BT : Property tax rebate for HDB owner-occupiers

Business Times - 19 Nov 2009


Property tax rebate for HDB owner-occupiers

Set at 50% of tax payable, it is capped at $120; zero tax for one and 2-room HDB owners

THE government will grant a new property tax rebate to all HDB owner-occupiers next year to help them adjust to the increase in annual values (AVs).

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras), which reviews the AVs of all properties, did not revise AVs for HDB flats on Jan 1 this year, given the uncertainty in market rental trends due to the recession.

HDB rentals have since stabilised after a moderate decline and have begun to rise. As a result, current values of HDB rentals, as well as HDB resale prices, are significantly higher than 2007 levels. Iras will therefore revise the AVs of all HDB flat types from Jan 1, 2010. The last AV revision for HDB flats was done last year, based on rental values in 2007.

The new rebate granted to HDB owner-occupiers will apply to property tax payable next year after deducting the 1994 GST Rebate, which is available to all residential property owner-occupiers.

The new rebate is set at 50 per cent of the payable property tax and is capped at $120. To provide additional help to owner-occupiers of smaller HDB flats, the rebate will be the lower of $50 or the actual property tax amount.

With the new property tax rebate for HDB owner-occupiers and the ongoing 1994 GST Rebate, all one and two-room HDB owner-occupiers will continue to pay zero property tax next year.

For average three-room HDB owner-occupiers, the increase in property tax next year, after deducting the special rebates, will be $72 for the year. For four-room HDB owner-occupiers, the average tax increase will be $97 for the year and for five-room HDB owner-occupiers, the average tax increase will be $107 for the year as a whole. For executive HDB owner-occupiers, it will be $103.

Owners of HDB flats will receive their valuation notices and property tax bills by Jan 1 next year. Property tax for 2010 is payable by Jan 31 next year.

Iras encourages HDB flat owners to use the Giro payment scheme to enjoy up to 12 interest-free monthly instalments. Application forms can be downloaded from www.iras.gov.sg.