Article

Singapore: Additional Buyer Stamp Duty of 35% chargeable on the transfer of residential property into certain trusts with effect from 9 May 2022

10 May 2022 | Applicable law: Singapore

The Ministry of Finance (‘MOF’) announced that, with effect from 9 May 2022, Additional Buyers’ Stamp Duties (‘ABSD’) at 35% will apply when Singapore residential properties are agreed to be sold to, transferred to, or declared to be held on, a living trust (i.e. an inter vivos trust) (‘ABSD (Trust)’).

ABSD (Trust) remission may, however, be claimed by way of a refund where the sale of residential property is to a trustee holding on trust for one or more identifiable individual beneficiaries[i] only (whether or not the sale is also made to another person).

The amount of refund is computed based on the difference between the ABSD (Trust) rate of 35% and the ABSD rate corresponding to the profile of the beneficial owner with the highest applicable ABSD rate.

By way of background, ABSD is imposed under the Stamp Duties Act 1939 (‘SDA’) on an agreement for sale, or transfer, conveyance or assignment on sale, of residential properties, with the ABSD rates varying depending on the profile of the transferee, i.e. whether they are individuals or entities, their nationality or Singapore permanent residency (‘PR’) status and also the number of Singapore residential property(ies) they already hold (if any). ABSD is chargeable over and above normal buyer’s stamp duties (‘BSD’) which is chargeable at a rate of up to 4%[ii] on purchases of residential properties. A summary of the total stamp duty (i.e. BSD + ABSD) a buyer has to pay in different scenarios is set out below for easy reference. Row 9 of the summary table highlights the new ABSD (Trust) that has just been introduced by the Singapore Government.

Total Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD + ABSD) Chargeable for Singapore Residential Property Transactions (with effect from 9 May 2022)

MOF explained in its press release the motivation for introducing ABSD (Trust) as follows:

2. Today, when a residential property is transferred into a living trust, Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) is payable. ABSD may also be payable, depending on the profile of the beneficial owner(s) of the residential property transferred into the trust.
3. Where the living trust is structured such that there is no identifiable beneficial owner at the time when the residential property is transferred into the trust,
ABSD currently does not apply.
4. Arising from its periodic policy review, the Government will introduce
ABSD (Trust) at 35%, to address and close this gap.

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (‘IRAS’) also stated that the objective of the ABSD (Trust) remission is to equalise the ABSD treatment for transfers of residential properties, whether a trust is involved or not.

With the new tax change, ABSD (Trust) at the rate of 35% must be paid upfront, and an application for the refund may then be made to IRAS within six (6) months after the date of execution of the instrument.

For large property transactions, the ABSD (Trust) can therefore be quite significant. The requirement to pay upfront and then seek a refund could create a cash flow issue and add to the financing costs and burden on a buyer who is borrowing to finance the acquisition. At present, it remains to be seen how long the IRAS will take to consider and approve a refund after receiving the application.

Note that ABSD (Trust) is only applicable for instruments executed on or after 9 May 2022, and it does not operate retrospectively. As such, if a transfer to the trustee of a discretionary trust set up during the lifetime of a settlor with no identifiable beneficial owner had already been made prior to 9 May 2022, such earlier transfer is not subject to the existing ABSD or the new ABSD (Trust). However, where a subsequent action is taken by the trustee to appoint assets to an identifiable beneficiary or to distribute assets to any identifiable beneficiary at a later stage, a question which might arise is whether IRAS could regard any document(s) involved at that later stage as a stampable instrument. It may be possible to avoid this outcome, but specific advice should be sought on the facts.

The new ABSD (Trust) does not apply to trusts (i.e. testamentary trusts) created by wills.

Amongst the other clarifications made / examples given by IRAS in respect of the ABSD (Trust) are the following:

  1. Property count:

Confirming that the residential property transferred into the trust will be added to the property count of any identifiable beneficial owner of that property, regardless of whether there is a remission of ABSD (Trust). Hence, if the sole beneficial owner of the trust already owns one property in his personal name, the additional property transferred into the trust shall be counted as his 2nd property and the ABSD rate chargeable (which then determines the amount that can be claimed as refund) shall be computed on that basis. Similarly, the residential property transferred into the trust will be added to the property count of any identifiable beneficial owner of that property, regardless of whether there is a remission of ABSD (Trust).

  1. Example of trust with interest subject to condition:

Where a parent had executed a trust to declare that he/she shall hold a condominium unit on trust for children A and B, where A beneficially owns 50% share, but B is only entitled to his 50% share upon fulfilment of a condition (e.g. upon graduation from university), the trustee will not be eligible for remission of ABSD (Trust), as one of the conditions for remission is that the beneficial owners of the trust property consist of identifiable individual beneficiaries only. As B’s interest in the property is contingent on the fulfilment of a condition (e.g. his graduation from university), B is not an identifiable individual beneficiary. Hence this remission condition is not met.

  1. Example of trust with deferred beneficial ownership upon turning 21

Where a parent executes a trust to declare that he/she holds a condominum unit on trust for a minor child whose interest beneficially vests at the age of 21, remission is not available as deferred beneficial ownership that would only vest in the future will not meet the remission conditions.

Additional Conveyance Duty (Trust)

On 9 May 2022, the Government also introduced the Stamp Duties (Amendment) Bill 2022. The Bill introduced (a) an Additional Conveyance Duty for Trust (‘ACD (Trust)’), and (b) a new stamp duty treatment for renunciations of interest in the residential property held on trust.

Similar to the position for ABSD (Trust), ACD (Trust) will apply to instruments executed on or after 10 May 2022 where the significant ownership threshold has been crossed but there is no identifiable beneficial owner of such equity interests at the time. In determining whether the threshold for significant ownership is reached for a trust with no identifiable beneficial owners, the legislation would look at the equity interests that the trustee holds for the trust and those held by his associates.

When interest in a residential property held on trust is renounced by a beneficial owner, liability for BSD and, where applicable, ABSD and Seller’s Stamp Duty (‘SSD’), may arise if (a) a residential property comes under a living trust on or after 10 May 2022; (b) the beneficial owners of the residential property are identified at the time of transfer; and ( c ) a beneficial owner of that property renounces his interest in the property on or after 10 May 2022.

Other observations

Updating the ABSD regime aligns with the Singapore Government’s policy of taxing wealth associated with real estate. It follows previous moves in December 2021 to increase the ABSD rate, and also the increase in property tax rates in Budget 2022.

Structuring the use of trusts to hold real estate, may depending on the circumstances, have its merits from a long-term succession planning and inter-generational wealth preservation perspective. On the other hand, trusts are also more complex holding structures that require a lot of care and thought. Other than considerations from a tax and stamp duties perspective, it is also important to consider the following:

a. It is paramount that the substance of the trust be respected. This would include understanding and respecting the rights of the beneficiaries, with the trustees upholding their fiduciary responsibilities under the trust in addition to administering the trust. For example, rental income received in respect of a property held under a trust must be properly accounted for by the trustee and must not be co-mingled with the trustee’s personal funds. Where a trust’s beneficiary of capacity has a fixed or vested interest in the real estate, the beneficiary’s consensus on how the property should be dealt with must be sought.

b. There are regulatory restrictions in respect of trusts for real estate: for example, the Housing Development Act 1959 stipulates that no trust in respect of a flat sold under the said Act can be created without the prior written approval of the Housing Development Board (‘HDB’), and every trust which purports to be created in respect of such flat without the prior written approval of the HDB is void. Separately, in land-scarce Singapore, landed residential properties are broadly reserved only for Singapore citizens: the Residential Property Act 1976 (‘RPA’) stipulates that a person must not create any trust for sale in respect of any restricted residential property or any estate or interest therein in favour of any foreign person. Furthermore, the RPA specifically prohibits a Singapore citizen from purchasing or acquiring restricted residential property as a nominee of any foreign person with the intention that the citizen is to hold it in trust for that foreign person. In fact, the authorities have charged offenders for acting as a nominee for a foreign national[9] and a person has been charged with buying three semi-detached properties for three foreign friends while they are still foreigners[10]. These prosecutions carry the signal that the government authorities regard the unlawful holding of restricted residential property very seriously. 

As this is just an update note, it has been prepared for brevity for the ease of reading. For further details or advice regarding your particular circumstances, please contact Stacy Choong, Chua Yee Hoong or Yeoh Lian Chuan.

[i] "Identifiable individual beneficiary" refers to an individual who is identified in the declaration of trust as a beneficiary of the estate or interest whether solely or together with another, and who because of the trust, has beneficial ownership of the estate or interest (whether solely or together with another) that is not, under the terms of the trust, revocable, variable or subject to any condition subsequent. An "identifiable individual beneficiary" also does not include an individual who is entitled to any estate or interest in property in remainder or reversion, an individual who has not been born on the date of the declaration of trust, an individual who is entitled only to the income of the property under the trust, and an individual whose estate or interest in the property under the trust is a contingent or discretionary interest or who becomes entitled to an estate or interest in the property only upon revocation of the trust.

[ii] On or after 20 February 2018, Buyer Stamp Duty ('BSD') is chargeable at the rate of 1% on the first $180,000, 2% on the next S$180,000, 3% on the next $640,000 and 4% of the remaining value (being the purchase price or market value of the residential property whichever is higher).

[iii] Where a property is purchased by buyers of different profiles, then the ABSD will be calculated based on the buyer profile with the highest ABSD rate.

[iv] BSD and ABSD are computed on the purchase price of the residential property as stated in the dutiable document or the market value of the property (whichever is the higher amount).

[v] The date of issue reflected in the Singapore Identity Card ('IC') collection slip would be taken as when the Singapore citizenship status was granted.

[vi] Under the applicable Free Trade Agreements ('FTAs'), nationals and permanent residents of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland and nationals of the United States of America are entitled to acquire Singapore residential property at the same stamp duty rate as applicable to Singapore citizens.

[vii] 'Entity' was broadly defined as a person other than an individual and includes an unincorporated association, a Variable Capital Company ('VCC'), a trustee for a collective investment scheme when acting in that capacity, a trustee-manager for a business trust when acting in that capacity and partners of a partnership.

[viii] 'Trustee' in this context refers to a trustee for any trust when acting in that capacity, other than a trustee for a housing developer (which would be subject to the ABSD rate of a housing developer), or a trustee for a collective investment scheme when acting in that capacity, and a trustee-manager for a business trust when acting in that capacity (both of which would be subject to ABSD rate of an entity).

[ix] "Man charged for appointing a nominee to purchase restricted property" published by Public Affairs Department Singapore Policy Force 13 December 2021 @ 10:30am https://www.police.gov.sg/media-room/news/20211213_man_charged_for_appointing_a_nominee_to_purchase_restricted_property

[x] "Woman admits buying semi-detached properties on behalf of 3 foreigners before they obtained citizenship" https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/woman-admits-buying-semi-detached-properties-behalf-3-foreigners-they-obtained-citizenship-2378241 published on 14 December 2021

This document (and any information accessed through links in this document) is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Professional legal advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from any action as a result of the contents of this document.

Share

Related experience

As a full-service law firm, we are able to provide advice and information about a wide range of other issues. Here are some related areas.

Join the club

We have lots more news and information that you'll find informative and useful. Let us know what you're interested in and we'll keep you up to date on the issues that matter to you.