Stamp Duties, decoded: BSD, ABSD & SSD

Every property transaction in Singapore can attract up to three separate stamp duties. Knowing which one applies — and to whom — is half the battle in the exam.

• •Buyer's Stamp Duty (BSD) — paid by the BUYER on every purchase, residential or not.
• •Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) — paid by the BUYER, residential only, on top of BSD, based on profile and property count.
• •Seller's Stamp Duty (SSD) — paid by the SELLER, residential only, if they sell within the holding period.

All three are charged on the HIGHER of the purchase price or the market value — a detail worth remembering, because exam scenarios often quote both to test you.

BSD is tiered (marginal) and applies to residential and non-residential property, at different top rates.

• •Residential: 1% first $180k · 2% next $180k · 3% next $640k · 4% next $500k · 5% next $1.5m · 6% above $3m.
• •Non-residential: same lower bands but caps at 5% above $1.5m — there is NO 6% tier.

Handy checkpoints: BSD is $24,600 at $1m and $44,600 at $1.5m (residential). For a $1m–$3m residential price you can shortcut with 3% × price − $5,400 up to $1.5m, then add the 5% band.

Worked example — a $1,200,000 condo: $1,800 + $3,600 + $19,200 (to $1m) + 4% × $200,000 = $8,000. Total BSD = $32,600.