Stamp Duty and Registration Charges in Bangalore 2026: Full Guide

When you budget for a flat, the price on the brochure is not the whole story. In Karnataka, stamp duty and registration charges in Bangalore add roughly 7% to 7.6% to the cost of most homes, and that money usually has to come from your own pocket because banks rarely finance it. This guide covers the current rates, how cess and surcharge work, the guidance value rule, worked examples for two common budgets, and how to pay on Kaveri 2.0.

Rates and guidance values change from time to time, so treat the numbers here as accurate as of October 2026 and check the latest before you buy.

Stamp duty and registration charges in Bangalore at a glance

There are two separate charges, paid to the state's Department of Stamps and Registration when the sale deed is registered.

• Stamp duty: 5% of the property value for most purchases. Lower concessional rates exist for the first sale of smaller-value flats (see below).
• Cess: 10% of the stamp duty amount (which works out to 0.5% of the property value at the 5% rate).
• Surcharge: 2% of the stamp duty amount in urban areas such as GBA (formerly BBMP) limits, and 3% in rural areas.
• Registration fee: 2% of the property value, since 31 August 2025. It was 1% before that.

Put together, a typical home above ₹45 lakh in Bangalore city attracts about 5.6% effective stamp duty plus 2% registration fee, or about 7.6% in total. There are also small scanning and processing fees, usually a few hundred to a couple of thousand rupees.

Stamp duty slabs in Karnataka

Karnataka offers concessional stamp duty on the first registration of apartments, under Article 20(2A) of the Karnataka Stamp Act. As commonly applied, the slabs are:

• Up to ₹20 lakh: 2%
• Above ₹20 lakh and up to ₹45 lakh: 3%
• Above ₹45 lakh: 5%

Two points trip people up. First, these lower rates are meant for flats being sold for the first time, typically by a developer. A resale flat or a plot does not automatically get 2% or 3% just because the price is low. Second, most new flats in Bangalore today are priced well above ₹45 lakh, so in practice most buyers pay the full 5%. Confirm the applicable rate for your specific deed with your lawyer or the sub-registrar.

The 2% registration fee since August 2025

Karnataka doubled the registration fee from 1% to 2% of the property value with effect from 31 August 2025. The state said the fee had not been revised upwards since 2013, when it was cut from 2% to 1%. The stamp duty rate itself did not change.

For buyers, the effect is simple: an extra 1% of the property value at registration. On an ₹80 lakh flat that is ₹80,000 more than a year earlier. Fees on Joint Development Agreements and connected power of attorney documents also went up to 2%, which can feed into developer pricing.

Guidance value vs sale value: which one is used?

Every property in Karnataka has a guidance value, the minimum value per square foot set by the government for that locality and road. Stamp duty and registration fee are calculated on whichever is higher: the guidance value or the actual sale price in your deed.

• If you agree to pay ₹1.2 crore and the guidance value works out to ₹90 lakh, charges are on ₹1.2 crore.
• If you agree to pay ₹80 lakh but the guidance value works out to ₹95 lakh, charges are on ₹95 lakh.

Bengaluru's guidance values were revised upwards in late 2023 and again in early 2026, and further revisions have been discussed. You can look up the guidance value for your property's area on the Kaveri 2.0 portal. In established areas like Indiranagar, Koramangala or Jayanagar, the guidance value can come close to market prices, so it is worth checking rather than assuming the sale price will apply.

Worked examples: ₹80 lakh and ₹1.5 crore flats

These examples assume an urban property in GBA limits, a sale price at or above guidance value, and the 5% stamp duty rate. Figures are approximate and leave out small scanning fees.

Flat priced at ₹80 lakh

• Stamp duty at 5%: ₹4,00,000
• Cess at 10% of duty: ₹40,000
• Surcharge at 2% of duty: ₹8,000
• Registration fee at 2%: ₹1,60,000
• Total: about ₹6,08,000, or roughly 7.6% of the price

Flat priced at ₹1.5 crore

• Stamp duty at 5%: ₹7,50,000
• Cess at 10% of duty: ₹75,000
• Surcharge at 2% of duty: ₹15,000
• Registration fee at 2%: ₹3,00,000
• Total: about ₹11,40,000, or roughly 7.6% of the price

On top of this, budget separately for GST on under-construction flats, the developer's maintenance deposit and other charges, and legal fees. If the price is ₹50 lakh or more, remember you also need to deduct 1% TDS from the payment to the seller and deposit it with the income tax department.

How to pay stamp duty and registration fee on Kaveri 2.0

Karnataka handles registration through the Kaveri 2.0 portal of the Department of Stamps and Registration. The usual steps are:

1. Create an account on Kaveri 2.0 using your mobile number and email.
2. Start a new registration application and enter the property details, including the e-Khata number. Since 2025, an e-Khata is needed to register property within GBA limits.
3. Add the buyer, seller and witness details, and upload the draft sale deed.
4. Let the system calculate stamp duty and registration fee based on the higher of guidance value and sale value.
5. Pay online through net banking, UPI or card, and keep the receipts.
6. Book a slot at the sub-registrar office for the property's jurisdiction.
7. On the day, the buyer, seller and two witnesses attend with original ID proofs for biometric and photo capture. The registered deed is then available to download.

For new projects, the developer's team usually prepares the deed and books the slot, but the stamp duty is still your cost. Ask for the calculation in writing before the registration date.

Is there any concession for women buyers in Karnataka?

No. Unlike Delhi, Haryana, Punjab or Gujarat, Karnataka does not currently offer a lower stamp duty or registration fee for women buyers. The same rates apply to men, women and joint owners. Some older articles still mention a women's concession in Karnataka, so do not plan your budget around one.

Registering in a woman's name, or jointly, can still make sense for other reasons. Some lenders offer slightly lower home loan rates to women borrowers, and joint ownership lets both co-borrowers claim tax benefits on the loan. Check current offers with your bank.

Knowing the full cost upfront makes it far easier to compare homes fairly. If you are weighing options, Skyros Estates can help you shortlist, work out the all-in cost of each, and check the papers before you register.