SSD on Singapore residential property held since 4 July 2025: 16% if sold within 1 year, 12% in year 2, 8% in year 3, 4% in year 4, 0% thereafter. The holding period was extended from 3 to 4 years on 3 July 2025 by MAS and rates raised 4 percentage points per tier — a meaningful tightening (as of 2026-05).
Seller's Stamp Duty (SSD) is the disincentive Singapore uses to discourage short-term flipping of residential property. Unlike BSD and ABSD which the buyer pays, SSD is paid by the seller and is calculated on the sale price (or market value, whichever is higher) of the property at the time of disposal. The longer you hold, the lower the rate — until it drops to zero after the holding period elapses.
On 3 July 2025, MAS announced the holding period extension from 3 to 4 years, citing increased short-term flipping activity (as of 2026-05). All residential properties purchased on or after 4 July 2025 fall under the new tier. Properties purchased before that date remain under the 3-year regime with the pre-2025 rate schedule.
What Does It Mean?
Seller's Stamp Duty (SSD) applies when you sell a property within 3 years of purchase. The rates are 12% if sold in the first year, 8% in the second year, and 4% in the third year. No SSD applies after the third year.
Current Rates
| Holding Period | SSD Rate |
|---|---|
| Sold within 1 year of purchase | 12% |
| Sold within 2 years | 8% |
| Sold within 3 years | 4% |
| Sold after 3 years | 0% |
Selling a $1,500,000 condo within 1 year incurs SSD of 12% = $180,000. After 3 years, SSD is zero.
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Worked Example
Selling a $1,500,000 property:
Why It Matters
SSD effectively creates a 3-year minimum holding period for any property investment. Selling within 3 years at a 12% SSD rate could wipe out years of capital appreciation.
Where to Find This on ShiokNest
- Seller's Stamp Duty Calculator
Look for the tooltip icon next to this metric on ShiokNest for a quick reminder of its definition.
Official Sources
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Current SSD rates (purchases on/after 4 July 2025):
| Holding period | SSD rate |
|---|---|
| ≤ 1 year | 16% |
| > 1 to ≤ 2 years | 12% |
| > 2 to ≤ 3 years | 8% |
| > 3 to ≤ 4 years | 4% |
| > 4 years | 0% |
Legacy rates (purchases between 11 March 2017 and 3 July 2025): 12% / 8% / 4% over a 3-year holding period (per IRAS SSD tables).
Worked example: condo bought 1 August 2025 for S$1.5M, sold 1 September 2026 for S$1.65M. Holding period: 13 months → year 2 tier → SSD = 12% × S$1.65M = S$198,000. The 15-month-late sale wipes out the entire S$150,000 nominal gain.
- Check your purchase date first — pre-4-July-2025 purchases use the old 3-year regime; later purchases use the new 4-year regime.
- Compute the holding period precisely: from the date of OTP exercise (or signed S&P if no OTP) to the date the sale OTP is exercised.
- If you must sell early, model the SSD against the nominal gain — many forced sales within years 1–2 net to negative cash after SSD + agent fees.
- For inherited property, the holding period inherits from the deceased\'s acquisition date — not the date of inheritance.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 3-year SSD clock start?
Does SSD apply to inherited property?
How is the holding period calculated?
From the date of acquisition (OTP exercise or S&P signing) to the date of disposal (sale OTP exercise). Partial years round up to the next tier.
Can SSD be paid by the buyer?
Legally no — SSD is the seller's obligation. In practice, distressed sellers sometimes accept a price that reflects an implicit transfer, but the IRAS payment must come from the seller.
What about new launch units that haven't TOP'd?
The holding period starts from the OTP exercise on the new launch, not from TOP. Selling before TOP (via subsale) within the SSD window incurs the same rates.
Are there SSD exemptions?
Yes — transfers due to bankruptcy, court orders, HDB compulsory acquisitions, and certain spousal transfers are exempt. Voluntary sales for market reasons are not exempt.
This glossary article is auto-generated from ShiokNest's financial data and updated periodically. Rates and figures are current as of May 2026. Check official sources for the latest.