What is Conveyancing Charges in Karnataka: (2026 Guide)
Understand what conveyancing charges mean and the exact stamp duty, registration, cess and surcharge rates in Karnataka as of July 2026, straight from government sources.
Quick Summary (TL; DR)
Conveyancing charges refer to the various costs involved in legally transferring ownership of a property from the seller to the buyer. In Karnataka, these charges primarily consist of government levies - mainly stamp duty and registration fee - along with applicable cess and surcharge.
As of July 2026:
Stamp duty in Karnataka ranges from 2% to 5% of the property value (or the guidance value, whichever is higher), depending on the slab and property type (residential, commercial, etc.).
Registration fee stands at 2% of the property value, following the increase from 1% in August 2025.
These charges are paid at the time of registration of the sale deed at the Sub-Registrar’s office. While stamp duty is the biggest component, there may also be minor additional fees such as scanning charges, name change fees or mutation charges (for updating Khata records).
What Are Conveyancing Charges?
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring the title of a property from one owner to another. Conveyancing charges are everything you pay the government to make that transfer valid and on record. In Karnataka, this covers two compulsory government levies, stamp duty and registration fee, plus add-on charges called cess and surcharge.
People sometimes use the term loosely to also include a lawyer's fee for title checking or a document writer's fee for drafting the deed. Those are market-rate service charges, not government charges and they vary from person to person. This guide focuses on the fixed, government-notified charges you cannot negotiate away.
What Is a Conveyance Deed in Karnataka?
A conveyance deed is the legal document that records the transfer of property rights from seller to buyer. A sale deed is the most common type of conveyance deed.
Every sale deed is a conveyance deed, but not every conveyance deed is a sale deed.
Under Section 17(1)(b) of the Registration Act, 1908, any document that transfers rights in immovable property above a set value must be compulsorily registered. Stamp duty on this document is governed by the Karnataka Stamp Act, 1957.
Government Conveyancing Charges in Karnataka (As of 2026)
These rates come from the Department of Stamps and Registration, Government of Karnataka and the Kaveri Online Services portal. Always confirm the exact figure for your transaction on the Kaveri calculator before you pay, since guidance values and slabs are revised from time to time.
Stamp Duty Slabs on Sale Deeds
Property Value | Stamp Duty Rate |
Up to Rs 20 lakh | 2 percent |
Rs 20 lakh to Rs 45 lakh | 3 percent |
Above Rs 45 lakh | 5 percent |
Registration Fee and Add-On Charges
Charge | Rate | Applied On |
Registration fee | 2 percent (revised from 1 percent, effective 31 August 2025) | Property value |
Cess (BBMP and city corporation areas) | 10 percent | Stamp duty amount |
Surcharge (BBMP and city corporation areas) | 2 percent | Stamp duty amount |
Surcharge (BMRDA and rural areas) | 3 percent | Stamp duty amount |
Total Effective Cost by Region (Property Above Rs 45 Lakh)
Region | Stamp Duty | Cess + Surcharge | Registration | Effective Total |
BBMP / City Corporation | 5% | ~0.6% of value | 2% | ~7.6% |
BMRDA / Rural | 5% | ~0.65% of value | 2% | ~7.65% |
Worked Example: Rs 75 Lakh Flat in a BBMP Area
Stamp duty: 5 percent of Rs 75,00,000 = Rs 3,75,000
Cess: 10 percent of stamp duty = Rs 37,500
Surcharge: 2 percent of stamp duty = Rs 7,500
Registration fee: 2 percent of Rs 75,00,000 = Rs 1,50,000
Total conveyancing charges: approximately Rs 5,70,000
This is calculated on the higher of the sale consideration or the government guidance value for that locality, whichever is higher.
How to Calculate Your Exact Charges on the Kaveri Portal
Visit the Kaveri Online Services portal and open the stamp duty and registration fee calculator.
Select the document type, such as sale deed or gift deed.
Choose your region type: BBMP, city corporation, municipal council or gram panchayat.
Enter the indicative market value and the indicative consideration amount.
The calculator displays stamp duty, cess, surcharge and registration fee separately.
Save or print the calculation for your records before you visit the Sub-Registrar office.
Other Charges Sometimes Bundled Into "Conveyancing Charges"
These are not fixed by the government and vary by professional and by transaction complexity.
Document writer or deed drafting fee
Lawyer's fee for title and encumbrance verification
e-stamping or franking convenience charges through SHCIL or authorised banks
Encumbrance Certificate fee, payable separately on the Kaveri portal
Conveyancing Charges for Other Deed Types
Deed Type | Stamp Duty | Registration Fee |
Gift to family member (BBMP / BMRDA / corporation) | Rs 5,000 fixed | Rs 1,000 fixed |
Gift to family member (municipal / town panchayat) | Rs 3,000 fixed | Rs 1,000 fixed |
Gift to family member (other areas) | Rs 1,000 fixed | Rs 1,000 fixed |
Gift to a non-family member | Same as sale deed slabs | 2 percent |
MODT (mortgage by deposit of title deeds) | 0.1 percent, capped at Rs 10 lakh | As applicable |
Situation 1: Buying a Resale Flat vs a New Flat From a Builder
Stamp duty and registration follow the same slabs and percentage for both resale and new flats. What changes is the base value used for calculation. For a new flat, builders often quote the agreement value, which the Sub-Registrar compares against the guidance value and charges on whichever is higher.
Situation 2: NRI Buyers Paying Stamp Duty From Abroad
NRIs can pay stamp duty and registration fees online through the Kaveri portal using net banking, NEFT or RTGS from their NRE or NRO account. If a Power of Attorney holder is completing the registration in Karnataka, keep the payment trail linked to your own account for future loan or resale documentation.
Situation 3: Property Priced Below the Guidance Value
If your sale agreement shows a value lower than the government guidance value for that area, stamp duty is still charged on the higher guidance value, not on the lower agreement price. Deliberately underpricing a deed to reduce stamp duty can attract penalties from the Sub-Registrar.
Common Mistakes People Make With Conveyancing Charges
Mistake 1: Assuming the Sale Price Decides Stamp Duty
Stamp duty is charged on whichever is higher, the sale price or the guidance value. Buyers who budget only against the sale price are often surprised at the Sub-Registrar office.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the Cess While Budgeting
The headline 5 percent stamp duty figure does not include cess and surcharge. For BBMP-area properties above Rs 45 lakh, the effective stamp duty is closer to 5.5 to 5.6 percent once cess is added.
Mistake 3: Using an Outdated Registration Fee Figure
Many older online calculators and articles still show the registration fee at 1 percent. This changed to 2 percent for documents executed on or after 31 August 2025. Always cross-check against the current Kaveri portal figure.
Mistake 4: Paying Through an Unauthorised Agent
Pay stamp duty only through the Kaveri portal or SHCIL-authorised centres and banks. Payments routed through unauthorised agents carry a real risk of fake or invalid stamps.
How Vault Proptech Helps With Property Registration
Vault Proptech supports buyers, sellers and NRIs across Karnataka through every stage of property registration.
Exact stamp duty and registration charge calculation for your specific property and region
Guidance value verification against your sale consideration
Document drafting and Sub-Registrar appointment coordination
Support for NRI buyers and sellers completing registration remotely
Encumbrance Certificate and post-registration record checks
Government charges are fixed but getting the calculation and paperwork right the first time saves buyers repeat trips to the Sub-Registrar office.
