Karnataka stamp duty & registration charges in 2026 — full breakdown

What you actually pay

When you buy a home in Karnataka, three separate taxes hit your registration cost:

Stamp duty: 5.6% (composed of 5% stamp duty + 0.5% surcharge + 0.1% cess) of the property value
Registration fee: 1% of the property value
GST: 5% on under-construction homes only (1% for affordable housing under the affordable-housing scheme)

For a ready-to-move ₹1 Cr apartment in Hebbal, that means roughly ₹6.6 lakh as registration cost (₹5.6L stamp duty + ₹1L registration). For an under-construction home of the same value, add another ₹5L GST.

What value is the duty calculated on?

The duty is calculated on the higher of the guidance value or the agreement value. Guidance value is set by the Karnataka government — you can look up the guidance value for your survey number on the Kaveri Online Services portal. In Hebbal and Yelahanka, guidance values are typically 60-80% of market price; in Devanahalli, the gap can be wider.

If your agreement value is ₹1 Cr but the guidance value works out to ₹85 L, stamp duty is calculated on ₹1 Cr (the higher number).

Slabs for sub-₹45 L properties

If you're buying an affordable apartment in Yelahanka or Devanahalli below ₹45 lakh, lower slabs apply:

Below ₹35 lakh: 2% stamp duty
₹35 lakh – ₹45 lakh: 3% stamp duty
Above ₹45 lakh: 5% stamp duty (plus surcharge and cess for the full 5.6%)

Hidden costs nobody tells you about

BBMP / BIAAPA Khata transfer: ₹500 – ₹5,000 depending on the office
Notary and document drafting: ₹3,000 – ₹15,000
Bank legal & valuation charges: ₹10,000 – ₹25,000 if you take a home loan
Society maintenance deposit: typically 12–24 months upfront for ready possession

How to legitimately reduce stamp duty

Register in the name of a woman (1% rebate available in some Karnataka micro-markets, check current notification)
For under-construction property, verify whether the developer has factored in or excluded GST in the quoted price
Ensure the agreement value is honest — undervaluation to save stamp duty is a known practice but creates problems at resale and with capital gains computation

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Is stamp duty the same in Hebbal, Yelahanka and Devanahalli?

Yes — stamp duty in Karnataka is set state-wide at 5.6% (5% + 0.5% surcharge + 0.1% cess) for properties above ₹45 lakh, regardless of whether the property is in Hebbal (BBMP), Yelahanka (BBMP), or Devanahalli (BIAAPA). What differs is the guidance value — the government-set minimum on which duty is calculated — which is locality-specific.

When does GST apply on a property purchase?

GST applies only on under-construction properties (5% for non-affordable, 1% for affordable). It does NOT apply to ready-to-move-in homes where the developer has received the Occupancy Certificate (OC). For resale homes between two individuals, no GST is charged.