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Guide · Income Tax

Stamp Duty on Property —
Rates & the 80C Benefit

What stamp duty and registration charges cost across states, how they are calculated on circle rate vs market value, and how to claim them under Section 80C in the old tax regime.

TaxClue Income-Tax Desk Updated 18 August 2026 5 min read 16 FAQs answered
Updated for FY 2025-26 CA Reviewed Buyer & Investor Guide
Quick Answer

Stamp duty is a state government tax on property transfer, typically 4-8% of the property value, plus a registration charge of about 1%. It is calculated on the higher of the circle/guidance value or the actual transaction value. Many states give women buyers a 1-2% rebate. On the income-tax side, stamp duty and registration charges on a new residential house are deductible under Section 80C (within the Rs 1.5 lakh limit, in the year of payment) — but only under the old tax regime.

Stamp duty 4-8%
Registration ~1%
80C (old) Rs 1.5L
194IA TDS 1%
Stamp duty is a state subject — rates change often

Stamp duty and registration are levied by each state under its own Stamp Act, so rates, women/first-buyer concessions and caps differ widely and are revised frequently. The figures below are indicative for urban residential property — always confirm the current rate with your state's registration / IGR department before you budget.

State-wise

Stamp Duty & Registration Rates (Indicative)

Rates apply to urban residential property. Rural, commercial and special categories may differ. Registration charge is usually about 1% (often capped). Verify with your state before registering.

StateMen BuyerWomen BuyerRegistrationNotes
Delhi6%4%1% (cap ~Rs 1,00,000)1% MCD surcharge may apply
Maharashtra6%*6%*1% (cap ~Rs 30,000)*Incl. 1% metro cess in metros; ~1% women concession applies in some cases
Karnataka5.6%5.6%1%Incl. surcharge/cess; guidance value applies
Uttar Pradesh7%6%1% (cap ~Rs 20,000)1% rebate for women up to a value cap; circle rate applies
Tamil Nadu7%7%~2-4%No gender rebate; guideline value used
Telangana4%4%0.5%+ ~1.5% transfer duty; no gender difference

Indicative only, subject to state notifications and periodic revision. Confirm current rates with the state registration/IGR department.

How it is computed

Circle Rate vs Market Value

Stamp duty is charged on the higher of the circle rate (the state-notified ready-reckoner / guidance value) or the actual transaction value. If you buy below circle rate, duty is still charged on the circle rate. Under Sections 43CA / 50C, a gap of up to 10% between the two is ignored for income-tax purposes; a larger gap can be taxed as income.

6% state · Rs 80L property

Higher of value / circle rateRs 80,00,000
Stamp duty @ 6%Rs 4,80,000
Registration @ 1%Rs 80,000
Total outgoRs 5,60,000

4% state · Rs 50L property

Higher of value / circle rateRs 50,00,000
Stamp duty @ 4%Rs 2,00,000
Registration @ 1%Rs 50,000
Total outgoRs 2,50,000
Budget for 5-9% on top of the price

Stamp duty and registration together commonly add roughly 5-9% of the property value to your cost, over and above the price and GST (where applicable on under-construction homes). Factor this in early — it is paid upfront at registration and cannot be part-financed by most home loans.

Income-tax benefit

Section 80C Deduction on Stamp Duty

Stamp duty and registration charges on a new residential house are deductible under Section 80C, within the overall Rs 1.5 lakh ceiling, in the year of payment. It works only in the old tax regime — the default new regime does not allow it.

  • Old regime only — not available if you opt for the new tax regime
  • Residential house — commercial property, resale/second-hand homes and bare plots generally do not qualify
  • Year of payment — one-time claim in the financial year the duty is actually paid
  • Within Rs 1.5 lakh — shared with all other 80C items (PPF, ELSS, home-loan principal, etc.)
  • 5-year lock-in — sell the house within 5 years and the 80C benefit is reversed and taxed
  • Joint buyers — co-owners can split the claim by ownership share, each within their own Rs 1.5L limit
The Rs 1.5 lakh limit is shared, not extra

Stamp duty does not get its own separate limit — it competes with your other 80C investments inside the same Rs 1.5 lakh cap. If your EPF, PPF and home-loan principal already fill the Rs 1.5 lakh, the stamp duty adds no further deduction. Home-loan interest is separate, under Section 24(b).

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Other income-tax angles

194IA TDS & Capital-Gains Cost

ProvisionSectionEffectRegime
80C deduction (new residential house)80CUp to Rs 1.5L in year of paymentOld only
Part of cost of acquisitionSec 48Reduces capital gain when you later sellBoth
Buyer TDS on purchase194IA1% if consideration or stamp value ≥ Rs 50LBoth
Circle rate vs value gap43CA/50CGap over 10% can be taxed as incomeBoth

194IA: buyer deducts 1% and deposits via Form 26QB (Income-tax Act, 1961 framework up to 31 Mar 2026).

Even if you take the new regime and lose the 80C deduction, stamp duty and registration are never wasted: they are added to your cost of acquisition under Section 48, so they reduce your capital gains whenever you sell the property.

Step by step

How to Claim Stamp Duty in Your ITR

Register the propertyPay stamp duty + registration
Pick old regime80C works only in the old regime
Keep receiptsRegistered deed & duty/registration receipts
Declare to employerForm 12BB to reduce salary TDS
Enter in ITRChapter VI-A, within Rs 1.5L
  • Registered sale deed
  • Stamp-duty payment receipt / challan
  • Registration-charge receipt
  • Proof property is residential
  • Old tax regime selected before filing
  • Form 26QB (if price ≥ Rs 50L)
  • Form 12BB submitted to employer
  • 80C not already fully used elsewhere

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Government sourcesSection 80C / 123 & ITR: incometax.gov.in · TDS on property (194IA): incometax.gov.in — Form 26QB · Income-tax Act, 2025 (80C renumbered w.e.f. AY 2026-27) · Stamp duty rates: respective State Stamp Act / IGR department notifications
People also ask

Stamp Duty on Property — Frequently Asked Questions

Basics
What is stamp duty on property purchase?
Stamp duty is a state government tax levied on the transfer of immovable property. It is paid at the time of registering the sale deed and is calculated as a percentage of the property's value, on the higher of the market value or the circle/guidance value. Paying it legally validates the transaction and records your ownership.
How is stamp duty calculated?
Stamp duty = applicable state rate x the higher of (transaction value or circle/guidance value). For example, on a property valued at Rs 80 lakh in a 6% state, stamp duty is about Rs 4.8 lakh, with registration (usually ~1%) charged separately. Some states add a surcharge, cess or transfer duty on top, so confirm the exact rate locally.
How much are stamp duty and registration charges together?
Together they commonly work out to roughly 5-9% of the property value, depending on the state, the city (metro cess in some states) and whether a women/first-buyer concession applies. Stamp duty is typically 4-8% and the registration charge about 1% (often capped in rupee terms). Always verify the current figure with your state registration department.
Do women buyers get a stamp duty rebate?
In many states, yes. Several states charge women buyers 1-2% less stamp duty to encourage property ownership in women's names (for example a lower rate in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh). Some states, such as Tamil Nadu, offer no gender concession. The rebate and any value cap vary by state and change from time to time.
Circle Rate
Circle rate vs market value — which applies for stamp duty?
Stamp duty is charged on the higher of the circle rate (the government-notified ready-reckoner / guidance value) or the actual transaction value. If you buy at Rs 70 lakh but the circle rate is Rs 80 lakh, duty is charged on Rs 80 lakh. For income tax, a gap of up to 10% between the two is ignored under Sections 43CA/50C; a larger gap can be taxed as income.
What is circle rate or guidance value?
Circle rate (also called ready-reckoner rate, guidance value or guideline value depending on the state) is the minimum value fixed by the state for a property in a given area. Registration cannot happen below this value, and stamp duty is computed on it if the actual price is lower. It is revised periodically by the state government.
80C Benefit
Can I claim stamp duty in Section 80C?
Yes. Stamp duty and registration charges paid on a new residential house are deductible under Section 80C in the year of payment, within the overall Rs 1.5 lakh limit. The benefit is available only to individuals and HUFs and only under the old tax regime. It is a one-time deduction and is not available if you opt for the new regime.
Is the stamp duty 80C deduction available in the new tax regime?
No. Like the rest of Section 80C, the stamp-duty and registration deduction is available only under the old tax regime. The new regime (the default from FY 2023-24) disallows almost all Chapter VI-A deductions, so you cannot claim stamp duty under it. You must actively opt for the old regime to use this benefit.
Does stamp duty get a separate limit over the Rs 1.5 lakh 80C cap?
No. Stamp duty and registration share the same Rs 1.5 lakh Section 80C ceiling with your other 80C items such as PPF, ELSS, EPF, life-insurance premium and home-loan principal. If those already fill the Rs 1.5 lakh, adding stamp duty gives no extra deduction. Home-loan interest is claimed separately under Section 24(b).
When can I claim the stamp duty deduction?
Only in the financial year in which you actually pay the stamp duty and registration charges — usually the year of registration/purchase. It is a one-time claim and cannot be spread over later years or carried forward. Keep the registered deed and payment receipts as proof.
Does the stamp duty 80C benefit apply to resale or commercial property?
Generally no. The 80C deduction is intended for a new residential house. Resale/second-hand homes, purely commercial property and bare residential plots typically do not qualify. If you are unsure whether your purchase qualifies, have a tax professional review the specifics before you claim.
Is there a lock-in on the stamp duty 80C deduction?
Yes. Like home-loan principal under 80C, there is a 5-year lock-in from the date of purchase. If you sell the house within 5 years, the stamp-duty deduction already claimed is reversed and added back to your taxable income in the year of sale, so you effectively pay tax on it later.
Can co-owners each claim stamp duty under 80C?
Yes. In case of joint ownership, each co-owner can claim the deduction in proportion to their share in the property and their share of the stamp duty paid, subject to their own Rs 1.5 lakh 80C limit and the old regime. Keep clear records of each person's contribution.
Other Taxes
Is TDS deducted on a property purchase?
Yes, under Section 194IA. If the consideration or the stamp-duty value of the property is Rs 50 lakh or more, the buyer must deduct 1% TDS from the payment to a resident seller and deposit it via Form 26QB, issuing Form 16B to the seller. This is separate from stamp duty and applies in both the old and new regimes.
Does stamp duty reduce my capital gains tax when I sell?
Yes. Stamp duty and registration charges form part of the cost of acquisition under Section 48. When you eventually sell the property, that cost is deducted from the sale price to compute your capital gain, so the stamp duty reduces the taxable gain. This benefit applies regardless of the tax regime, even if you never claimed it under 80C.
What is the stamp duty on a gift deed?
Stamp duty on a gift deed varies by state, typically in the 2-5% range of market value. Many states offer a concession for gifts between close blood relatives, sometimes a nominal fixed amount. Rates and relative-wise concessions differ widely, so check your state's stamp act for the exact figure applicable to your relationship.
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