SINGAPORE: Seller’s Stamp Duty Raised, Holding Period Extended to 4 Years for Private Property Owners

Private homeowners in Singapore who sell their properties within four years of purchase will now face higher Seller’s Stamp Duty (SSD) rates, the Ministry of National Development (MND) announced on Thursday (Jul 3).

Previously, SSD was applied to private residential properties sold within three years of purchase. With the latest changes, the required holding period has been extended to four years.

In addition, SSD rates will be increased by four percentage points across all tiers. The highest rate will now be 16 per cent for properties sold within the first year of purchase.

These changes will apply to all private residential properties bought on or after midnight, Jul 4.

HDB flat owners will not be affected, as they are already subject to the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP).

This marks a reversal of policy from 2017, when the SSD holding period was shortened from four years to three, and SSD rates were reduced by four percentage points per tier. However, the government has observed a sharp rise in private property transactions involving short holding periods.

“In particular, there has been a significant increase in the sub-sale of uncompleted units,” MND said.

In response, the government is reinstating the pre-2017 SSD rules—restoring the four-year holding period and raising rates by four percentage points at each tier.

The last major cooling measure came in April 2023, when the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) for foreign buyers was doubled to 60 per cent. Singaporeans purchasing their second residential property also saw an increase in ABSD, from 17 per cent to 20 per cent.