A mortgage is a document where the interest in property is transferred from the borrower to the lender to secure the payment or repayment of money. 

Variation to Mortgage

  1. Variation to an Open Mortgage

When additional loan is granted and secured under an existing open mortgage, the Stamp Duty payable is the difference between $500 and the duty previously paid.

No further duty is payable if the existing open mortgage has been stamped for the maximum amount of $500.

  1. Variation to a Fixed Mortgage

Where the amount secured under a mortgage is fixed, the mortgage will be stamped based on the fixed amount of the secured loan. This is subject to a maximum duty of $500.

When additional loan is subsequently granted and a further mortgage on the same property is executed to secure the additional loan, the further mortgage is treated as a fresh security and is liable to full duty . This is also subject to the maximum duty of $500. 

Equitable Mortgage

Equitable mortgage is an agreement or a memorandum 'under hand'. This means the agreement is signed but not under seal. Equitable mortgage relates to the following:

  1. The deposit of the title or deed of a property; or
  2. The creation of a charge on the property to secure the payment or repayment of money.

Stamp Duty may be payable when the property is used as security. 

Exemption from Stamp Duty for Mortgage

When property outside Singapore is used as a security and the document is signed under hand, it is exempted from Stamp Duty. 

Rates and Computation

Document

From 22 Feb 2014

Mortgage

0.4% of the loan amount granted on the mortgage

(subject to a maximum duty of $500) 

Variation to Mortgage

Equitable Mortgage

0.2% of the loan amount granted on the mortgage

(subject to a maximum duty of $500)

Transfer, Assignment or Disposition of any Mortgage or Debenture

0.2% of the amount transferred, assigned or disposed, inclusive of interest which is in arrears (subject to a maximum duty of $500)

Mortgage duty is rounded down to the nearest dollar, subject to a minimum duty of $1.

Example 1: Assume a loan amount of $250,000 is granted on the mortgage

Mortgage Duty     
= 0.4% x $250,000
= $1,000
$500.00 (maximum duty)