Stamp duty
The 15% you read about no longer exists
Hong Kong abolished every demand-side stamp duty measure with effect from 28 February 2024. If you are budgeting a purchase using guidance that mentions Buyer’s Stamp Duty, you are almost certainly over-estimating your costs — on a HK$15 million flat, by around HK$2.25 million.
What was abolished
Three separate charges applied on top of the basic duty. All three ceased to apply to instruments executed on or after 28 February 2024, under the Stamp Duty (Amendment) Ordinance 2024.
| Charge, before 28 Feb 2024 | Who paid it | Today |
|---|---|---|
| Ad valorem stamp duty (Scale 1, 15%) | Non-first-time buyers, companies, non-permanent residents | Abolished |
| Buyer’s Stamp Duty — 15% | Any buyer who was not a Hong Kong permanent resident, and all companies | Abolished |
| Special Stamp Duty — up to 20% | Any seller disposing within the holding period | Abolished |
What remains
One charge: ad valorem stamp duty, on a single scale that applies to every buyer regardless of residency, company status, or whether this is your first property. The scale is progressive, and the entry threshold was raised in the 2025/26 Budget so that purchases up to HK$4 million now attract a nominal HK$100.
Our stamp duty calculator implements the current scale, and can show the pre-2024 figures side by side if you want to see the difference on your own numbers.
What this changes in practice
Budget
Your cash requirement dropped
Stamp duty is payable in cash and cannot be financed. Removing 15% of the price from the upfront requirement changes what you can afford far more than any rate difference.
Holding
No minimum holding period
With Special Stamp Duty gone, there is no stamp duty penalty for selling within the first few years. Your mortgage may still carry a penalty period — that is a separate matter, and worth checking before you commit.
Structure
Company purchase costs less duty
Companies previously paid both the 15% scale and BSD. Now they pay the same ad valorem duty as an individual — though mortgage terms for a corporate borrower remain a different question.
Position stated as at the Stamp Duty (Amendment) Ordinance 2024: SSD, BSD and NRSD ceased to apply to instruments executed on or after 28 February 2024. Ad valorem rates reflect the 2025/26 Budget scale. Stamp duty is assessed by the Inland Revenue Department on the chargeable consideration; figures produced by our calculator are estimates for budgeting and are not tax advice. Confirm the payable amount with your solicitor before completion.
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Working out your total cash to completion?
Stamp duty is one line of it. Tell us the price and your deposit, and we will set out duty, legal fees, the loan you can expect, and what has to be paid on the day.