What SSD is — and why it exists
Seller's Stamp Duty is a tax the seller pays when residential property is sold within a fixed holding period after it was bought. It is a property cooling measure: by taxing quick resales, it discourages speculative short-term flipping. Hold the property beyond the holding period and SSD falls to zero.
SSD sits alongside the two buyer-side stamp duties — Buyer's Stamp Duty (BSD) and Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD). BSD and ABSD are paid by the buyer at purchase; SSD is paid by the seller at disposal.
Current rates — bought on or after 4 July 2025
On 3 July 2025 the Government announced a tightening of SSD: the holding period was extended from 3 years back to 4 years, and each tier's rate was raised by 4 percentage points. This applies to all residential property purchased on or after 4 July 2025.
| Sold within | SSD rate |
|---|---|
| 1st year of ownership | 16% |
| 2nd year (held >1 to 2 years) | 12% |
| 3rd year (held >2 to 3 years) | 8% |
| 4th year (held >3 to 4 years) | 4% |
| More than 4 years | 0% (no SSD) |
These rates are a return to the pre-2017 schedule.
Rate history — which schedule applies to you
The SSD schedule that applies is fixed by the date you bought the property, not the date you sell. The three bands relevant today:
| Date of purchase | Holding period | Rates (Yr 1 / 2 / 3 / 4) |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Jan 2011 – 10 Mar 2017 | 4 years | 16 / 12 / 8 / 4% |
| 11 Mar 2017 – 3 Jul 2025 | 3 years | 12 / 8 / 4% (—) |
| On or after 4 Jul 2025 | 4 years | 16 / 12 / 8 / 4% |
For the 11 Mar 2017 – 3 Jul 2025 band there is no 4th-year tier — sell after 3 years and SSD is 0%.
How SSD is computed
SSD is charged on the higher of the selling price or the market value of the property, at the rate for the holding period at the point of sale:
Worked example. A condo bought on 1 Sep 2025 for $1,500,000 is sold 18 months later. 18 months falls in the 2nd year, so the rate is 12%:
Held instead for more than 4 years, the same sale would attract $0 SSD.
Common exemptions
SSD is exempt for the seller / transferor in specific scenarios, including:
- Licensed housing developers selling residential property they developed.
- Public authorities (e.g. HDB, JTC) disposing of property in the course of their functions.
- Property acquired by the Government under the Land Acquisition Act.
- Individuals adjudged bankrupt and required to dispose of property as a result.
- Companies disposing of property upon involuntary winding up.
- Foreigners required to sell under the Residential Property Act.
- Certain HDB cases — flats under SERS, or where HDB rules require disposing of an inherited or surplus flat after an inheritance or marriage.
The exemption list is detailed and conditional — confirm any specific case against IRAS.