Tax on selling residential property within 3 years of purchase — 12% in year 1, 8% in year 2, 4% in year 3, 0% thereafter (rates from Mar 2017).
Seller's Stamp Duty is a tax payable when you sell residential property within 3 years of purchasing it. Introduced in 2010 to dampen speculation, SSD makes short-term property flipping expensive.
The 3-year holding period counts from the date of acquisition (when you pay BSD) to the date of sale (when you grant the Option to Purchase).
Sold within 1 year of purchase: 12%
Sold in year 2 (between 1 and 2 years): 8%
Sold in year 3 (between 2 and 3 years): 4%
Sold after 3 years: 0% — no SSD payable.
You buy a S$2 million condo and need to sell after 18 months due to relocation. SSD applies at 8%: S$160,000.
Add the original BSD of S$90,400 and (if it was a second property) ABSD of S$400,000, and the total tax cost on the round-trip is over S$650,000 — before agent fees and legal costs.
This is why the rule of thumb is: don't buy private residential property unless you can hold for at least 3 years.
HDB flats: SSD doesn't apply, but the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) of 5 years effectively prevents short-term flipping.
Industrial property: separate SSD regime with 15% / 10% / 5% over 1 / 2 / 3 years.
Inheritance and divorce transfers: usually exempt with documentary proof.
Commercial property and shophouses: no SSD applies.
Sold within 1 year of purchase: 12%. Year 2: 8%. Year 3: 4%. After 3 years: 0%. Rates have applied since 11 March 2017 and target short-term residential property speculation.
From the date of acquisition (when you pay BSD) to the date of sale (when you grant the Option to Purchase to a buyer). If either date falls within the 3-year window, SSD applies at the corresponding tier.
No — SSD only applies to private residential property. HDB flats are governed by the 5-year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) instead, which effectively prevents short-term flipping.
Yes — inheritance, divorce-related transfers, and certain HDB / government acquisitions are typically exempt with appropriate documentation. Compulsory acquisitions also do not trigger SSD.