Hong Kong Stamp Duty Deadlines: The 30-Day Rule and Late Penalties
The 30-day stamp duty deadline is one of Hong Kong's strictest calendar-day deadlines. It does not pause for weekends, General Holidays, CNY, or typhoons. Miss it, and the penalty is automatic — up to 10 times the duty owed.
The 30-day rule
Under the Stamp Duty Ordinance (Cap. 117), an agreement for sale and purchase of residential property must be stamped within 30 days of execution of the earliest agreement for the same transaction.
In most cases, this means 30 days from the date the Provisional Agreement for Sale and Purchase (PASP) is signed.
Key facts:
- Calendar days, not working days
- Weekends and General Holidays are included in the count
- No extension for adverse weather, CNY shutdown, or any other non-working period
- The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) administers stamping
Since 30 June 2011, there is no deferment option for stamp duty on residential property transactions. The full duty must be paid within 30 days.
What happens if you miss it
Late stamping penalties escalate quickly:
| Delay after 30-day deadline | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 month | 2 times the stamp duty |
| 1–2 months | 4 times the stamp duty |
| Over 2 months | 10 times the stamp duty |
Voluntary disclosure
If the delay was not deliberate and you come forward voluntarily, the Collector will normally apply a reduced penalty:
Reduced penalty = 14% × stamp duty × (days delayed ÷ 365)
Subject to a minimum of HK$500. The actual remission may be adjusted depending on the circumstances.
Worked example
Property value: HK$8,000,000. AVD at Scale 2 = 2.25% = HK$180,000.
| Scenario | Penalty | Total payable |
|---|---|---|
| On time (within 30 days) | None | HK$180,000 |
| 3 weeks late | 2× = HK$360,000 | HK$540,000 |
| 6 weeks late | 4× = HK$720,000 | HK$900,000 |
| 3 months late | 10× = HK$1,800,000 | HK$1,980,000 |
The 10× penalty for a 3-month delay nearly doubles the total cost. This makes stamp duty one of the most expensive deadlines to miss in Hong Kong.
Current AVD rates (2026)
Since 28 February 2024, Hong Kong's property stamp duty regime has been significantly simplified. Three demand-side stamp duty categories were abolished:
- Buyer's Stamp Duty (BSD): Abolished (previously up to 15% for non-permanent residents)
- Special Stamp Duty (SSD): Abolished (previously up to 20% for quick resales)
- New Residential Stamp Duty (NRSD): Abolished
The main remaining duty is Ad Valorem Duty (AVD), now charged at rates aligned to the Scale 2 rate table:
| Property value | AVD rate |
|---|---|
| Up to HK$4,000,000 | HK$100 (flat fee) |
| HK$4,000,001 – HK$6,000,000 | 1.5% |
| HK$6,000,001 – HK$10,000,000 | 2.25% |
| HK$10,000,001 – HK$20,000,000 | 3.0% |
| Above HK$20,000,000 | 4.25% |
The abolition of BSD and NRSD means the distinction between buyer types no longer triggers additional duties for most residential transactions. For the current applicable rates, check the IRD stamp duty rates page.
Other documents with stamping deadlines
Stamp duty is not limited to property sales. Other common deadlines:
- Tenancy agreements: Must be stamped within 30 days of execution
- Share transfers: Must be stamped within 2 days (for stock exchange transactions) or 30 days (for off-exchange transfers)
- Lease agreements: Stamped within 30 days
The same late penalty structure applies to all document types.
Planning around the deadline
Because the 30-day deadline runs in calendar days:
- Count from the PASP date, not the ASP date — the clock starts at the earliest agreement
- Do not assume the deadline extends over CNY, Easter, or any holiday period
- Build in a buffer — aim to complete stamping by day 20–25, not day 29
- If the 30th day falls on a weekend or holiday, the IRD's online stamping system (e-Stamping) is available 24/7 — you can stamp electronically even when the Stamp Office is closed
Where the calculator helps
While the stamp duty deadline itself runs in calendar days, the calculator is useful for:
- Counting the 30 calendar days from a PASP date to identify the exact deadline
- Checking whether the deadline falls during a holiday cluster (CNY, Easter)
- Planning the conveyancing working-day milestones that feed into the stamping timeline
For calculator details, see the Info Guide.