What are the current ABSD rates in Singapore?
These rates apply to any residential property acquired on or after 27 Apr 2023. ABSD is charged on the purchase price or market value, whichever is higher, as a flat percentage of the entire amount.
The previous band, shown alongside, ran from 16 Dec 2021 – 26 Apr 2023. If you are checking a transaction from that period, use that column.
| Buyer | Property | 16 Dec 2021 – 26 Apr 2023 | From 27 Apr 2023 | Cost on S$1,500,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Citizen | 1st residential property | None | None | S$0 |
| Singapore Citizen | 2nd residential property | 17% | 20% | S$300,000 |
| Singapore Citizen | 3rd and subsequent | 25% | 30% | S$450,000 |
| Singapore PR | 1st residential property | 5% | 5% | S$75,000 |
| Singapore PR | 2nd residential property | 25% | 30% | S$450,000 |
| Singapore PR | 3rd and subsequent | 30% | 35% | S$525,000 |
| Foreigner | Any residential property | 30% | 60% | S$900,000 |
| Entity | Any residential property | 35% | 65% | S$975,000 |
| Trustee | Any residential property | 35% | 65% | S$975,000 |
| Housing Developer | Any residential property | None | 35% (Plus a further 5% that is non-remittable) | S$525,000 |
Buyer's Stamp Duty is charged on top of every row above, and is the same for everyone — S$44,600 on a S$1,500,000 residential purchase.
How is the ABSD rate applied to the price?
As a single flat percentage of the whole amount. This is the difference between ABSD and BSD that catches people out: BSD is banded, so only the portion of the price inside each band is taxed at that band's rate. ABSD has no bands at all.
A Singapore Citizen buying a S$1,500,000 second home pays 20% of S$1,500,000, which is S$300,000 — not 20% of some upper slice of it.
When did ABSD start and how often has it changed?
ABSD was introduced on 8 December 2011 as a cooling measure. It has been revised five times since, and the foreigner rate is the clearest single thread through that history because it is the one profile with a rate at every revision.
| Effective from | Foreigner rate | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Dec 2011 | 10% | ABSD introduced |
| 12 Jan 2013 | 15% | First revision |
| 6 Jul 2018 | 20% | Cooling measures |
| 16 Dec 2021 | 30% | Cooling measures |
| 27 Apr 2023 | 60% | Doubled — current |
Five revisions in twelve years, and every one of them raised the rates. There has never been a reduction.
Why do the rates keep going up?
ABSD is not a revenue tax first — it is a cooling measure. It exists to moderate demand from buyers who are not buying a home to live in: investors, multiple-property owners, and foreign capital.
That framing explains the shape of the table. A citizen buying a first home pays nothing, because that buyer is the policy objective rather than the policy target. The rates climb steeply as the buyer looks less like an owner-occupier and more like an investor, ending at 60% for foreigners and 65% for entities and trustees.
Will ABSD be reduced or removed?
There is no announced plan to reduce or remove it, and nothing in the history suggests it is likely. Every one of the five revisions has been upward, including the April 2023 change that doubled the foreigner rate from 30% to 60% overnight with immediate effect.
Rates are set by the Ministry of Finance and announced without warning — the 2023 change took effect the day after it was announced. Planning a purchase on the assumption that rates will fall is planning against the entire recorded history of the tax.
The practical consequence: if a rate change would materially affect your decision, the risk runs in one direction. Budget on the rate in force today, not on a hoped-for reduction.
Which rate applies if I bought before the current table?
The rate in force on the date of acquisition — the date you accepted the Option to Purchase, or the date of the Sale and Purchase Agreement, or the date of transfer where neither applies. Not the completion date, and not today's date.
That is why the 16 Dec 2021 – 26 Apr 2023 column is still worth having. A purchase where the option was accepted on 20 April 2023 falls under the old rates even though completion happened well after 27 April.
Work out your own number
Stamp Duty Calculator Singapore
Pick your buyer profile and price to get the exact BSD and ABSD, using the rates on this page.
Open the calculator →Frequently asked questions
What are the ABSD rates in Singapore 2026?
Singapore Citizens pay nothing on a first residential property, 20% on a second and 30% on a third or subsequent. Singapore PRs pay 5%, 30% and 35% respectively. Foreigners pay 60% on any residential property. Entities and trustees pay 65%. These rates have applied since 27 April 2023.
What is the ABSD rate for a second property?
20% for a Singapore Citizen and 30% for a Singapore PR. On a S$1,500,000 purchase that is S$300,000 and S$450,000 respectively, on top of S$44,600 in Buyer's Stamp Duty.
How is ABSD calculated?
It is a flat percentage of the purchase price or market value, whichever is higher. There are no bands, unlike Buyer's Stamp Duty. A 20% rate means 20% of the entire price.
When did ABSD start in Singapore?
On 8 December 2011, when it was introduced as a property cooling measure at 10% for foreigners. It has been revised on 12 January 2013, 6 July 2018, 16 December 2021 and 27 April 2023.
How many times has ABSD been increased?
Five times since it was introduced in 2011. Every revision raised the rates; none has ever lowered them. The largest single jump was in April 2023, when the foreigner rate doubled from 30% to 60%.
Will ABSD be removed?
There is no announced plan to remove or reduce it. ABSD functions as a cooling measure rather than a revenue tax, and the entire recorded history of the tax runs in one direction — upward.
Which ABSD rate applies to my purchase?
The rate in force on your date of acquisition, which is the date you accepted the Option to Purchase, or the date of the Sale and Purchase Agreement, or the date of transfer where neither applies. Completion date does not determine it.
Is there a difference between the ABSD rate for HDB and private property?
No. The rate is set by who you are and how many residential properties you already hold, not by the type of property. A Singapore PR buying a first HDB flat pays the same 5% as a PR buying a first condominium.
Do entities pay a higher rate than foreigners?
Yes. Entities and trustees pay 65%, above the 60% an individual foreigner pays. Holding residential property through a company is more expensive than holding it personally, not less.
Sources
Every rate on this page was read directly from IRAS on . Stamp duty rules change with little notice — confirm against IRAS before you commit to a purchase.
- ↗ IRAS — Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD)
- ↗ IRAS — Buyer's Stamp Duty (BSD)
- ↗ IRAS — Common stamp duty remissions and reliefs for property
LoanCalculatorSingapore.com is not a licensed financial adviser, tax adviser or law firm. This page is general information, not personalised advice. See our full disclaimer.