Buying property in Karnataka: stamp duty, registration and land records
Stamp duty on a sale deed in Karnataka is recorded at 5%, whether the buyer is a man or a woman. Source: Department of Stamps and Registration, Government of Karnataka (Kaveri), last checked 23 September 2026; we could not confirm it is the currently notified figure, so check before you budget. Registration: 1% of value. Duty is charged on the higher of the agreed price and the official value, which Karnataka calls the guidance value. Published by the Department of Stamps and Registration, street by street. It is paid through Kaveri Online Services.
Updated 23 September 2026, the date the stamp duty figures were last checked.
Stamp duty and registration in Karnataka
Stamp duty is a state tax on the sale deed; the registration fee is a separate charge paid to the sub-registrar when the deed is registered.
Source: Department of Stamps and Registration, Government of Karnataka (Kaveri). Last checked 23 September 2026.
Official property value
Karnataka calls the government’s own value for a property the guidance value. Published by the Department of Stamps and Registration, street by street.
It matters because stamp duty (and the registration fee where it is a percentage) is charged on the higher of the price in your agreement and this value. If you agree a price below it, you still pay duty on the official value.
Land records
In Karnataka the record of rights is the RTC (Record of Rights, Tenancy and Crops, or Pahani), on the Revenue Department's Bhoomi portal. For urban property, the municipal khata (A or B) matters more.
A land record shows who holds the land in the revenue record, its area and kind, and in many states loans or disputes noted against it. It is evidence of possession and revenue liability, not a title deed: read it alongside the chain of sale deeds and an encumbrance certificate.
RERA
Real estate projects in Karnataka are registered with the Karnataka Real Estate Regulatory Authority. Its register is at rera.karnataka.gov.in. A registration number lets you check the promoter, the promised completion date and any extensions; registration is not an endorsement of the project.
Land units used
Areas in Karnataka are commonly quoted in square feet, guntha, acre. Each of these has one fixed size:
Buying and registering in Karnataka, step by step
- Agree the price and sign an agreement to sellThe agreement records the price, the payment schedule, the date by which the sale deed will be registered and what happens to the token if either side walks away. Ownership does not pass yet.
- Check the title and the land recordMatch the seller's name and the survey or khasra number on the RTC (Record of Rights, Tenancy and Crops, or Pahani) (on the Revenue Department's Bhoomi portal) with the sale deeds, and ask the sub-registrar's office for an encumbrance certificate.
- For a new project, check the RERA registrationLook up the project number on the Karnataka Real Estate Regulatory Authority register (https://rera.karnataka.gov.in/) and compare the promised completion date with what the builder tells you.
- Look up the guidance valueStamp duty is charged on the higher of the agreed price and the guidance value for that property, so find the figure for the exact locality before you budget.
- Pay the stamp dutyThrough Kaveri Online Services, before or at the time of registration. Carry the receipt to the appointment.
- Register the sale deed at the sub-registrarBuyer, seller and two witnesses attend with originals and identity proof. The registration fee is paid here: 1% of value. The deal is not complete until the deed is on the sub-registrar's record.
- Get the records changed to your nameApply for mutation in the municipal and, for land, the revenue record, so property tax bills and the record of rights show you as the owner. It is a separate step from registration and easy to forget.
What to confirm before you pay
- Lower slabs apply to lower-value properties; a cess and surcharge are added on top of the base rate.
- We could not confirm that the figure above is the currently notified rate. Treat it as a starting point and confirm with the department before you budget.
- If the agreed price is below the official value, duty is still worked out on the official value. Understating the price does not lower it.
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Common questions
What is the stamp duty in Karnataka?
Stamp duty on a sale deed in Karnataka is recorded at 5%, whether the buyer is a man or a woman. Registration: 1% of value. Recorded from Department of Stamps and Registration, Government of Karnataka (Kaveri), last checked 23 September 2026.
What is the circle rate called in Karnataka?
Karnataka calls the official value the guidance value. Published by the Department of Stamps and Registration, street by street. Stamp duty is charged on the higher of this value and the agreed price.
Where do I check land records in Karnataka?
The record of rights is the RTC (Record of Rights, Tenancy and Crops, or Pahani), on the Revenue Department's Bhoomi portal. For urban property, the municipal khata (A or B) matters more. It shows the revenue record and possession, not ownership; check it alongside the chain of sale deeds.
Which land units are used in Karnataka?
Listings and records commonly use square feet, guntha, acre.
Which authority registers projects under RERA in Karnataka?
The Karnataka Real Estate Regulatory Authority. Its register is at https://rera.karnataka.gov.in/.
General information from the sources named on this page, not legal advice. Confirm current rates with the department before you pay.