Stamp Duty, Registration Charges & Guidance Value in Bangalore
When you register a purchase in Bangalore, the buyer normally pays stamp duty (typically 5% for most homes, with lower slabs for lower-value property), a surcharge / cess on that duty, and a registration fee — all calculated on the higher of the sale price and the government guidance value. Rates and guidance values have changed recently, so check the exact figure on the Kaveri portal for your registration date.
What you pay at registration
| Charge | How it is worked out | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp duty | A percentage of the higher of price and guidance value | Typically 5% for most Bangalore homes; lower slabs apply to lower-value property |
| Surcharge / cess | Added on top of the stamp duty | The Kaveri calculator shows the exact amount |
| Registration fee | A percentage of the same value | Long 1%; reported raised to 2% from 2025 — confirm on Kaveri |
| Small extras | Scanning, e-stamp paper, document writer | A few thousand rupees |
A worked example
Say you are buying a flat for ₹80 lakh and its guidance value works out to ₹75 lakh. Charges are calculated on the higher of the two — here, the ₹80 lakh price.
| Line | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chargeable value | Higher of ₹80 L price and ₹75 L guidance value | ₹80,00,000 |
| Stamp duty | 5% of ₹80 L | ₹4,00,000 |
| Surcharge / cess | Added on the stamp duty | From the Kaveri calculator |
| Registration fee | 1%–2% of ₹80 L, per the current rate | ₹80,000 – ₹1,60,000 |
| Extras | Scanning, e-stamp, writer | A few thousand |
So budget roughly ₹5–6 lakh on top of an ₹80 lakh price before the surcharge, and get the exact figure from the Kaveri calculator once the guidance value for your property is confirmed. If the guidance value is higher than your price, the charges follow the guidance value, not what you paid.
Guidance value: what it is and how to check it
The guidance value is the minimum value the Karnataka government fixes for property in each area, per square foot. It exists so that stamp duty is not paid on an under-declared price. It is set area by area and property type by property type, and it was revised upward in 2026.
Check it on Kaveri
- Open the Kaveri Online Services portal of the Karnataka Department of Stamps and Registration (no login needed for the guidance value search).
- Choose Bengaluru Urban, then the Sub-Registrar office and the village / area where the property is.
- Pick the property type — site, flat, house, commercial.
- Multiply the rate shown by the property’s registrable area to get its guidance value.
Who pays what
- Buyer: stamp duty, surcharge / cess and the registration fee — by convention, and usually stated in the sale agreement.
- Seller: clears dues on the property (tax, maintenance, any loan) so the title is clean; capital-gains tax on the sale is the seller’s own matter.
- Anything different should be agreed in writing in the sale agreement before registration.
Budgeting the full purchase
Registration costs are only part of the money you need beyond the price. Plan for:
- Stamp duty, surcharge / cess and registration fee (above)
- Home-loan processing fee and the stamp duty on the loan agreement, if you borrow
- Legal verification of the documents — see our documents checklist
- Khata transfer into your name after registration — see the e-Khata guide
- For flats: society transfer charges, maintenance deposit and any pending dues