Additional Buyer Stamp Duty (ABSD) Extension for Projects that Aim to Achieve Higher Productivity Targets
The extension to ABSD remission timelines aims to encourage licensed Housing Developers to adopt innovation and nascent construction technologies, methodologies and/or progressive practices to achieve higher productivity targets. This will support the industry transformation efforts towards a more productive, manpower-lean and advanced sector.
Scheme Details
The extension to ABSD remission timelines is applicable to projects on residential land acquired on or after 6 March 2025.
The application shall be submitted, by a licensed Housing Developer, in the form of a Project Specific Implementation Plan (PSIP) to demonstrate how the proposed innovation and nascent technologies, methodologies and/or progressive practices will achieve higher level of productivity improvement.
Eligible projects will be provided an extension of 6 months to the ABSD remission commencement and completion of works and sale timelines. For more details on the ABSD timelines, visit IRAS website.
Application Details
Interested applicants should make the first PSIP submission to BCA as early as possible. The first PSIP submission should be made:
- no later than 3 months from obtaining URA’s Provisional Permission (PP) under CORENET 2.0 or clearance of Design Gateway (DG) under CORENET X, and
- before Building Plan (BP) submission under CORENET 2.0 or Piling Gateway (where applicable)/Construction Gateway (CG) under CORENET X.
As part of the application, applicants will be required to submit the following:
- The PSIP, which shall demonstrate how the project will adopt nascent technologies, methodologies and/or progressive practices to achieve a minimum level of 40% productivity improvement (compared to the base figure for 2010 for private residential typology). These should include (but not limited to):
- High degree of standardisation that can be replicated across projects;
- Deployment of Robotics and Automation (R&A) solution (with min. 50% trade coverage);
- Adoption of min. 7 Collaborative Contracting Principles; and
- Any other productive initiatives and/or practices which could yield productivity improvement and manpower savings
- Other components to be included in the PSIP include the following:
- Site layout plans and other drawings
- Breakdown of productivity contribution of proposed initiatives
Please refer to the latest template of “Project Specific Implementation Plan Template” below. Applicants to submit the PSIP to ABSD_BE_ITM@bca.gov.sg.
Applicants will be allowed a maximum of 3 PSIP submissions per project to incorporate feedback and revisions. These include the first submission within 3 months of obtaining URA’s PP or clearance of DG and the final submission at BP/CG stage. The final assessment will be made based on the final PSIP submitted at CG stage. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the stipulated requirements before submitting the PSIP to improve the quality of application and minimise potential wastage of preparation efforts.
Application Process
BCA will inform applicants on the outcome of PSIP submission upon the clearance of CG. For PSIP that are approved in-principle, BCA will work with IRAS to process the ABSD remission timeline extension. Applicants will be separately notified by IRAS on the successful application for the ABSD remission timeline extension.
Specific Deliverables and Reporting Requirements
As the scheme is tied to productivity outcomes from the implementation of nascent technologies, methodologies and/or progressive practices, evidence of compliance with the stipulated requirements during the construction phase will be important. As such, the submission of a half-yearly progress report by the applicants to BCA during the construction stage (after commencement of superstructural works) and a final report after completion of construction, will be required.
Applicants are to inform BCA of any changes or deviations to the approved PSIP and should note that the revised PSIP will be subject to BCA's review.
Please refer to the template “Progress Report Template” and “Final Report Template” below.
Relevant Documents & Templates