Thuế Trước Bạ Dành Cho Người Mua Nước Ngoài: BSD, ABSD, và Số Tiền Bạn Thực Sự Phải Trả

Two stamp duties apply when you buy residential property in Singapore: Buyer's Stamp Duty (BSD) and Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD). BSD applies to everyone. ABSD is where citizenship + how many properties you already own matters — a lot.

Buyer's Stamp Duty (BSD)

BSD is tiered on the purchase price (or market value, whichever is higher). The current rates for residential property (effective 15 Feb 2023):

• 1% on the first S$180,000
• 2% on the next S$180,000
• 3% on the next S$640,000
• 4% on the next S$500,000
• 5% on the next S$1,500,000
• 6% on amounts above S$3,000,000

Worked example: a S$2,000,000 condo. BSD = S$1,800 + S$3,600 + S$19,200 + S$20,000 + S$25,000 = S$69,600.

Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD)

ABSD was last revised on 27 Apr 2023. Rates now:

• Foreigner: 60% (on every residential purchase)
• Singapore Permanent Resident: 5% (1st property), 30% (2nd), 35% (3rd+)
• Singapore Citizen: 0% (1st), 20% (2nd), 30% (3rd+)
• Entities & Trustees: 65%

Same S$2,000,000 condo as a foreigner → ABSD of S$1,200,000 on top of the BSD. Total stamp duty: S$1,269,600 before you even pay for the unit.

Free Trade Agreement (FTA) relief

Nationals and Permanent Residents of countries with FTA treatment are taxed at Singapore Citizen ABSD rates for residential property. As of writing, this covers:

• United States
• Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway (EFTA states)
• Switzerland

So a US national paying ABSD on her first SG residential property pays 0%, not 60%. This is a huge differentiator — verify your country's FTA status before assuming foreigner rates apply to you.

ABSD remission for married couples

If one spouse is a Singapore Citizen and the other is a foreigner/PR, you may qualify for full ABSD remission on a joint purchase — provided you sell any other residential property within 6 months of the purchase. The application is made via IRAS. Get a lawyer to verify eligibility before banking on this.