If you sell your home at age 55 or above, the CPF housing refund can go into two accounts. CPF Board says the refund is first used to top up your Retirement Account (RA) to your required retirement sum. The remainder stays in your Ordinary Account (OA). Check what will be available in the OA before relying on it for another home.
The refund amount and the amount you can use for your next purchase answer different questions. Keep the total housing refund, the amount expected to go to retirement savings and the amount expected to remain in the OA on separate lines. Read CPF Board’s guidance on refunds from a property sale.
- Check the housing refund estimate in your CPF dashboard.
- Verify how much would go into the RA and OA.
- If you are buying again, check the amounts available for the new property and their timing.
- Keep each owner’s figures separate for a jointly owned property.
Jump to a section
Use separate rows for the refund and the next purchase
| Number to record | Question it answers |
|---|---|
| Expected CPF housing refund | How much is expected to be returned to CPF from the sale? |
| Expected RA allocation | How much is expected to go towards the required retirement sum? |
| Expected OA balance | What remains in the OA after the allocation? |
| CPF available for the new home | What amount can be used under the rules for that purchase? |
Imagine an owner expects a $90,000 refund and CPF confirms that $40,000 will go into the RA. In this simplified example, $50,000 of the refund remains in the OA. The owner should use the confirmed OA and property-specific limits for the next purchase budget, and check whether the funds are accessible on the required date.
Back to contents · Next section
Check the separate route for a smaller HDB flat
CPF Board describes a route for eligible owners aged 55 and above to use RA refunds above the Basic Retirement Sum towards a three-room or smaller HDB flat. Its conditions include buying within three years of selling, buying a flat that costs less than the previous property’s selling price and not having been issued a CPF LIFE plan so that RA savings are available. Confirm your own position with CPF Board before including the amount.
Back to contents · Next section
Frequently asked questions
Can I assume the entire CPF refund will arrive in the OA?
Check how much needs to go to the RA first. The amount remaining in the OA can be lower than the total housing refund.
How do I plan around the payment dates?
Use the cash and CPF timing worksheet for an HDB move to compare the dates for sale proceeds, CPF availability and purchase payments.