Setting up a company, fund, or LLC in any of the exempt countries—United States, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, or Liechtenstein—does not allow you to avoid the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) if the property is purchased under the entity’s name. Companies, funds, and other entities buying Singapore residential property are subject to the highest ABSD rate, currently at 65%, regardless of their country of incorporation or the shareholders’ nationality.
The ABSD exemption based on nationality applies only to individuals—specifically, citizens of the named Free Trade Agreement countries—who purchase in their personal names. Buying through a corporate structure, trust, or fund will not confer any ABSD exemption even if the entity is based in one of these countries or owned by citizens who would otherwise qualify.
Singapore’s ABSD rules are strict in this regard because purchases made by companies are often viewed as investment-driven, not for genuine owner-occupation, and are designed to prevent loopholes in stamp duty policy.
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