Is GST charged on residential property in Singapore?

No. GST applies to commercial property (when the seller is GST-registered), but the sale and lease of residential property is exempt from GST.

Who pays tenancy stamp duty?

Tenancy stamp duty on a lease is usually paid by the tenant and is computed based on the rent payable over the term of the tenancy.

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Paper 2 · Taxes & Leasing

Property Tax, GST & Tenancy Stamp Duty (Singapore)

Beyond the one-off stamp duties on a purchase, the exam covers the recurring tax on owning property and the duty on leasing it.

Property tax — based on Annual Value

Property tax is charged on the Annual Value (AV) — IRAS's estimate of the property's gross annual rent if let out. The rate depends on how the property is used:

Property use	Property-tax rate
Residential, owner-occupied	Lower progressive rates on AV
Residential, not owner-occupied (rented/vacant)	Higher progressive rates on AV
Commercial / industrial	Flat 10% of AV

Residential owner-occupier & non-owner rates are progressive on AV (verify current bands with IRAS). Non-residential is a flat rate on AV.

GST

GST (9%) applies to the sale/lease of commercial and industrial property where the seller/landlord is GST-registered. The sale and lease of residential property is exempt from GST.

Tenancy (lease) stamp duty

A lease attracts stamp duty computed on the rent, usually paid by the tenant: roughly 0.4% of the total rent for a lease of up to 4 years; for a lease over 4 years, 0.4% of 4× the Average Annual Rent (AAR).

The trap

Assuming a vacant home gets the owner-occupier rate — it doesn't; owner-occupier rates require you to actually live there, so a vacant or rented home is taxed at the higher non-owner rate. Also: don't apply GST to a residential sale (it's exempt).

Exam takeaway

Split the taxes by timing & type: stamp duties (one-off, on purchase), property tax (recurring, on AV — owner-occupier vs not vs flat 10% commercial), GST (non-residential only), and tenancy stamp duty (on the rent).

Common questions

Is GST charged on residential property in Singapore?: No. GST applies to commercial property (when the seller is GST-registered), but the sale and lease of residential property is exempt from GST.
Who pays tenancy stamp duty?: Tenancy stamp duty on a lease is usually paid by the tenant and is computed based on the rent payable over the term of the tenancy.

Keep learning

Study material aligned to the public CEA syllabus. Not financial or legal advice — verify current figures with the relevant authority (IRAS, HDB, CEA, MAS).