ABSD Remission for Singapore Permanent Residents Buying First Home

When a Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) buys their first residential property alone, they face a 5% Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD). If that SPR is married to a Singapore Citizen and they purchase the property jointly, they can apply for ABSD remission to bring the rate down to 0%.

What is ABSD and Current Rates for PRs

ABSD is a tax on top of Buyer’s Stamp Duty for residential purchases. For an SPR buying a first property, the rate is 5% since 6 July 2018. The same SPR buying a second property pays 25%. A single SC pays 0% on the first home. The remission closes this gap for qualifying SC‑SPR couples.

ABSD Remission for SC‑PR Married Couples

The Remission of ABSD (Married Couples) scheme lets an eligible SC–SPR pair pay ABSD as if both were SCs. On their first joint purchase, this means 0% instead of 5%. The remission is not automatic. You must apply to IRAS. Approved applications either waive the ABSD upfront or refund the amount already paid.

Key Conditions for Remission

All of these must be met:

• Joint purchase – Both spouses must be listed as registered joint tenants or tenants‑in‑common. A sole SPR buyer, even if married to an SC, does not qualify.
• Both must be legally married at the date of acceptance of the Option to Purchase (OTP).
• Neither spouse can own any residential property worldwide at that date. A commercial or industrial unit does not count.
• The couple must not have received ABSD remission before.
• They must intend to occupy the property as their primary residence. IRAS may verify this through NRIC addresses.

How to Apply: Form and Documents

Use the application form titled “Remission of Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) for a Married Couple” (Form ID: ABSD‑RMC). Submit it with:

• A copy of the signed OTP or Sale & Purchase Agreement.
• Marriage certificate.
• NRICs of both spouses.
• A signed declaration that neither owns another residential property. Send the complete set to IRAS’s Stamp Duty Branch via email, by post, or in person. Processing typically takes 2–4 weeks.

Important Timelines and Deadlines

Submit the application within 6 months from the date the OTP was accepted. If there is no OTP, the deadline runs from the Sale & Purchase Agreement date. Late submissions are rejected. ABSD is usually due within 14 days after exercising the OTP. If you apply for remission before the payment deadline and have not paid, IRAS will generally hold the demand. If you paid the 5% ABSD first, the refund is paid out after approval.

Common Scenarios and Disqualifications

• Sole SPR buyer – No remission, even if married to an SC. Both names must appear on the title.
• Deferred payment or delayed SPA – The OTP date still controls the 6‑month window. Extending the SPA does not reset the clock.
• Purchasing an HDB flat – HDB eligibility rules (ethnic quota, SC/SPR quota etc.) remain separate. The remission only waives ABSD; it does not override HDB policies.

FAQ

Can we get remission for a second property?
No. The remission is strictly for the couple’s first residential purchase.

One spouse owns a commercial shop. Does that affect eligibility?
No. Only residential property ownership worldwide is considered.

If we divorce after the purchase, is the remission revoked?
Once properly granted, the remission stays. However, if IRAS later finds false declarations, the remission can be clawed back with penalties.

参考资料

• Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). (2023). Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD).
• IRAS. (2023). Remission of ABSD for Married Couples with at least one Singapore Citizen Spouse.
• Singapore Statutes Online. (2018). Stamp Duties Act (Amendment of First Schedule) Notification 2018.
• Ministry of Finance Singapore. (2023). ABSD Remission Rules.

This article is for general information only. It does not constitute legal or tax advice. Consult IRAS or a qualified professional for your specific situation.