What is Stamp Duty?
In Singapore, Stamp Duty is a tax levied on documents related to immovable property, stocks, or shares. This includes:
- Property stamp duty (sale and purchase agreements, tenancy agreements, property transfer documents, property mortgage documents);
- Stock stamp duty (stock transfer and stock mortgage documents);
- Stamp duty on shares in a Property Holding Entity (PHE) that owns residential real estate.
Who is responsible for paying Stamp Duty?
Stamp duty for property purchases is paid by the buyer, while stamp duty for property sales is paid by the seller (if applicable).
Stamp duty for rental agreements is typically paid by the tenant.
The party responsible for paying the stamp duty is usually specified in the document. If the document does not contain a clause stating which party is responsible, the provisions of the Third Schedule of the Singapore Stamp Duties Act should be followed.
What are the Stamp Duty rates and how is it calculated?
The calculation of stamp duty varies depending on the type of document. The amount of stamp duty depends on the transaction value.
You can use the Stamp Duty Calculator on the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) website to calculate it, or seek assistance from a professional real estate agent.
Related Articles:
When does Stamp Duty need to be paid?
Stamp duty must be paid to IRAS within 14 days of the contract signing date. If the contract is signed outside of Singapore, the deadline for paying stamp duty can be extended to 30 days.
It is crucial to pay the stamp duty on time after the contract is signed. A document is only considered duly stamped when the full stamp duty has been paid. If IRAS discovers that stamp duty has not been paid or has been paid late, a penalty may be imposed (according to the Stamp Duties Act, a penalty of up to four times the unpaid duty may be levied). Moreover, if the stamp duty is not paid, the signed contract cannot be used as evidence in court in the event of a future dispute.
Where to get documents stamped?
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) was the first in the world to launch an electronic stamping or e-Stamping system in 1999. Today, the public no longer needs to use the traditional paper-based method of stamping documents at IRAS counters or by post. Everyone can use the e-Stamping system.
The e-Stamping website provides a convenient service, allowing you to stamp your documents from home, the office, or anywhere else. There are no handling fees or service charges. When e-stamping, you just need to enter the relevant information, and the system will automatically calculate the amount of stamp duty payable.
You can get your documents stamped through the following methods:
1. Online Stamping
The e-Stamping website (accessible from the official IRAS website) offers the following online services:
- e-Stamp your documents
- Pay additional stamp duty
- Retrieve your Stamp Certificate
- Amend a Stamp Certificate
- Request a refund
- Seek Adjudication or Appeal
2. Service Bureaus
IRAS has 4 Service Bureaus located within SingPost branches. You can visit these counters to get your documents stamped. Please fill out the application form on the IRAS website before visiting a service point. A service fee will be charged by the bureau.
The locations and operating hours of each service bureau are as follows:
| Service Point | Address | Operating Hours |
| Novena Post Office | Revenue House 55 Newton Road #01-02 Singapore 307987 | Mon to Fri: 8.30am-5:30pm
Sat: 8:30am – 1:00pm |
| Raffles Place Post Office | Ocean Financial Centre 10 Collyer Quay #B1-11 Singapore 049315 | Mon to Fri: 8.30am-6:00pm |
| Shenton Way Post Office | Downtown Gallery 6A Shenton Way #03-23 Singapore 068815 | Mon to Fri: 8.30am-6:00pm |
| Chinatown Post Office | People’s Park Centre 101 Upper Cross Street#B1-17A Singapore 058357 | Mon to Fri: 9.30am-6:00pm
Sat: 9:30am – 2:00pm |
3. IRAS Surf Centre
You can also use the electronic terminals to e-Stamp your documents. After successful payment via eNETS or NETS, a message will be displayed, and you can then print the Stamp Certificate.
The address of the IRAS Surf Centre is as follows:
55 Newton Road, Revenue House, 1st Level, Taxpayer Services Centre, Singapore 307987
Opposite Novena MRT station.
Operating Hours:
Weekdays: 8:00am to 5:00pm
Saturdays: 8:00am to 1:00pm
(Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays)
An appointment must be made two working days in advance.
How to pay Stamp Duty on the e-Stamping website
Here is a detailed guide on how to pay stamp duty via the IRAS e-Stamping portal. Many people who rent without an agent, or are renewing their lease and don’t want to hire an agent again, are at a loss when it comes to paying stamp duty. Here, we will use paying rental stamp duty as an example.
A step-by-step guide to paying Stamp Duty
1. Open the official website
You can log in using your SingPass account. Enter your username and password, or use the QR code feature on the SingPass mobile app.
If you are a first-time IRAS user, you can “Register for an account,” and the system will prompt you to enter your details (username, address, phone number, email, etc.).
You can also directly select “Non-login services”.
2. Select “Stamp Lease/ Tenancy Agreement”
You can select the “Stamping” tab in the main menu and then choose the type of stamp duty you want to pay. You can also select the quick option below.
Next are just three steps: Fill in information – Confirm details – Pay and download
First is to fill in your personal information. This step is divided into seven subsections. All items marked with a red asterisk are mandatory.
3. Contact (Applicant’s Information)
If you are paying the tax for your own lease, select YES. If you are submitting on behalf of someone else, select NO.
4. Document Information
For Document Description, select “Tenancy Agreement”.
If the contract was signed online, for Type of Document, select “Electronic”; if you signed a physical contract with the landlord, select “Physical”.
The Date of Document should be the same as the signing date in the tenancy agreement.
If you are renting the whole unit, select “Whole” under Property; if you are renting a single room, you should select “Partial”.
The final Floor Area can be left blank.
5. Property Information
When filling in the Property Type, if you are renting a condominium, ask your landlord or agent whether it is a Private Residential property or an Executive Condominium; if it is an HDB flat, select HDB Residential.
6. Lease/Tenancy Period
If your contract specifies a fixed rent for the duration of the lease, select “Fixed”. Otherwise, select “Varied”.
If the lease period is specified in the contract, select “Definite”.
The lease start and end dates should also be as per the contract.
7. Rental Charges Per Month
Generally, the monthly rent is fixed. Please fill it in according to the contract.
The rent may include base rent, furniture and fittings, maintenance fees, etc. These are optional fields.
For “Does total rent include a variable component?”, select “Yes” if there are other agreed-upon variable factors in the rent.
Enter the total rent, then click “Calculate” below. The system will calculate the amount of stamp duty payable.
8. Lessor/Landlord Information
Landlords are generally Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents, and their ID type is NRIC (National Registration Identity Card), with the ID number starting with S or T.
If the landlord is a foreigner, you should select FIN (Foreigner Identification Number), with the ID number starting with F or G.
9. Lessee/Tenant Information
Apart from Citizens, Permanent Residents, and Entities, all other pass holders should select “FOREIGNER”.
If there is more than one tenant, you can click “ADD ANOTHER PARTY” at the bottom right to add other tenants’ information.
Note: For newcomers to Singapore, it is very important to add all tenants’ information. The tenancy agreement, along with the stamp duty certificate, can be used as proof of address to open a bank account. If a tenant’s name is not on the stamp duty certificate, they will have to wait for an official physical letter before they can open a bank account. Some landlords or agents, trying to save time, may claim that only 1-2 tenants can be listed on the stamp duty certificate, but this is not true. Up to 6 tenants can be listed, which is also the maximum number of people allowed to co-rent in Singapore.
10. Confirm, Pay, and Download the Stamp Certificate
After completing the forms, you will proceed to the “PREVIEW & DECLARE” section. Please carefully check the information you have entered. If you need to make changes, you can click “EDIT DETAILS”. Once you confirm that all information is correct, click “MAKE PAYMENT” to go to the payment page.
After successful payment, the page will automatically redirect to the download page. Click “DOWNLOAD” to save the Stamp Certificate.
The Stamp Certificate consists of two pages, as shown in the example below. After obtaining the Stamp Certificate, remember to save it as a PDF and send it to your landlord or agent for their records.
Online Payment Methods
| Individual (Non-login user) | – eNETS
– If the total amount exceeds the NETS limit, payment can be made by cheque/cashier’s order – FAST via DBS/POSB (for transfer-type documents) |
| Registered user | – GIRO (for document types payable by GIRO)
– Cheque/Cashier’s Order (for document types payable by cheque/cashier’s order) User Guide – How to pay by Cheque/Cashier’s Order and Payment Slip |
| Service Bureau | – NETS, Cheque, Cashier’s Order, or Cash |
| IRAS Surf Centre | – eNETS or NETS |
| Please log in to the IRAS website to view other payment channels. | |
And that’s it! Congratulations, you have successfully paid your stamp duty through the IRAS online portal. We hope this guide has been helpful to you.
Quick Q&A:
-
When should I pay Stamp Duty?
Within 14 days of signing the contract. If you are overseas when signing, the deadline is 30 days. It’s best not to be late, as there are penalties.
-
If I don’t have enough money, can I pay in installments?
No.
-
How much is the Stamp Duty?
It depends.
Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD): The higher the property price, the higher the tax (1-6%);
Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD): Different rates apply to different statuses (stamp duty for foreigners can be up to 60%);
Rental Stamp Duty: 0.4% of the total rent.
You can consult our property experts at any time for more details.
-
How can I pay Stamp Duty online?
You can pay online by visiting the official IRAS E-stamping website.
Official Sources & References
- IRAS — Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) rates: ABSD official page
- IRAS — Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD): BSD official page
- IRAS — Late Payment or Non-Payment of Stamp Duty: Late-payment penalties
- IRAS — e-Stamping and Where to e-Stamp Documents: e-Stamping
For further enquiries, please get in touch:
WeChat: sgleokwek
Telegram: sgleokwek
WhatsApp: Message us
