Stamp duty on rental units are taxes on tenancy agreement documents. Tenants are required to pay this tax as long as they are renting, whether it’s a room or an entire unit. This stamp duty for rental property is paid to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).
The tenancy agreement will only come into effect once the stamp duty has been paid and all the relevant stamps and seals are in place. The stamp duty on rental units also applies to extension of lease or renewal of the tenancy agreement.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for rental units has shot up and rental prices have gone through the roof, with condo and HDB rental prices jumping more than 10% in 2021. In 2022, upcoming trends for the HDB and private rental market show that this demand is likely to endure. And perhaps, you’re looking to rent a unit too.
Maybe you’re a young couple affected by BTO construction delays and are thinking of renting a condo unit or HDB flat while you wait. Or you’re a single who wants their own bachelor pad and are thinking of moving out and renting a studio or room.
Whatever your situation, you’ll need to know more about rental stamp duty and the amount of stamp duty you need to pay for rental units.
Stamp Duty for Rental Units: An Overview
|
Who pays the stamp duty? |
Usually paid for by the tenant |
|
How is stamp duty calculated? |
0.4% of the total rent for the period of the lease period is four years below, or four times the Average Annual Rent if the lease period is more than four years |
|
When should you pay stamp duty? |
Before the landlord and the tenant sign the tenancy agreement |
|
How to pay the stamp duty? |
FAST (for DBS/ POSB Accounts), AXS Kiosk machines, eNETS, bank transfer, GIRO, cashier cheque, and more. |
Stamp Duty for Rental Units in Singapore: Who Pays for It?
The stamp duty on rental units is usually paid for by the tenant. There are however cases where it is negotiated that the landlord will bear the cost. To avoid dispute, tenants should always state the payee of the stamp duty in the tenancy agreement.
In case of a dispute and the tenancy agreement does not state who is responsible for the payment, IRAS will follow that which is specified in the Third Schedule of the Stamp Duties Act. Tenants who are unfamiliar with this process can get a property agent to assist them.
How Much Stamp Duty Are You Supposed to Pay?
The stamp duty amount is computed based on the total monthly rental amount and the duration of the rental. The monthly rates are determined by either the market rental rate or the declared rental, whichever is higher.
Rental Stamp Duty in Singapore: How Is It Calculated?
|
Average Annual Rent (AAR) |
Stamp Duty Rates |
|
Lease period of four years or less |
0.4% of total rent for the period of the lease |
|
Lease period of more than four years or for any indefinite term |
0.4% of four times the AAR for the period of the lease |
An exception: if the AAR does not exceed $1000 (which is very rarely the case), stamp duty is exempted.
An example of rental stamp duty for rental property is as below:
| Total monthly rental | $4,000 |
| Lease period | 24 months |
| Total rental | $96,000 |
| Total Payable Stamp Duty | $96,000 x 0.4% = $384 |
When Should You Pay the Rental Stamp Duty?
The standard practice is for the tenancy agreement to be stamped and the stamp duty for rental property to be paid before the landlord and the tenant signs the document. This is however a grey area, and usually no penalty will be levied if the stamp duty is paid within 14 days of the tenancy agreement being signed in Singapore, and 30 days if it is being signed overseas.
Stamp Duty Singapore Rental: Steps to Paying Stamp Duty Online
1. Login in via Singpass on the IRAS e-Stamping portal
2. Select “Payments and Transactions”
3. Enter your Search criteria
4. Make the payment
5. Retrieve the payment slip
6. Retrieve your stamp certificate after successful payment
What Are the Documents Needed to Pay the Stamp Duty?
1. Your Singpass login and password
2. Tenancy agreement document’s details (eg. reference number)
3. Identity details of contractual individuals (tenant and landlord)
Tenancy Agreement: Where Else Can You Get It Stamped?
The easiest and fastest way is to e-stamp your tenancy agreement online on the IRAS website. Alternatively, you can visit these four Service Bureaus at SingPost. However, you’ll need to fill in the requisition form and there will also be a service fee. Alternatively, you can visit any of the locations listed below and get it done manually.
| Branch | Address | Opening Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Novena Post Office | Revenue House 55 Newton Road #01-02 Singapore 307987 |
Mon – Fri: 8.30am – 5.30pm Sat: 8.30am – 1.00pm |
| Raffles Place Post Office | Ocean Financial Centre 10 Collyer Quay #B1-11 Singapore 049315 |
Mon – Fri: 8.30am – 6.00pm
|
| Shenton Way Post Office |
Downtown Gallery 6A Shenton Way #03-23 Singapore 068815 |
Mon – Fri: 8.30am – 6.00pm
|
| Chinatown Post Office |
People’s Park Centre 101 Upper Cross Street #B1-17A Singapore 058357 |
Mon – Fri: 9.30am – 6.00pm Sat: 9.30am – 2.00pm |
Stamp Duty Singapore Rental: Where Do You Pay Stamp Duty?
Stamp duties can be done via FAST (for DBS/ POSB Accounts), AXS Kiosk machines, eNETS, bank transfer, GIRO, cashier cheque, and more. But the amount must be paid in full as there are no instalments. With the COVID-19 pandemic raging on (thanks Omicron), it might be a good idea to minimise in-person contact and do your payment via online methods.
Stamp Duty for Rental Property Payment Options
1. FAST via DBS/ POSB Account
- For Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD), Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) / Seller’s Stamp Duty (SSD)
- Must have a DBS/ POSB personal bank account (i.e. non-corporate account)
- Payment limit of $200,000
- Stamp certificate available immediately
- Click here for payment instructions
- Click here for FAQs on FAST payment
2. AXS Kiosk (Nets Only)
- Payment limit of $3,000 or your debit card’s daily payment limit, whichever is lower
- Stamp certificate available immediately
- Click here for payment instructions
- Click here for FAQs on AXS payment
3. AXS Mobile and AXS Website
- Payment limit of $9,999.99 or your debit/credit card’s daily payment limit, whichever is lower
- Stamp certificate available immediately
- Click here for payment instructions
4. eNETS
- Must have an existing internet banking account with DBS/POSB, UOB, OCBC, Citibank or Standard Chartered Bank.
- Subject to your internet banking daily payment limit
- Stamp certificate available immediately
5. Internet Banking Fund Transfer
- Stamp certificate available 2 working days after payment
- Payee: 0010468600
- Account number: Commissioner of Inland Revenue or IRAS
6. Cheque / Cashier’s Order
- Stamp certificate available 5 working days after payment
- Read further instructions on IRAS website
7. GIRO
- Only for CorpPass/ SingPass users
- You must have a dedicated e-Stamping GIRO account
- Complete the GIRO Application Form for Stamp Duty and mail it to this address
- Read further instructions on the IRAS website
8. Conveyancing Account
- Only for law firms
- Read further instructions on the IRAS website
9. Cash
- Download payment slip from e-stamping portal
- Only available at SingPost service bureaus*
- Fees applicable
10. CPF (Handled by Law Firms)
- Only for BSD/ABSD
- Subject to CPF’s regulations
- Using CPF funds to pay stamp duty (including ABSD) is subject to the terms and conditions under the Private Properties and Public Housing Schemes
- Read further instructions on the IRAS website
Penalties for Failing to Pay the Stamp Duty for Rental Property
Neglecting or ignoring paying your stamp duty renders your tenancy agreement invalid. Should there be any conflict between the landlord and the tenant, they will have no legally binding agreement to govern their dispute. Aside from that, not paying stamp duty on your tenancy agreement is also equivalent to tax evasion and the authorities can take action against you.
Related article: Small Claims Tribunals in Singapore: How It Can Help Tenants and Landlords Settle Rental Disputes
Stamp Duty Singapore Rental: Late Payment Penalty Within 3 Months
For late payments within 3 months, there will be a $10 penalty, or an amount equivalent to the stamp duty, whichever is greater.
Stamp Duty Singapore Rental: Late Payment Penalty Exceeding 3 Months
After 3 months, the penalty amount will increase to $25 or 4 times the amount of the stamp duty, whichever is greater.
As neglecting to pay your stamp duty for rental property is equivalent to tax evasion, tenants can expect the IRAS to start probing into their personal tax status if they evade payment for too long. Thereafter, the IRAS has the right to impose a fine of up to $5,000 plus interest based on IRAS’s own discretion. The consequences can be directed at both tenant and Landlord, so it’s better to just pay up.
Ideally, the tenant should send a receipt of the stamp duty payment to their Landlord. But in cases where this doesn’t happen, Landlords who are unsure of whether their tenant has paid the stamp duty can log on to the IRAS website to check. All they will need is the stamp certificate reference number from the document.
Renting in Singapore
If you’re thinking of renting and unsure where to start, you can check out these articles:
- Single Millennial’s Guide to Renting in Singapore on A 2.5K Salary
- 5 Studio Apartments in Singapore That You Can Rent For 1.5K or Less
- HDB Rental Prices in Singapore: How Much You Need to Earn to Afford Different Flat Types
- Condo Rental Prices in Singapore: How Much You Need to Earn to Afford Different Districts
More FAQs about Stamp Duty for Rental Properties in Singapore
Who Pays Stamp Duty for Rental in Singapore?
This depends on the tenancy agreement but is usually paid for by the tenant.
How Much Is Stamp Duty for Rental in Singapore?
0.4% of the total rent for the period of the lease.
Can I Pay Stamp Duty Online?
Yes, you can. Stamp duties can be done via FAST (for DBS/ POSB Accounts), bank transfer, GIRO and more.
Is Rental Income Taxable in Singapore?
Yes, rental income is subject to income tax. Read more about it on the IRAS website here.
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