Seller’s Stamp Duty (SSD)

If you buy a residential property (HDB, condo or landed) and sell it within 4 years, you will need to pay a tax called Seller’s Stamp Duty, or SSD in short.

This SSD policy went into effect in 20 Feb 2010 and has been amended twice.

If you bought your property on or after 14 Jan 2011, the most recent SSD rules will apply to you:

• 16% if you sell within 1 year
• 12% if you sell after 1 year but before 2 years are up
• 8% if you sell after 2 years but before 3 years are up
• 4% if you sell after 3 years but before 4 years are up
• No SSD if you sell after 4 years.

If you bought your property between 30 Aug 2010 and 13 Jan 2011 inclusive, these more complicated SSD rules will apply to you:

• If you sell within 1 year, 1% on first $180k, 2% on next $180k and 3% on remainder
• If you sell after 1 year but before 2 years are up, 0.67% on first $180k, 1.33% on next $180k and 2% on remainder
• If you sell after 2 years but before 3 years are up, 0.33% on first $180k, 0.67% on next $180k and 1% on remainder
• If you sell after 3 years, no SSD.

If you bought your property between 20 Feb 2010 and 29 Aug 2010 inclusive, these simpler SSD rules will apply to you:

• If you sell within 1 year, 1% on first $180k, 2% on next $180k and 3% on remainder
• If you sell after 1 year, no SSD.

Reference: IRAS web page – Seller’s Stamp Duty (SSD) for Residential Property