Stamp Duty & Registration Charges for Plots in Karnataka 2026
Charges verified against the Karnataka Kaveri portal and K-RERA guidance, July 2026.
Stamp duty on a plot in Karnataka is charged on a slab basis — commonly 5% for properties above ₹45 lakh, 3% between ₹21 and 45 lakh, and 2% below ₹20 lakh — plus a 1% registration fee and a surcharge and cess on top. Both stamp duty and registration are calculated on the higher of your sale price or the government guidance value for that location. This guide sets out the slabs, explains guidance value and the Kaveri process, and works a real example so you can budget the on-cost of a plot in Vijayapura, Devanahalli before you sign.
These charges are a cash cost. A plot loan funds the plot price, not the duty and registration, so a buyer plans this money separately. On a ₹1 Crore-plus plot the on-cost runs to several lakhs, which is why it belongs in your budget from day one.
Karnataka Stamp Duty & Registration 2026 — Slab Overview
| Property value | Stamp duty (indicative) | Registration fee | Charged on |
| Above ₹45 lakh | 5% | 1% | Higher of sale value or guidance value |
| ₹21 lakh – ₹45 lakh | 3% | 1% | Higher of sale value or guidance value |
| Below ₹20 lakh | 2% | 1% | Higher of sale value or guidance value |
| Surcharge & cess | Levied over the base stamp duty; the add-on varies by urban or rural jurisdiction — confirm the exact figure for your area on the Kaveri portal. | ||
Rates indicative, as of July 2026 — stamp-duty slabs and cess change; confirm the current figure for your document on the Kaveri portal.
What Is Guidance Value?
Guidance value is the minimum rate the Karnataka government notifies for a property in a given area, revised from time to time. Your stamp duty and registration are charged on the higher of the actual sale price or this guidance value, so quoting a low price on the deed does not cut the duty below the guidance-value floor.
For a plot buyer this matters two ways. If the guidance value is below your deal price, duty is on the deal price. If a revision pushes guidance value up near your price, the duty rises with it — so check the current guidance value for the survey number before you budget.
How the Kaveri Process Works
Karnataka registrations run through the Kaveri Online Services portal. You calculate the duty, generate the challan, pay online, and book a slot at the jurisdictional sub-registrar — for the Devanahalli belt, the Devanahalli sub-registrar office. The final registration is signed in person, with the buyer, seller and witnesses present.
- 1. Calculate: use the Kaveri stamp-duty calculator on the higher of sale price or guidance value.
- 2. Pay: generate and pay the stamp duty and registration challan online.
- 3. Book: reserve a sub-registrar appointment and upload the deed and KYC.
- 4. Register: sign in person with biometrics; collect the registered deed and endorsement.
- 5. Mutation: apply for Khata transfer in your name after registration.
Worked Example — On-Cost of a Plot at Bulwark The Woodland Forest
Bulwark The Woodland Forest is a K-RERA-registered plotted township by Bulwark Group in Vijayapura, Devanahalli. Take a 40x60 plot priced near ₹1.13 Crore to see the registration on-cost, charged on the higher of price or guidance value.
- Plot value (indicative): ~₹1.13 Cr (above the ₹45 lakh slab)
- Stamp duty at 5%: about ₹5.65 Lakhs
- Registration at 1%: about ₹1.13 Lakhs
- Surcharge & cess: an added amount over the base duty (varies by jurisdiction)
- Indicative total on-cost: roughly ₹7 Lakhs, over and above the plot price and your loan
The figures are indicative and move with the guidance value and any cess revision. Confirm the exact plot value on the cost sheet and treat the duty as a cash cost you fund yourself, since a plot loan does not cover it.
Budgeting Tips Before You Register
- Check guidance value first: look up the notified rate for the survey number so the duty does not surprise you.
- Keep the duty in cash: the loan funds the plot, not the stamp duty, registration or cess.
- Verify approvals: a K-RERA registered, A-Khata plot registers cleanly and mutates faster.
- Complete mutation: Khata transfer after registration is what puts the plot in your name for tax and resale.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the stamp duty on a plot in Karnataka in 2026?
Karnataka charges stamp duty on a slab basis — commonly 5% for properties above ₹45 lakh, 3% between ₹21 and 45 lakh, and 2% below ₹20 lakh, plus a surcharge and cess. The figures are indicative for 2026; confirm the current rate for your document on the Kaveri portal.
2. How much is the registration charge in Karnataka?
The registration fee in Karnataka is generally 1% of the property value, charged over and above the stamp duty. On a plot, both stamp duty and registration are calculated on the higher of the sale price or the government guidance value for that area.
3. What is guidance value and why does it matter?
Guidance value is the minimum government-notified rate for a property in a location. Stamp duty and registration are charged on the higher of your sale price or the guidance value, so a low quoted price does not reduce the duty below the guidance-value floor.
4. Can I pay stamp duty online in Karnataka?
Yes. Karnataka registrations run through the Kaveri Online Services portal, where you can calculate duty, generate the challan, pay online and book a sub-registrar slot. The final registration is completed in person at the jurisdictional sub-registrar office.
5. Who pays stamp duty and registration, buyer or seller?
By convention in Karnataka the buyer pays the stamp duty and registration charges on a plot purchase. Budget these as a cash on-cost over and above the plot price and your loan, because a plot loan does not fund the duty and registration.
6. Is stamp duty lower for a woman buyer in Karnataka?
Unlike some states, Karnataka does not currently offer a separate lower stamp-duty rate for women buyers on most transactions. Confirm any concession that applies to your document and category on the Kaveri portal or with the sub-registrar before you budget.
Conclusion
Stamp duty and registration are the cash cost that turns a plot into your registered property, and on a Devanahalli plot that is several lakhs on top of the price. Check the guidance value for the survey number, keep the duty and cess aside in cash, register through Kaveri, and complete the Khata mutation so the plot sits in your name for tax and resale. To size the exact on-cost against a real plot, book a site visit and ask for the current cost sheet and guidance value.
Bulwark The Woodland Forest Blog
