Quick answer
Singapore has no capital gains tax in 2026. Gains from selling shares, funds, crypto or property held as investments are not taxed. The catch: if IRAS sees you as trading, gains become income taxed at up to 24% for individuals or 17% for companies. Residential property sold within four years also triggers Seller's Stamp Duty of 4% to 16%.
Last reviewed: November 2026 · Reviewed by Stéphane Gombauld, tax expert, technologist and digital nomad
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Find my savings →You hold shares, ETFs, crypto or a flat, and you live in Singapore or plan to. You've heard "no capital gains tax" and want to know where that promise ends. After reading, you'll know which gains stay tax-free, which ones IRAS can tax, and how to keep it that way legally.
Singapore capital gains tax in 2026: the key figures
| Item | Rule in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Capital gains tax | None – no separate tax on capital gains |
| Gains from trading (individuals) | Taxed as income at resident rates of 0% to 24% |
| Gains from trading (companies) | Taxed at the 17% corporate rate |
| Foreign asset gains of companies without substance | Taxed under section 10L since 1 January 2024 |
| Seller's Stamp Duty (residential, bought from 4 July 2025) | 16%, 12%, 8% or 4% if sold within 1, 2, 3 or 4 years |
| Dividends from Singapore companies | Tax-exempt (one-tier system) |
| Exit tax on leaving | None |
Is this guide for you?
Read on if you…
- are a Singapore tax resident with a share, ETF or crypto portfolio;
- plan to buy, renovate or sell property in Singapore;
- run a holding company in Singapore and sell foreign assets.
Probably not your case if you…
- only earn salary and hold cash savings;
- are a professional trader who already treats every gain as income.
Does Singapore tax capital gains at all?
No. The Income Tax Act 1947 taxes income, not capital. There is no capital gains tax, for residents or non-residents, on any asset class.
Here's the catch. The law doesn't define "capital gain". IRAS decides case by case whether a sale is the realisation of an investment or a trade. If it's a trade, the gain is ordinary income.
IRAS looks at the so-called badges of trade – basically clues that you behave like a dealer rather than an investor:
- Frequency – many buy-and-sell transactions over a short period.
- Holding period – assets sold quickly after purchase.
- Motive – you bought mainly to resell at a profit.
- Financing – heavy borrowing to fund purchases.
- Link to your work – your job or business is in the same market.
- Supplementary work – you improved or split the asset to sell it.
No single badge is decisive. Honestly? For most people who buy index funds and hold them for years, this is never an issue.
How much do you really pay, asset by asset?
| Asset | Held as long-term investment | Treated as trading |
|---|---|---|
| Listed shares and ETFs | 0% | Income tax, up to 24% (individuals) |
| Unit trusts and funds | 0% | Income tax |
| Crypto (digital payment tokens) | 0% | Income tax |
| Residential property | 0% income tax, but Seller's Stamp Duty if sold within 4 years | Income tax plus Seller's Stamp Duty |
| Shares in a Singapore company (by a company) | 0% under the section 13W safe harbour (20% held for 24 months) | 17% corporate tax |
Shares, ETFs and funds
Long-term investing is tax-free. Dividends from Singapore companies are also exempt under the one-tier system. Foreign dividends you receive personally as a resident are generally exempt too, unless received through a partnership.
Crypto
The same badges apply. A long-term holder pays nothing on gains. Mining, staking rewards and frequent trading may be income. Our guide to cryptocurrency taxes in Singapore covers each activity.
Property
There's no income tax on a one-off sale of your home. But Seller's Stamp Duty (SSD) applies to residential property sold within four years of purchase, for properties bought on or after 4 July 2025. The rates are 16% in year one, 12% in year two, 8% in year three and 4% in year four, on the higher of price or market value. Properties bought earlier keep the older three-year SSD schedule of 12%, 8% and 4%.
Buying is the bigger cost. Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty is 60% for foreigners on any residential purchase. See specific taxes in Singapore for the full stamp duty picture.
Do companies pay tax on capital gains in Singapore?
Generally no, with two rules to know.
Section 13W safe harbour. A company's gain on disposing of ordinary shares is not taxed if it held at least 20% of the target for at least 24 months before the sale. This safe harbour is available until 31 December 2027. Shares in unlisted property-trading or property-holding companies are excluded.
Section 10L. Since 1 January 2024, gains from selling or transferring foreign assets are taxed if the seller belongs to a "relevant group" – a group with entities in more than one jurisdiction – and lacks adequate economic substance in Singapore. A one-person holding company that owns shares in a foreign subsidiary can fall into this. Substance means real people and premises in Singapore managing the assets.
If you run your business through a company, see corporate income tax in Singapore for rates and exemptions.
Residents vs non-residents: any difference?
No difference on capital gains. Neither residents nor non-residents pay capital gains tax. Trading gains are taxed for both, but non-residents pay a flat 24% on most non-employment income instead of progressive rates.
Your tax residency in Singapore matters more for what your home country does. Many countries tax worldwide gains of their residents. If you're still resident elsewhere, Singapore's zero rate won't help you.
Is there an exit tax when you leave Singapore?
No. Singapore doesn't tax unrealised gains on departure. Your previous home country may, though. France, Germany, Spain, Norway and others have exit taxes on large shareholdings when you move out. Plan the move before you sell. Our practical guide to ceasing tax residency in Singapore explains the departure steps, including tax clearance.
Example – Lena, German software consultant
Lena moved to Singapore in 2024 on an Employment Pass and became tax resident. She holds an ETF portfolio bought in 2019 for SGD 200,000, now worth SGD 320,000. In March 2026 she sells SGD 100,000 to fund a flat deposit. Her gain of about SGD 37,500 is not taxed in Singapore: she holds long-term, trades rarely and doesn't borrow. Because Germany deemed her to have left in 2024, she checked Germany's exit tax back then – it didn't apply, as her holdings were funds, not 1% company stakes. Total tax on the sale: SGD 0.
Lena's gain stayed tax-free because her history was clean. Is yours?
Heavnn checks your residency, home-country exit rules and trading pattern so your gains stay untaxed.
Find my savings →Common mistakes (and what they cost)
- Day-trading in your personal account → IRAS can treat all gains as income, taxed at up to 24%, plus penalties for not declaring them.
- Selling a condo after three and a half years → if bought after 4 July 2025, you pay 4% SSD on the full price, not the gain.
- Running a holding company with no staff in Singapore → section 10L can tax gains on foreign shares at 17%.
- Assuming your home country lets go → you may still owe capital gains or exit tax there if you never ceased residency properly.
- Ignoring trading income from crypto staking or DeFi → undeclared income triggers penalties of up to 200% of the tax undercharged.
Frequently asked questions
Is there capital gains tax in Singapore in 2026?
No. Singapore has no capital gains tax in 2026, for residents or non-residents. Gains on shares, funds, crypto or property held as long-term investments are not taxed. IRAS can still tax gains as income if your activity looks like trading, judged on frequency, holding period, motive and financing. Residential property sold within four years also triggers Seller's Stamp Duty.
How does IRAS decide if I'm trading or investing?
IRAS uses the badges of trade: how often you buy and sell, how long you hold, why you bought, how you financed it and whether it links to your job. No single factor decides. A buy-and-hold investor with occasional sales is treated as investing. Someone making dozens of short-term trades with borrowed money is likely trading.
Are crypto gains taxed in Singapore?
Not if you hold crypto as a long-term investment. Gains from frequent trading, mining or running a crypto business can be taxed as income at up to 24% for individuals or 17% for companies. Staking rewards and payments received in crypto for services are also generally income. Keep records of every purchase date and price.
What is Seller's Stamp Duty in Singapore?
Seller's Stamp Duty is a tax on reselling residential property soon after purchase. For properties bought on or after 4 July 2025, it's 16% within one year, 12% within two, 8% within three and 4% within four years. It's charged on the higher of sale price or market value, not on your gain, and applies to everyone.
Do I pay tax on foreign capital gains as a Singapore resident?
No. Singapore doesn't tax capital gains, wherever the asset is located. Foreign trading income can be taxable if received in Singapore, but personal foreign-sourced income is generally exempt for resident individuals. Watch your previous home country: if it still treats you as resident, it may tax those gains.
Does Singapore have an exit tax?
No. Singapore doesn't tax unrealised gains when you leave. Your employer must, however, file tax clearance (Form IR21) for foreign employees at least one month before departure and withhold your final pay until IRAS clears you. Your previous country may have its own exit tax, so check it before moving in.
Related guides
- Tax landscape overview of Singapore – every Singapore tax in one page.
- Cryptocurrency taxes in Singapore – trading, staking and mining rules.
- Specific taxes in Singapore – stamp duties, property tax and GST.
- Tax residency in Singapore – the 183-day test and concessions.
- Corporate income tax in Singapore – 17% rate and exemptions for companies.
- Capital gains tax in Hong Kong and capital gains taxation in Thailand – regional comparison.
- All country tax guides
Sources
- IRAS – Individual income tax
- IRAS – Stamp duty
- Income Tax Act 1947, Singapore Statutes Online
- IRAS – Corporate income tax
- Ministry of Finance Singapore
- OECD – Tax
This guide is general information, not personalised tax advice. See how we research and review.
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