RES exam question on Private Property Sale: Seller's Stamp Duty is payable
Mr and Mrs Goh bought a condominium unit jointly in 2012. On 3 November 2025 Mrs Goh gave her half share to Mr Goh, who paid the stamp duty on the gift. He sells the whole unit on 1 September 2026 for $2,000,000, which is also its market value. How much Seller's Stamp Duty is payable?
- A$0
- B$120,000
- C$160,000
- D$320,000
Show answer & explanation
Answer
C. $160,000
Explanation
Answer: $160,000. Only the half share Mr Goh received by gift on 3 November 2025 is inside the holding period, so 16% applies to that $1,000,000 share.Working:1. Mr Goh's original half, held since 2012, is outside SSD.2. The gifted half was sold within a year: 16% x $1,000,000 = $160,000.Rule: Seller's Stamp Duty runs from the date each interest was acquired. A husband who received his wife's half share by gift and sold within the holding period pays SSD on that half share, based on the higher of its price and market value.Source: IRAS, SSD for residential property, read 1 Oct 2026
Why the other options are wrong
- $0, whole unit held since 2012: The gifted half was acquired on 3 November 2025, inside the holding period.
- $120,000, the old 12% rate: For property acquired on or after 4 Jul 2025, the first-year rate is 16%.
- $320,000, 16% on the whole unit: Charges the whole unit, including the half held since 2012.
Study the concept behind this question: En Bloc, Auction & the Private Sale Process (Singapore)
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