Stamp duty is the government tax that makes your rental agreement a legally valid document. Pay the wrong amount and your agreement is legally deficient — which can cost you many times more if a dispute ever reaches court. Here is the complete, city-specific guide with exact rates and real calculation examples.
Know Your Exact Stamp Duty in 30 Seconds
Enter your rent and deposit — our free calculator gives you the precise government rate for your city.
What is Stamp Duty on a Rent Agreement?
Stamp duty is a state government tax levied on legal documents to give them legal standing. For rental agreements, it is paid at the time of signing the agreement. An agreement without correct stamp duty:
- Is not admissible as evidence in court in most states
- Can attract a penalty of up to 10 times the deficient stamp duty amount
- May be rejected by banks, employers, and government offices
Never skip stamp duty to save money. A ₹500 saving on stamp duty can become a ₹5,000 penalty if the agreement is found deficient. AgreementDesk calculates and applies the exact correct stamp duty automatically.
Stamp Duty in Mumbai, Pune & Kolhapur
All three cities — Mumbai, Pune, and Kolhapur — fall under the Maharashtra Stamp Act. The formula is identical across the state:
Minimum stamp duty: ₹100 · Applicable in Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur and all Maharashtra cities · For rent below ₹3,500/month: nominal flat rate applies
Maharashtra uses a Leave & License Agreement format (not a traditional lease). Stamp duty is calculated on the total rent for the agreement period plus the security deposit, not the monthly rent alone.
How to Calculate Stamp Duty on Rent Agreement in Mumbai
📍 Mumbai — ₹20,000/month
📍 Mumbai — ₹40,000/month
Stamp Duty on Rent Agreement in Pune
Pune (including Pimpri-Chinchwad, Hinjewadi, Kharadi, Wakad) follows the exact same Maharashtra formula. PMC and PCMC areas have identical stamp duty rates.
📍 Pune — ₹15,000/month
📍 Kolhapur — ₹8,000/month
Registration Fees in Maharashtra
In addition to stamp duty, registration fees are payable in Maharashtra (since registration is mandatory). Registration fee structure:
| Agreement Value | Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to ₹10,000 | ₹100 |
| ₹10,001 to ₹5,00,000 | ₹200 |
| Above ₹5,00,000 | ₹300 (maximum) |
Maharashtra total cost: Stamp duty + registration fee + AgreementDesk service fee. For most residential agreements, the total stamp duty + registration is under ₹2,000. AgreementDesk handles payment, calculation, and filing automatically.
Stamp Duty for Rent Agreement in Bangalore
Bangalore and all of Karnataka follow the Karnataka Stamp Act, 1957. The stamp duty structure for rental agreements differs significantly from Maharashtra — it is based on the duration of the lease rather than a flat percentage of rent plus deposit.
Security deposit is typically excluded from stamp duty calculation in Karnataka · Minimum: ₹20 · Maximum cap: ₹500 for short-term leases
🌄 Bangalore — ₹15,000/month (11 months)
🌄 Bangalore — ₹25,000/month (11 months)
Important: The ₹500 cap applies to leases under 11 months. For leases above 11 months in Karnataka, stamp duty is 1% of total annual rent with no cap, and registration charges of 1% of annual rent + deposit are also payable at the Sub-Registrar’s office.
E-Stamp vs Traditional Stamp Paper in Bangalore — What You Need to Know
This is one of the most confused topics in Bangalore rental agreements. Here is the definitive answer:
✅ E-Stamp Paper (Current Standard)
- Digitally generated by SHCIL or Karnataka’s Kaveri portal
- Has a unique certificate number and QR code
- Tamper-proof — verifiable online instantly
- Available at authorized e-stamp vendors and online
- Now the standard for all rental agreements in Bangalore
- AgreementDesk uses e-stamp for all Bangalore agreements
- Accepted by courts, banks, employers, government offices
⚠︎ Traditional Stamp Paper (Becoming Rare)
- Physical non-judicial stamp paper bought from licensed vendors
- Increasingly difficult to find in Bangalore
- Risk of fake/forged stamp paper — documented cases exist
- Government has been phasing out in favour of e-stamp
- Still technically valid if genuine, but not recommended
- Many stamp paper vendors have stopped stocking
- AgreementDesk does NOT use physical stamp paper
The bottom line for Bangalore: Always insist on an e-stamp agreement. It is government-issued, has a unique verifiable number, and eliminates all risk of forgery. Physical stamp paper is becoming obsolete — if someone gives you a physical stamp paper agreement today, ask for its authenticity verification. AgreementDesk exclusively uses e-stamp for all Karnataka agreements.
Quick Reference — All Cities
| City | State Law | Rate | ₹10k/month | ₹20k/month | ₹35k/month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | Maharashtra | 0.25% rent+deposit | ₹330 | ₹650 | ₹1,137 |
| Pune | Maharashtra | 0.25% rent+deposit | ₹330 | ₹650 | ₹1,137 |
| Kolhapur | Maharashtra | 0.25% rent+deposit | ₹260 | ₹520 | ₹912 |
| Bangalore | Karnataka | 1% annual rent (max ₹500) | ₹500 | ₹500 | ₹500 |
* Assumes 2-month security deposit for Maharashtra. Bangalore capped at ₹500 for 11-month leases. Use calculator for exact figures.
How to Pay Stamp Duty — Step by Step
In Maharashtra (Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur)
Use AgreementDesk (recommended)
We calculate stamp duty automatically, pay via GRAS (Government Receipt Accounting System), and apply the correct stamp to your agreement. No manual steps needed.
Or pay via GRAS directly
Visit gras.mahakosh.gov.in → Select “Stamp Duty” → Enter agreement details → Pay via UPI or net banking → Download receipt.
Or franking at authorized banks
Visit an authorized bank branch (State Bank, Bank of Maharashtra) with your agreement draft. Stamp duty is mechanically applied. Takes 1–2 hours typically.
In Karnataka (Bangalore)
Use AgreementDesk (recommended)
We generate your agreement on correct Karnataka e-stamp paper with the right stamp duty value, notarized and delivered. Same day processing.
Or buy e-stamp via Kaveri portal
Visit kaverionline.karnataka.gov.in → Pay stamp duty online → Download e-stamp certificate → Print agreement on the e-stamp paper.
Or visit authorized e-stamp vendor
Licensed e-stamp vendors across Bangalore issue certificates in minutes. Look for SHCIL-authorized agents. Do not use physical stamp paper — it is being phased out and hard to verify authenticity.
Who Pays Stamp Duty — Landlord or Tenant?
Legally, both parties share the stamp duty liability. In practice:
- In most residential agreements, stamp duty is paid by the tenant or split equally
- There is no fixed rule — it is negotiable between landlord and tenant
- Whatever is agreed should be mentioned in the agreement itself
- The penalty for non-payment falls on both parties — so always ensure it is paid
Frequently Asked Questions
Let AgreementDesk Handle Stamp Duty For You
We calculate the exact amount, pay it correctly, and apply it to your agreement. Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Kolhapur.