Stamp duty

Stamp duty

Stamp duty is a form of tax that is levied on documents. Historically, a physical stamp (a tax stamp) had to be attached to or impressed upon the document to denote that stamp duty had been paid before the document became legally effective. More modern versions of the tax no longer require a physical stamp.

Australia

The federal government of Australia does not levy stamp duty. However, stamp duty is levied by the states on various instruments (i.e., written documents) and transactions. The rates of stamp duty vary from State to State, as do the nature of the instruments or transactions subject to duty. Some jurisdictions no longer require a physical document to attract what is now often referred to as "transaction duty."

Major forms of duty include the transfer duty on the sale of land, businesses, shares and other forms of dutiable property; mortgage duty; lease duty and duty on the hire of goods. Rebates or exemptions are available from transfer duty and mortgage duty for those purchasing their first home.

On 20 April 2005, it was announced by the Treasurers of various States or Territories that they will phase out a number of duties over the course of the next five years. However, duty on transfer of ownership in land will remain.the amount of postage on a letter bound for englnd was multiplied ten times the former postal rates

Hong Kong

According to the Schedule 1 of Hong Kong Stamp Duty Ordinance Cap.117 (in short, SDO), Stamp duty is charged on some legal binding documents which are classified into 4 heads:
* Head 1: All transactions of sale or lease of interests in Hong Kong immovable property.
* Head 2: The transfer of .
* Head 3: All Hong Kong bearer instruments.
* Head 4: Any duplicates and counterparts of the above documents.

One of examples is shares of companies which are either incorporated in Hong Kong or listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Other than the said shares, the HK Stock is defined as shares and marketable securities, units in unit trusts, and rights to subscribe for or to be allotted stock. Stamp duty on a conveyance on sale of land is charged at progressive rates ranging from 0.75% to 3.75% of the amount of consideration. The maximum rate of 3.75% applies where the consideration exceeds HK$6 million.

References
* [http://www.legislation.gov.hk/blis_export.nsf/CurAllEngDocAgent?OpenAgent&Chapter=117 Hong Kong Stamp Duty Ordinance Cap.117, Schedule 1 Heading]

ingapore

From 1998, stamp duty in Singapore only applies to documents relating to immovable property, stocks and shares. That means that when a person purchases property in Singapore or shares traded on the Singapore Exchange, the transaction is subject to stamp duty.

Applicable rates and more information can be obtained from Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore. Legislation covering Singapore Stamp Duties are found in the Stamp Duties Act. [Singapore Statute | c
title = Stamp Duties Act
]

Ireland

Stamp duty is charged on various items including (but not limited to)
* Credit/ Debit cards
* ATM cards
* Cheques
* Property transfers

United Kingdom

The scope of the United Kingdom's stamp duty has been reduced dramatically in recent years. Apart from transfers of shares and securities, the issue of bearer instruments and certain transactions involving partnerships, stamp duty was largely abolished in the UK from 1 December, 2003. "Stamp duty land tax" (SDLT), a new transfer tax derived from stamp duty, was introduced for land and property transactions from 1 December 2003. SDLT is not a stamp duty, but a form of self-assessed transfer tax charged on "land transactions". "Stamp duty reserve tax" (SDRT) was introduced on agreements to transfer certain shares and other securities in 1986.

On the September 2, 2008, the British Government announced that all stamp duty placed on houses under the £175,000 price mark would be axed for one calendar year. Buyers could be saving a potential £1,750 if eligible.

United States

Although the federal government formerly imposed various documentary stamp taxes on deeds, notes and other transactional documents, in modern times such taxes are only imposed by states. Typically when real estate is transferred or sold, a real estate transfer tax will be collected at the time of registration of the deed in the public records. In addition, many states impose a tax on mortgages or other instruments securing loans against real property. This tax, known variously as a "mortgage tax", "intangibles tax", or "documentary stamp tax", is also usually collected at the time of registration of the mortgage or deed of trust with the recording authority.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Stamp duty — Stamp Stamp, n. 1. The act of stamping, as with the foot. [1913 Webster] 2. The which stamps; any instrument for making impressions on other bodies, as a die. [1913 Webster] T is gold so pure It can not bear the stamp without alloy. Dryden. [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • stamp duty — A tax on documents relating to specific transactions, share transfers and property transactions. The rate of duty are as follows: Documents Dependent on the type of documentation and the nature of the transaction. Share Transfers 0.5per cent per… …   Law dictionary

  • stamp duty — ► NOUN ▪ a duty levied on the legal recognition of certain documents …   English terms dictionary

  • stamp duty — stamp .duty n [U] a tax that must be paid in Britain on particular legal documents that have to be officially checked, especially when buying a house …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • stamp duty — stamp ,duty noun uncount a tax that people in the U.K. pay on some official documents, especially when they are buying a house …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • stamp duty — noun a tax collected by requiring a stamp to be purchased and attached (usually on documents or publications) • Syn: ↑stamp tax • Hypernyms: ↑tax, ↑taxation, ↑revenue enhancement * * * noun : stamp tax …   Useful english dictionary

  • stamp duty — Applies mainly to international equities. Taxes on foreign transactions, usually a percentage of total transaction amount, that can be unilateral or bilateral in nature. Bloomberg Financial Dictionary A tax levied on the purchaser of securities… …   Financial and business terms

  • stamp duty — A UK tax collected by stamping the legal documents giving effect to specific transactions. Stamp duty was formerly levied on a wide range of instruments. However, the only transactions that now give rise to stamp duty proper are those in which… …   Big dictionary of business and management

  • stamp duty — n [U] (BrE) a tax that requires you to pay for a document to receive an official stamp in order to make it valid. In the past, stamp duty was paid on documents used to transfer houses and flats/apartments from one person to another. In December… …   Universalium

  • Stamp Duty — The tax placed on legal documents usually in the transfer of assets or property. This duty is customary in the Commonwealth of Nation countries including Singapore and Australia and certain states in the United States. Where enforced, this tax is …   Investment dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”