[ Buyer Education ]

Stamp duty and registration charges in Bangalore: a complete breakdown

20 October 2025 · 5 min read

Stamp duty and registration charges are mandatory costs in any property purchase. They are paid to the state government at the time of property registration. Understanding how these charges are calculated helps you budget accurately for your total acquisition cost.

Current rates in Karnataka

• Stamp duty: 5% of the property value (for properties above a threshold; reduced rates may apply for lower-value properties).
• Registration fee: 1% of the property value.
• Surcharge and cess: additional charges that typically add another 0.5-1% to the total.

How the property value is determined

The stamp duty is calculated on the higher of the actual sale consideration (the price you pay) or the government guidance value (circle rate) for that area. The guidance value is the minimum value the government assigns per square foot for a given zone, and it is revised periodically.

The registration process

Property registration is done at the Sub-Registrar's office having jurisdiction over the property location. Karnataka also offers an online appointment system (Kaveri portal) to reduce waiting times. Both buyer and seller need to be present with witnesses.

• Book a slot on the Kaveri online portal.
• Pay the stamp duty and registration fee online or via challan.
• Carry the original sale deed, previous title documents, and identity proof.
• Biometric verification is done at the registrar's office.

Tips for buyers

• Budget for stamp duty and registration as part of your total cost from the start. On a 1 crore property, this can be 6-7 lakhs.
• Check if the developer includes registration costs in the quoted price or if it is extra. Most developers quote the base price excluding these charges.
• Women buyers may be eligible for a slightly reduced stamp duty rate in some scenarios. Check current notifications.