Stamp duty depends on the instrument, the applicable law and the relevant transaction details. Ask for a current calculation rather than applying a percentage from an old article.
Get the calculation explained
A sale, lease, gift or other property arrangement may be treated differently. Start by identifying the document you are actually signing and the information used in the estimate. Keep duty separate from registration fees and the professional charges for drafting or assistance. If someone has quoted a combined figure, ask for a breakdown and how payment will be evidenced. A friend’s recent transaction can be useful context, but it is not a calculation for yours.
Keep an estimate distinct from a receipt
An estimate helps you plan; a receipt records a payment. Retain both, along with the instrument and particulars used for the calculation. If the transaction changes before signing, ask whether the estimate needs to be revised. Do not assume that an amount paid for another transaction, even a recent one in the same building, is the right amount for yours.
Before the appointment
- The proposed instrument and latest draft.
- The property details and transaction value being used.
- Any relationship or arrangement relevant to the assessment.
- An itemised estimate and official payment records.
The next step
Have the current charge calculation checked before paying. Keep the basis of the calculation with the receipts and registered document.
Can I use the percentage shown in an old blog post?
Check it against the current requirements for your transaction first. Rates, concessions and the basis of assessment should not be assumed from an undated example.
Related reading
For current records and requirements, use the official sources below. Advice about your own property needs a review of its documents.
Karnataka Stamp Act · official text on India Code ↗How we publish and handle corrections →Have a question about this guide? Ask Proplegal on WhatsApp ↗