-07-06.pdf). In general, the refund applies to: - Married couples, with at least one Singapore Citizen spouse, who do not own interest in more than one home at the date of purchasing the second home together - The first home is sold within six months after the date of purchase of the second home (for completed property) or the issue date of the Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP)/Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC), whichever is earlier (for uncompleted property) - Married couple remains married and there is no change in ownership of the second home at the point of selling the first home - Married couple has not purchased or acquired other homes since the purchase of their second home The application for the ABSD refund has to be made within six months after the date of sale of the first home. In any case, we need to note that the ABSD still has to be paid upfront while we apply for the refund. ABSD refunds on second home purchase only applies to married couples. Thus singles who purchase a second home, but sell off their first home within six months are not eligible to apply for an ABSD refund. Similarly, this will not apply to couples who are seeking the sell-1-buy-2 strategy to own two residential properties after selling their homes. This is because there is a change in the ownership structure of the second homes. Couples intending to do this should sell their first property before purchasing their individual properties. Another thing to note is that our residency status at the date of purchasing our home matters. Even if we are in the process of obtaining our Singapore Citizen or Singapore PR status, we still need to pay the applicable ABSD as at the date of purchase. We will be unable to apply for any ABSD refund regarding a new residency status after the date of purchasing our home. Read Also: [4 Ways You May Not Be Eligible For ABSD Refund (Even If You Don’t Intend To Own Multiple Properties)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/4-ways-may-not-eligible-absd-refund-even-dont-intend-multiple-properties/)* ### Do I Have To Pay Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) And Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) For An Inherited Property According to IRAS, we do not have to pay BSD or ABSD on a property we inherit in accordance to the Intestacy Law, Muslim Inheritance Law or a Will. This is regardless of the property value and/or how many properties we already own. *This article was first published on 3 August 2020 and updated with new information.* Advertiser Message ### Invest In Institutional-Grade Global Real Estate From \$10,000 Join RealVantage, a MAS-licensed investment platform, for access to curated real estate opportunities across 7+ global markets. Diversify into residential and commercial properties starting from \$10,000. [Sign up today](https://dollarsandsensesg.link/Property_footer) to receive a SGD10 Grab voucher and SGD100 investment credit. T\&Cs apply. ![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/DNS-Logo-Web.png) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/RV-Property-Side-Banner-Desktop.gif)](https://dollarsandsensesg.link/Property_sidebanner) - [Latest](https://dollarsandsense.sg/much-absd-singaporeans-prs-foreigners-need-pay/#mvp-tab-col1) - [Trending](https://dollarsandsense.sg/much-absd-singaporeans-prs-foreigners-need-pay/#mvp-tab-col2) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/iStock-2213525719-80x80.jpg)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/why-it-makes-sense-to-invest-in-real-estate-via-alternative-investment-platforms-instead-of-buying-a-residential-property-directly/) ### Alternative Investments ## [Why It Makes Sense To Invest In Real Estate Via Alternative Investment Platforms Instead Of Buying A Residential Property Directly](https://dollarsandsense.sg/why-it-makes-sense-to-invest-in-real-estate-via-alternative-investment-platforms-instead-of-buying-a-residential-property-directly/) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Netflix_Disney_Amazon_HBO_Viu-80x80.jpg)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/disney-plus-vs-netflix-vs-amazon-prime-vs-hbo-go-video-streaming-subscription-worth-paying/) ### Lifestyle ## [Disney Plus, Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Go Or Viu? Which Video Streaming Subscription Is Worth Paying For?](https://dollarsandsense.sg/disney-plus-vs-netflix-vs-amazon-prime-vs-hbo-go-video-streaming-subscription-worth-paying/) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/chronomarchie-wallet-3548021_1280-80x80.jpg)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/6-ways-to-achieve-a-truly-minimalist-finance-lifestyle-in-singapore/) ### Life Hacks ## [6 Ways To Achieve A Truly Minimalist Finance Lifestyle In Singapore](https://dollarsandsense.sg/6-ways-to-achieve-a-truly-minimalist-finance-lifestyle-in-singapore/) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/iStock-1346494416-80x80.jpg)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/closing-the-health-protection-gap-what-singaporeans-need-to-know-about-the-rising-cost-of-healthcare-financing/) ### Health Insurance ## [Closing the Health Protection Gap: What Singaporeans Need to Know About The Rising Cost Of Healthcare Financing](https://dollarsandsense.sg/closing-the-health-protection-gap-what-singaporeans-need-to-know-about-the-rising-cost-of-healthcare-financing/) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/SingTel-.jpg)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/older-singaporeans-never-bought-stocks-singtel-shares-cpf-account/) ### Investing ## [Why Do Older Singaporeans (Who Never Bought Stocks) Have SingTel Shares In Their CPF Account?](https://dollarsandsense.sg/older-singaporeans-never-bought-stocks-singtel-shares-cpf-account/) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Electricity-Tarriffs-80x80.png)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/what-are-the-factors-that-contribute-to-electricity-tariffs-rising-in-singapore/) ### Columns ## [What Are The Factors That Contribute To Electricity Tariffs Rising In Singapore?](https://dollarsandsense.sg/what-are-the-factors-that-contribute-to-electricity-tariffs-rising-in-singapore/) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/neildodhia-mother-1171569_1920-80x80.jpg)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/7-examples-of-good-life-decisions-that-may-not-necessarily-be-smart-financial-decisions/) ### Life Hacks ## [7 Examples Of Good Life Decisions That May Not Necessarily Be Smart Financial Decisions](https://dollarsandsense.sg/7-examples-of-good-life-decisions-that-may-not-necessarily-be-smart-financial-decisions/) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/LawrenceWong-80x80.jpg)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/what-you-need-to-know-about-pm-wongs-message-amid-rising-oil-prices/) ### News ## [What You Need To Know About PM Wong’s Message Amid Rising Oil Prices](https://dollarsandsense.sg/what-you-need-to-know-about-pm-wongs-message-amid-rising-oil-prices/) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/iStock-1397937755-80x80.jpg)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/best-performing-stocks-of-q1-2026/) ### 4 Stocks This Week ## [7 Best Performing Stocks Of Q1 2026](https://dollarsandsense.sg/best-performing-stocks-of-q1-2026/) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/STI-ETF-80x80.png)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/spdr-sti-etf-vs-nikko-singapore-sti-etf-whats-difference-2-straits-times-index-etfs-listed-sgx/) ### Investing ## [SPDR STI ETF VS Amova Singapore STI ETF: What’s The Difference Between The 2 STI ETFs Listed On SGX?](https://dollarsandsense.sg/spdr-sti-etf-vs-nikko-singapore-sti-etf-whats-difference-2-straits-times-index-etfs-listed-sgx/) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/maid-cover-80x80.jpg)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/much-cost-hire-maid-singapore/) ### Lifestyle ## [How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Maid In Singapore?](https://dollarsandsense.sg/much-cost-hire-maid-singapore/) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/STI-ETF-80x80.png)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/spdr-sti-etf-vs-nikko-singapore-sti-etf-whats-difference-2-straits-times-index-etfs-listed-sgx/) ### Investing ## [SPDR STI ETF VS Amova Singapore STI ETF: What’s The Difference Between The 2 STI ETFs Listed On SGX?](https://dollarsandsense.sg/spdr-sti-etf-vs-nikko-singapore-sti-etf-whats-difference-2-straits-times-index-etfs-listed-sgx/) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Netflix_Disney_Amazon_HBO_Viu-80x80.jpg)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/disney-plus-vs-netflix-vs-amazon-prime-vs-hbo-go-video-streaming-subscription-worth-paying/) ### Lifestyle ## [Disney Plus, Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Go Or Viu? Which Video Streaming Subscription Is Worth Paying For?](https://dollarsandsense.sg/disney-plus-vs-netflix-vs-amazon-prime-vs-hbo-go-video-streaming-subscription-worth-paying/) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/clement-h-544786-unsplash-80x80.jpg)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/understanding-endowus-how-this-fintech-investment-advisor-will-help-spore-investors-access-superior-global-portfolios-at-low-cost/) ### Investing ## [Understanding Endowus: How This FinTech Investment Advisor Will Help S’pore Investors Access Superior Global Portfolios At Low Cost](https://dollarsandsense.sg/understanding-endowus-how-this-fintech-investment-advisor-will-help-spore-investors-access-superior-global-portfolios-at-low-cost/) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/SingTel-.jpg)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/older-singaporeans-never-bought-stocks-singtel-shares-cpf-account/) ### Investing ## [Why Do Older Singaporeans (Who Never Bought Stocks) Have SingTel Shares In Their CPF Account?](https://dollarsandsense.sg/older-singaporeans-never-bought-stocks-singtel-shares-cpf-account/) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Savings-Money-Cover-80x80.jpg)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/things-cpf-enhanced-retirement-sum-ers/) ### CPF ## [8 Things To Know About The CPF Enhanced Retirement Sum (ERS)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/things-cpf-enhanced-retirement-sum-ers/) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/stencil.maskpiggybank-min-80x80.jpg)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/3-3-5-rule-of-buying-an-hdb-flat-how-much-can-singaporeans-really-afford/) ### HDB ## [3-3-5 Rule Of Buying An HDB Flat: How Much Can Singaporeans Really Afford?](https://dollarsandsense.sg/3-3-5-rule-of-buying-an-hdb-flat-how-much-can-singaporeans-really-afford/) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/VossWater-80x80.jpg)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/understanding-why-voss-water-is-so-expensive/) ### Lifestyle ## [Understanding Why Voss Water Is So Expensive](https://dollarsandsense.sg/understanding-why-voss-water-is-so-expensive/) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/DBSScam-80x80.jpg)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/how-the-dbs-posb-phishing-scam-works-and-how-to-avoid-similar-online-scams/) ### Money ## [How The DBS/POSB Phishing Scam Works And How To Avoid Similar Online Scams](https://dollarsandsense.sg/how-the-dbs-posb-phishing-scam-works-and-how-to-avoid-similar-online-scams/) [![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/rajam_karthik-currency-notes-5319801_1920-80x80.jpg)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/4-ways-investors-are-managing-their-cash-as-markets-turn-volatile/) ### Investing ## [4 Ways Investors Are Managing Their Cash As Markets Turn Volatile](https://dollarsandsense.sg/4-ways-investors-are-managing-their-cash-as-markets-turn-volatile/) Load More [Renting VS Co-Living VS Serviced Apartments: How Much Do These Living Arrangements Cost For A Year?](https://dollarsandsense.sg/renting-vs-co-living-vs-serviced-apartments-much-living-arrangements-cost-year/) [Neighbourhood Estate Guide: Is Bedok The Best Value Estate In Terms Of Affordability And Amenities?](https://dollarsandsense.sg/neighbourhood-estate-guide-bedok-best-value-estate-affordability-amenities/) [![DollarsAndSense.sg](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/DNS-Grey-Footer-Logo.png)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/) Copyright © 2019 DollarsAndSense.
Readable Markdown	![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/chuttersnap-149286.jpg) When we buy a property in Singapore, we have to pay a tax for the documents executed in relation to the transaction. This tax mainly comprises the Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) and, if we are liable, an Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) for residential properties. ### How Much Is The Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD)? The Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) is taxed based on the purchase price or market value, whichever is higher, on all property purchases in Singapore. This includes both residential and non-residential properties. \| \| \| \| \|---\|---\|---\| \| Purchase Price or Market Value of Property \| Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) for Residential Properties \| Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) for Non-Residential Properties \| \| First \$180,000 \| 1% \| 1% \| \| Next \$180,000 \| 2% \| 2% \| \| Next \$640,000 \| 3% \| 3% \| \| Next \$500,000 \| 4% \| 4% \| \| Next \$1.5 million \| 5% \| 5% \| \| Amount exceeding \$3 million \| 6% \| 5% \| As you can see the BSD is taxed at an incremental rate based on the purchase price or market value of the home. This way, those who are able to afford more expensive homes will end up paying a higher BSD, while those who purchase less expensive homes pay less. The BSD is also levied at a slightly different rate for residential properties and non-residential properties. The BSD for residential property purchases can go as high as 6%, while BSD for non-residential property purchases is capped at 5%. This was recently adjusted for properties purchased from 15 February 2023. For a quick mental calculation, the first \$360,000 of our home value will be charged at \$5,400, the first \$1 million will be charged at \$24,600, the first \$1.5 million will be charged at \$44,600, and the first \$3 million will be charged at \$119,600. So, for example, if we purchase a home worth \$500,000, we need to pay \$5,400 + \$4,200 (\$140,000 X 3%), which is \$9,800. Similarly, if we purchase a home worth \$2 million, we need to pay \$44,600 + \$25,000 (\$500,000 X 5%), which is \$69,600. ### What Is The Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD)? The Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD), as its name suggests, is paid on top of the Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD). This only affects residential property buyers. Typically, it is for Singaporeans buying their second and subsequent residential property, as well as for PRs and foreigners buying their first home in Singapore. First introduced on 8 December 2011, the ABSD is one aspect of a slew of cooling measures implemented since 2009 to curb speculative demand for residential properties in Singapore. Arguably, it has been one of the most “painful” property cooling measures as it potentially increases our home purchase cost by a whopping 12% to 20%. Furthermore, the ABSD has to be paid lump sum. \| \| \| \| \|---\|---\|---\| \| Profile of the Buyer \| Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) \[FROM 16 December 2021 TO 26 April 2023\] \| Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) \[FROM 27 April 2023\] \| \| Singapore Citizens \| \| \| \| Singapore Citizen buying 1st residential property \| No ABSD \| No ABSD (no change) \| \| Singapore Citizen buying 2nd residential property \| 17% \| 20% (increase of 3 percentage points) \| \| Singapore Citizen buying 3rd and subsequent residential property \| 25% \| 30% (increase of 5 percentage points) \| \| Singapore Permanent Residents \| \| \| \| Singapore Permanent Resident buying 1st residential property \| 5% \| 5% (no change) \| \| Singapore Permanent Resident buying 2nd residential property \| 25% \| 30% (increase of 5 percentage points) \| \| Singapore Permanent Resident buying 3rd and subsequent residential property \| 30% \| 35% (increase of 5 percentage points) \| \| Foreigners \| \| \| \| Foreigners buying any residential property \| 30% \| 60% (increase of 30 percentage points) \| \| Entities \| \| \| \| Entities buying any residential property \| 35% + Additional 5% for Housing Developers \| 65% (increase of 30 percentage points) Housing Developers: 35% + Additional 5% for Housing Developers (no change) \| \ Housing Developers may apply for remission of the ABSD rate, but not for the additional 5% they pay.* Unlike the BSD, the ABSD is a fixed percentage of the entire property price (and not levied incrementally). As depicted in the table above, how much ABSD we have to pay depends on whether we are Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents (PRs), foreigners or buying as an entity, as well as the number of properties we already own under our name. For example, a Singapore Citizen buying a second home have to pay an ABSD of 20%. If we are purchasing a second home worth \$3.5 million, here’s what we need to pay: \| \| \| \| \| \|---\|---\|---\|---\| \| Type of Stamp Duty \| Stamp Duty Rate \| How much we have to pay \| \| \| Buyers Stamp Duty (BSD) \| 1% x \$180,000 \| \$1,800 \| \$149,600 \| \| 2% x \$180,000 \| \$3,600 \| \| \| \| 3% x \$640,000 \| \$19,200 \| \| \| \| 4% x \$500,000 \| \$20,000 \| \| \| \| 5% x \$1.5 million \| \$75,000 \| \| \| \| 6% x \$500,000 \| \$30,000 \| \| \| \| Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) \| 20% x \$3.5 million \| \$700,000 \| \| \| Total \| \$849,600 \| \| \| The ABSD can be a very substantial amount, and as we can see, can add up to over 20% on top of the purchase price for a \$3.5 million property. The fact that we have to fork out the BSD and ABSD upfront in cash is another big hurdle. While we are able to apply for a reimbursement from CPF or get a refund after selling our first home (if we are eligible), we still need to have this amount in spare cash – and beyond what we already need to pay in downpayment and BSD. Furthermore, since the ABSD can be a very costly, we may not have enough in our CPF for the full reimbursement. Careful financial planning is required to ensure we have sufficient funds to make this payment. Buyers should note that a full count will be applied whether we have full ownership, partial ownership or joint ownership of another property or properties. *Read Also: [Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD): How Much You Have To Pay To Own Multiple Properties & 5 Ways To Avoid ABSD](https://dollarsandsense.sg/additional-buyers-stamp-duty-absd-5-ways-avoid-absd/)* ### Paying ABSD If You Buy Under A Trust As of 9 May 2022, a higher rate of Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) will apply on any transfer of residential property into a living trust. This rate was recently increased to 65%. Prior to this, when a residential property is transferred into a living trust, Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) is payable. Depending on the profile of the beneficial owner(s) of the residential property transferred into the trust, ABSD may also be payable. However, if the living trust is structured such that there is no identifiable beneficial owner at the time when the residential property is transferred into the trust, no ABSD was payable. Following the 9 May 2022 change, ABSD (Trust) is to be payable upfront, when the residential property is transferred into any living trust. Eligible trustees may apply to IRAS for a refund of ABSD (Trust). This refund amount will be based on the difference between the ABSD (Trust) rate of 65% and the ABSD rate corresponding to the profile of the beneficial owner with the highest applicable ABSD rate. Trustees have six months to make the refund application after the instrument is executed. *Read Also:* [*Tenancy In Common VS Joint Tenancy: Pros And Cons Of Each Option And Which Should You Choose For Your HDB Flat](https://dollarsandsense.sg/tenancy-common-vs-joint-tenancy-pros-cons-option-choose/) ### When Do I Have To Pay The BSD And ABSD? The BSD and ABSD are upfront costs that we have to pay when purchasing a property in Singapore. We should set aside this amount, as well as other upfront costs, when determining whether we can afford to buy a home. The BSD and, if applicable to you, the ABSD has to be paid within 14 days from the date of the signed Contract or Agreement. Our documents for the home purchase will be considered to be duly stamped only when we have fully paid the stamp duty. While this means we will typically need to pay for the BSD and ABSD upfront in cash, we can include this amount when applying for a one-time reimbursement from our CPF account, together with our application to use our CPF savings to buy the home. In short, we can pay for our BSD and ABSD with our CPF funds. Since the ABSD can be a very significant amount, we may not even have enough in CPF when applying for reimbursement. ### Foreigners Eligible For ABSD Remission Under the respective Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), Nationals and Permanent Residents of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and Nationals of the USA, are accorded the same Stamp Duty treatment as Singapore Citizens. This means such foreigners will only have to pay the BSD when they purchase their first home in Singapore, and do not need to pay any ABSD. This is even better than the treatment of Singapore PRs buying a residential property in Singapore. Read Also:* [*Guide To Understanding Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) – And How It Helps Companies And Businesses](https://dollarsandsense.sg/business/guide-to-understanding-free-trade-agreements-ftas-and-how-it-helps-companies-and-businesses/) ### ABSD Refund For Married Couples Buying A Second Home Together This refund is meant to avoid penalising married couples who want to move from one home to another, as it requires the couple to sell the first property which they own or co-own. There are many detailed scenarios, which involve residency status of spouses and the number of residential properties they co-own or individually own, that the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) lists, which [you can find here](https://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/uploadedFiles/IRASHome/Other_Taxes/Stamp_Duty_for_Property/Claiming_Refunds_Remissions_Reliefs/Remissions/ABSD%20Rates%20or%20Remission%20for%20Joint%20Purchase%20by%20a%20Married%20Couple_2018-07-06.pdf). In general, the refund applies to: - Married couples, with at least one Singapore Citizen spouse, who do not own interest in more than one home at the date of purchasing the second home together - The first home is sold within six months after the date of purchase of the second home (for completed property) or the issue date of the Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP)/Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC), whichever is earlier (for uncompleted property) - Married couple remains married and there is no change in ownership of the second home at the point of selling the first home - Married couple has not purchased or acquired other homes since the purchase of their second home The application for the ABSD refund has to be made within six months after the date of sale of the first home. In any case, we need to note that the ABSD still has to be paid upfront while we apply for the refund. ABSD refunds on second home purchase only applies to married couples. Thus singles who purchase a second home, but sell off their first home within six months are not eligible to apply for an ABSD refund. Similarly, this will not apply to couples who are seeking the sell-1-buy-2 strategy to own two residential properties after selling their homes. This is because there is a change in the ownership structure of the second homes. Couples intending to do this should sell their first property before purchasing their individual properties. Another thing to note is that our residency status at the date of purchasing our home matters. Even if we are in the process of obtaining our Singapore Citizen or Singapore PR status, we still need to pay the applicable ABSD as at the date of purchase. We will be unable to apply for any ABSD refund regarding a new residency status after the date of purchasing our home. Read Also: [4 Ways You May Not Be Eligible For ABSD Refund (Even If You Don’t Intend To Own Multiple Properties)](https://dollarsandsense.sg/4-ways-may-not-eligible-absd-refund-even-dont-intend-multiple-properties/)* ### Do I Have To Pay Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) And Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) For An Inherited Property According to IRAS, we do not have to pay BSD or ABSD on a property we inherit in accordance to the Intestacy Law, Muslim Inheritance Law or a Will. This is regardless of the property value and/or how many properties we already own. *This article was first published on 3 August 2020 and updated with new information.* Advertiser Message ### Invest In Institutional-Grade Global Real Estate From \$10,000 Join RealVantage, a MAS-licensed investment platform, for access to curated real estate opportunities across 7+ global markets. Diversify into residential and commercial properties starting from \$10,000. [Sign up today](https://dollarsandsensesg.link/Property_footer) to receive a SGD10 Grab voucher and SGD100 investment credit. T\&Cs apply. ![](https://dollarsandsense.sg/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/DNS-Logo-Web.png)
Shard	145 (laksa)
Root Hash	5651999613980250745
Unparsed URL	sg,dollarsandsense!/much-absd-singaporeans-prs-foreigners-need-pay/ s443