ABSD for Taiwanese Citizens: 60% Stamp Duty Guide | Homejourney
This definitive Homejourney guide explains the 60% ABSD rate for Taiwanese citizens buying property in Singapore. As of 2025, Taiwanese nationals (ROC passport holders) face a flat 60% Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty on residential purchases, making Singapore one of the world's most expensive markets for foreign buyers. Homejourney prioritizes your safety with verified data from IRAS and URA, helping you navigate ABSD Taiwan rules transparently.[1][4][5]
Whether you're a first-time Taiwanese investor eyeing Orchard Road condos or planning family relocation to Novena, understanding Taiwanese ABSD rate is crucial. This pillar covers rates, calculations, exemptions, strategies, and next steps, drawing on real Singapore market insights to build trust in your decisions.
Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- 1. What is ABSD and Why Taiwanese Buyers Pay 60%
- 2. ABSD Rates 2025: Taiwanese vs Other Nationalities
- 3. Taiwanese Citizens (ROC): No FTA Relief
- 4. BSD + ABSD: Full Cost Breakdown
- 5. Properties Taiwanese Can Buy (With 60% ABSD)
- 6. Step-by-Step ABSD Calculations & Examples
- 7. Legal Strategies to Manage or Reduce ABSD Impact
- 8. Financing, LTV, TDSR for Taiwanese Buyers
- 9. Buying Process & Timeline for Taiwanese Nationals
- 10. Common Mistakes & Red Flags
- 11. FAQ: ABSD Taiwan & ROC Buyer Stamp Duty
- 12. Next Steps with Homejourney
Executive Summary
Taiwanese citizens face a steep 60% ABSD on any residential property in Singapore since the 27 April 2023 cooling measures, unchanged in 2025.[1][3][4] This applies to condos, landed homes (with approvals), and executive condos after the MOP, on top of 1-6% BSD. For a S$2M condo, expect ~S$1.2M in ABSD alone – a barrier for many ROC buyer stamp duty scenarios.[4][5]
Homejourney verifies all data from official IRAS sources, offering tools like our ABSD Stamp Duty Calculator for precise estimates. Key takeaway: Structure wisely via family planning or non-residential assets, but avoid illegal schemes. This guide equips you with actionable insights for safe, confident decisions.[1][2]
1. What is ABSD and Why Taiwanese Buyers Pay 60%
Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) is a tax on residential property purchases in Singapore, aimed at cooling demand from investors. Introduced in 2011, it escalated to 60% for non-FTA foreigners like Taiwanese citizens post-27 April 2023.[1][3][5] Unlike tiered rates for Singaporeans (0-30%), foreigners pay flat 60% regardless of property count.[4]
Taiwanese (Republic of China/ROC passport holders) receive no Free Trade Agreement relief, unlike US or EFTA nationals.[1][2] IRAS assesses based on global property ownership at purchase date. Insider tip: In districts like East Coast (near Taiwanese community hubs in Siglap), we've seen buyers overlook joint ownership triggers, inflating ABSD unexpectedly.[1][5]
ABSD vs Other Duties
- Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD): Paid by all (1-6% tiered).[4]
- ABSD: Additional for profiles beyond first-time citizens.[1]
- No Seller’s Stamp Duty if held >3 years.[5]
Homejourney's transparent analysis ensures you avoid surprises, prioritizing user safety.[1]
2. ABSD Rates 2025: Taiwanese vs Other Nationalities
2025 rates remain post-2023 hikes: Foreigners like Taiwanese at 60%, entities at 65%.[1][3][4] Use Homejourney's verified table for quick ABSD Taiwan comparisons.
| Buyer Profile | 1st Property | 2nd Property | 3rd+ Property |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Citizens | 0% | 20% | 30% |
| PRs | 5% | 30% | 35% |
| Taiwanese/Non-FTA Foreigners | 60% | 60% | 60% |
| Entities | 65% | 65% | 65% |
Source: IRAS 2025 rates via Homejourney analysis.[1][4][5] Note: Taiwanese pay same as most foreigners – no tiering.
Market Impact 2025
Post-hike, foreign purchases dropped 20-30% in prime areas like D10 (Orchard).[1] Taiwanese buyers favor city-fringe like D15 (East Coast) for value, but 60% ABSD demands S$1M+ cash buffers.[2]
3. Taiwanese Citizens (ROC): No FTA Relief
Singapore lacks FTA with Taiwan, so ROC citizens face full 60% Taiwanese ABSD rate.[1][2] Unlike EFTA (e.g., Swiss at citizen rates), no remission.[1] Real example: Taiwanese family buying S$1.8M Novena condo paid S$1.08M ABSD + BSD, totaling ~S$1.2M duties.[2]
Insider tip: Taiwanese communities in Siglap (near Bedok MRT, 5-min walk to shops) see higher interest, but verify global holdings – IRAS counts Taiwan properties.[5] Link to EFTA benefits guide for contrasts.
4. BSD + ABSD: Full Cost Breakdown
Both apply: BSD tiered on price, ABSD flat 60% on higher of price/market value.[4][5]
| Price Bracket | BSD Rate |
|---|---|
| First $180k | 1% |
| $180k-$360k | 2% |
| $360k-$500k | 3% |
| $500k-$750k | 4% |
| $750k-$1M | 5% |
| Above $1M | 6% |
ABSD stacks on top. Total for Taiwanese: ~65-66% effective rate on high-end buys.[4] Use Homejourney calculator.
5. Properties Taiwanese Can Buy (With 60% ABSD)
Taiwanese can buy any private residential: Condos, landed (Landed with LRA approval), non-landed strata.[1] HDB restricted to PRs only. See foreigners' property types guide.
- Condos: 99% accessible, e.g., D09 (Orchard) units S$2.5M+.[1]
- Landed: GCBs rare, terrace houses need approval (5-10% success).[5]
- EC post-MOP: Treated as private.[4]
Original insight: Taiwanese prefer D15/D16 (Katong-Siglap) for cultural familiarity, 10-min drive to Taiwanese supermarkets.[2]
6. Step-by-Step ABSD Calculations & Examples
Formula: ABSD = 60% × Higher of (Purchase Price or Market Value). Pay within 14 days.[5]
- Determine profile: Taiwanese individual = 60%.[1]
- Count global properties.[5]
- Valuation if needed (private valuer).[4]
- Add BSD.[4]
Example 1: S$1.5M condo (market value S$1.6M).
BSD ~S$72k; ABSD S$960k; Total duties S$1.032M.[4]
Example 2: S$3M landed (D10). ABSD S$1.8M + BSD ~S$162k = S$1.962M duties.[1][4]
Try Homejourney's projects directory for real listings.
7. Legal Strategies to Manage or Reduce ABSD Impact
No direct reduction for Taiwanese, but compliant paths exist.[2]
- Family structuring: Spouse/PR child buys (if eligible lower tier).[2]
- Non-residential: Commercial skips ABSD.[1]
- PR/Citizenship path: Long-term (2-5 years) for future buys.[2]
- Joint ventures: Singapore entity holds, but entities pay 65%.[4]
Warning: Avoid sham trusts – IRAS claws back + penalties.[5] Like Chinese buyers, Taiwanese use family planning.[2]
8. Financing, LTV, TDSR for Taiwanese Buyers
Foreigners: Max 50% LTV (downpayment 25% cash + 25% CPF if any).[5] TDSR 55% income. No CPF for non-residents. Check Homejourney bank rates and financing guide.
Example: S$2M condo needs S$1M+ cash upfront (ABSD + downpayment).[1]
9. Buying Process & Timeline for Taiwanese Nationals
Follow step-by-step guide:
- Search via Homejourney search (1-2 weeks).
- OTP (1% deposit, 21 days).[5]
- Valuation & options exercise (S$2k-5k, 2 weeks).
- Pay ABSD/BSD within 14 days of execution.[5]
- Completion: 8-12 weeks.
Total: 3-4 months. Taiwanese docs: Passport, Taiwan property declarations.[1]
10. Common Mistakes & Red Flags
- Mistake 1: Forgetting global count – Taiwan home triggers 60%.[5]
- Mistake 2: Assuming FTA – Taiwan has none.[1]
- Red flag: Agents promising "ABSD waivers" – illegal.[2]
- Insider: In Queenstown (D3), buyers miss market value uplifts (e.g., S$1.7M buy assessed S$1.9M).[1]
Homejourney verifies to protect you.
11. FAQ: ABSD Taiwan & ROC Buyer Stamp Duty
Q: What is the Taiwanese ABSD rate in 2025?
A: 60% flat on residential, regardless of count.[1][4]
Q: Does Taiwan stamp duty Singapore apply to condos only?
A: No, all residential including landed with approval.[5]
Q: Can Taiwanese use CPF for ABSD?
A: No, CPF only for citizens/PRs.[5]
