It is crucial to have an understanding of stamp duty if you are interested in buying a property in Bengaluru. Too many buyers walk in blind, and then get shocked when the paperwork hits them. The quickest way to calculate the stamp duty is, of course, to use an online calculator. It asks for location, gender, and property value. You punch it in, and out comes the number. But some people still want to know the math behind it, and understand how the final figure is arrived at.
The reason stamp duty is taken so seriously is because stamp duty doubles as proof of a deal actually happening. Courts in Karnataka won’t even touch an unregistered property transaction if this tax hasn’t been paid. And that should tell buyers enough: if one wants the house, apartment, or land to actually belong to them in every legal sense, stamp duty must be paid in full.
How to Calculate Stamp Duty and Registration Charges Bengaluru
Calculating stamp duty and registration charges in Bengaluru isn’t rocket science, but people still get it wrong because they don’t check the right numbers. The duty is charged on either the property’s market value or guidance value (the government’s benchmark rate), whichever is higher.
The formula is straightforward:
Stamp Duty = Property Value × Applicable Rate (2 per cent, 3 per cent, or 5 per cent) / 100
Registration Charge = Property Value × 1 per cent / 100
Example: Suppose a 2BHK apartment in Panathur costs Rs 80 lakh. The stamp duty here is 5 per cent, while the registration fee is a flat 1 per cent.
Stamp Duty = (Rs 80,00,000 × 5) / 100 = Rs 4,00,000
Registration Charge = (Rs 80,00,000 × 1) / 100 = Rs 80,000
Total = Rs 4.80 lakh.
That’s nearly 5 lakh extra on top of the property price. Anyone buying needs to factor that in from the beginning. Online calculators on the Kaveri Online Services portal help avoid surprises.
Factors Influencing Stamp Duty Rates in Bengaluru
Stamp duty rates shift depending on the property’s nature.
Property Type: Commercial properties always get slapped with the higher rate 5 per cent, no exceptions.
Ownership: Unlike states that offer concessions to women, Karnataka has the same flat rate for male, female and senior citizens.
Location: A flat in Indiranagar will naturally attract higher stamp duty than a plot on the city’s outskirts. Urban properties cost more, and the duty climbs with them.
Amenities: A gated community with pools, gyms, and manicured lawns will also bump up the charges. Extra facilities mean extra value, and the government takes its cut.
Stamp Duty Rates in Bengaluru 2025
Here’s the breakdown:
Residential Property:
Above Rs 45 lakh: 5 per cent
Between Rs 21 lakh and Rs 45 lakh: 3 per cent
Less than Rs 20 lakh: 2 per cent
Commercial Property: 5 per cent flat, regardless of value.
Plots & Agricultural Land: 5 per cent of market value.
Affordable Housing: 2-3 per cent, depending on price point (under Rs 45 lakh).
What is Registration Charge?
Registration charge is different from stamp duty. It’s not about proving the transaction it’s about recording it. In Bengaluru, 2025, the registration fee is a flat 1 per cent of the property’s value.
Without registration, the property doesn’t legally shift to the buyer’s name, no matter how much stamp duty has been paid.
Process of Registering a Property After Paying Stamp Duty in Bengaluru
The process is rather tedious.
Buyers must:
Present the sale deed and proof of stamp duty payment.
Provide ID proofs, property details, and sometimes a No Objection Certificate.
Show up in person with the seller and two witnesses at the sub-registrar’s office.
Sign papers under official supervision.
Once done, the property is legally transferred. Until then, it’s just paperwork.
Modes of Payment and Timing
Payment can be made in a few ways:
Online: Through e-stamping on the Kaveri portal.
Offline: Demand draft, banker’s cheque, or cash at the sub-registrar’s office.
Authorised SHCIL branches: Another accepted route.
Timing matters. Duty must be paid before or on the day of property registration. Delays invite fines 2 per cent per month, capped at 200 per cent of the original duty. Anyone thinking they can “pay later” will regret it.
Stamp Duty and Registration Charges in Bengaluru 2025, Based on Property Value and Type
| Property Type | Stamp Duty | Registration Charge |
| Residential > Rs 45 lakh | 5 per cent | 1 per cent |
| Residential Rs 21–45 lakh | 3 per cent | 1 per cent |
| Residential < Rs 20 lakh | 2 per cent | 1 per cent |
| Commercial Property | 5 per cent | 1 per cent |
| Plots & Agricultural Land | 5 per cent | 1 per cent |
| Affordable Housing (< Rs 45 lakh) | 2–3 per cent | 1 per cent |
| Women-owned Property | Same as others | 1 per cent |
Exemptions and Concessions in 2025
This is where buyers often hope for relief. In Bengaluru, 2025, there isn’t much.
No gender concessions. Women pay the same as men.
No senior citizen discounts.
Affordable housing relief. Properties under Rs 45 lakh get the lower 2–3 per cent slab.
GST angle. Only under-construction projects are subject to GST 5 per cent for general housing, 1 per cent for affordable housing. Resale homes are exempt.
Key Considerations Before Paying
§ Verify documents. These will include the title deed, encumbrance certificate, and sale deed.
§ Check property value online. The Kaveri portal lists official guidance values.
§ Seek legal advice. A property lawyer or consultant helps avoid expensive mistakes.
Penalties for Non-compliance
Non-payment is not something to brush off. If stamp duty and registration charges aren’t paid, these will be the consequences.
§ The transaction becomes invalid in law.
§ Courts won’t accept the sale deed as evidence.
§ Penalties of 2 per cent per month can snowball to 200 per cent of the unpaid duty.
Impact of Stamp Duty on Property Prices in Bengaluru
Stamp duty and registration add a big chunk to property costs. For high-end apartments, the extra charges easily run into lakhs, pushing buyers to reconsider budgets. Many in 2025 are leaning toward affordable housing under Rs 45 lakh because of the lower duty slab. That demand is shaping the city’s real estate trends.
FAQs
1. What is the current stamp duty rate in Bengaluru for 2025?
It ranges from 2 per cent to 5 per cent depending on property value.
2. Can you get a concession on stamp duty if the property is in my spouse’s name?
No. Bengaluru offers no such concession.
3. How can you pay stamp duty and registration charges online?
Through the Kaveri portal, or offline at sub-registrar offices or SHCIL branches.
4. What happens if you don’t register my property?
The sale is not legally valid. Ownership will not be recognised.
5. Are there hidden costs apart from stamp duty and registration charges?
Yes lawyer fees, notary charges, GST on under-construction properties, maintenance, club memberships, etc.
6. Do first-time homebuyers get any benefits on stamp duty?
Only under affordable housing schemes like PMAY, not directly from Karnataka stamp duty rules.
7. Is stamp duty refundable if a property deal falls through?
Generally no, though partial refunds may be possible in rare cases with proper documentation.
8. How is the market value of the property determined for stamp duty calculation?
By government-set guidance values or the actual sale price whichever is higher.
9. Can you delay paying the stamp duty and registration charges?
Not advisable. Penalties and legal complications will follow.
10. What are the penalties for late payment of stamp duty and registration charges?
Between 2 per cent and 8 per cent per month on the unpaid amount, until dues are cleared.
