East Bengaluru buyer answers
Do women get a stamp duty concession in Karnataka?
Direct answer: On stamp duty for female in Karnataka, the rates are the same as for men. The Stamp Act's conveyance rates don't vary by the buyer's gender, and we found no notification giving women a concession as of 19 Oct 2026. A flat above ₹45 lakh in Bengaluru costs about 7.6% in charges whoever's name is on the deed.
Disclosure: acre&key’s advice is free to buyers.
Verify with your lawyer: Concessions are set by notification and can change. Confirm the applicable duty with the sub-registrar or your lawyer before registration.
Key takeaways
- No gender-based rate in Article 20 of the Karnataka Stamp Act, and no concession notification we could find.
- Same charges for her, him or both: 5% duty above ₹45 lakh, 10% cess and 2% surcharge on the duty in GBA, and a 2% registration fee.
- Family gifts are where the real saving is. A gift between spouses in GBA carries ₹5,000 stamp duty, not 5%.
- Check again before you register. Concessions are announced by notification and can change.
What does the law say?
Stamp duty on a sale is charged under Article 20 of the Karnataka Stamp Act 1957. The rates depend on the instrument and the value, with lower rates for the first sale of a flat up to ₹45 lakh (2% up to ₹20 lakh, 3% above that), and 5% otherwise. There's no separate rate for women (Karnataka Stamp Act). The registration fee went from 1% to 2% on 31 Aug 2025, again with no gender distinction (Revenue Department notification RD/46/MNMU/2025).
The government can grant remissions by notification under the Act. Our researchers didn't find one for women buyers in Karnataka, but we couldn't search every gazette notification, so ask the sub-registrar office or your lawyer to confirm on the day.
Worked example 1: a flat in her name, his name or both
Illustrative. An ₹80 lakh resale flat in GBA.
| Charge | Maths | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp duty 5% | ₹80 L × 5% | ₹4,00,000 |
| Cess 10% of duty | ₹40,000 | |
| Surcharge 2% of duty | ₹8,000 | |
| Registration 2% | ₹80 L × 2% | ₹1,60,000 |
| Total | ₹6,08,000 |
It's ₹6,08,000 whether the deed names a woman, a man or both jointly. Check your own figure with the stamp duty calculator.
Worked example 2: adding your spouse later
Illustrative. You bought that flat alone and later want to give your wife (or husband) a half share. Under Article 28(b), a gift to a family member, which includes a spouse, carries fixed stamp duty of ₹5,000 for property within BMRDA, BBMP or city corporation limits.
| Route | Stamp duty, cess and surcharge |
|---|---|
| Gift of a half share to a spouse (family gift, GBA) | ₹5,000 + ₹500 + ₹100 = ₹5,600, plus the registration fee |
| Same half share to someone outside the family list, at sale rates | ₹40 L × 7.6% = ₹3,04,000 |
Guides we checked put the family gift registration fee at ₹1,000. Kaveri calculates the exact total when you file. The family list, the location slabs and how to register the deed are set out under Article 28 of the Stamp Act, cited below.
So what can a woman buyer actually use?
- Joint ownership, for control and inheritance planning. It doesn't change stamp duty.
- Loan offers. Some lenders price loans differently for women borrowers. Compare the actual sanction letters; our EMI calculator shows what a rate difference is worth.
- Tax planning with a CA if both spouses repay a joint loan.
- A family gift to move a share between spouses, at the fixed duty above.
The name, money, paper test
- Name. Whose name should be on the deed, for control and inheritance? Decide that on its own merits, not to save duty.
- Money. Who's paying, and from which accounts? That matters for loans and tax, not stamp duty.
- Paper. Does the agreement, loan and deed all show the same names and shares?
Checklist
- Ownership shares agreed before the agreement for sale
- Charges worked out on the higher of price and guidance value
- No concession assumed; confirmed with the sub-registrar on the day
- Loan sanction in the same names as the deed
- CA consulted on joint loan tax treatment
- Gift route priced if adding a spouse later
CA note: Ownership shares, joint loans and gifts between spouses can have income-tax effects. Ask a chartered accountant before you decide.
Related reading on this site: paying stamp duty with Karnataka Digital e-Stamp, costs beyond the base price, and how to register a flat on Kaveri 2.0.
Frequently asked questions
Is stamp duty lower for women in Karnataka?
No. The Karnataka Stamp Act's conveyance rates don't vary by gender, and we found no notification giving women a concession as of 19 Oct 2026. A woman buying a flat above ₹45 lakh in Bengaluru pays the same 5% duty, cess, surcharge and 2% registration fee as anyone else.
Does registering a flat in my wife's name save stamp duty?
No. On an ₹80 lakh resale flat in GBA, the charges come to ₹6,08,000 whether the deed names a woman, a man or both. Choose names for control, inheritance and loan reasons, not to save duty.
Is the registration fee different for women?
No. The registration fee went from 1% to 2% on 31 Aug 2025 under a Revenue Department notification, with no distinction by gender.
What is the stamp duty on a gift from husband to wife in Karnataka?
Under Article 28(b) of the Karnataka Stamp Act, a gift to a family member, including a spouse, carries fixed duty: ₹5,000 within BMRDA, BBMP or city corporation limits, ₹3,000 in municipal council or town panchayat areas, and ₹1,000 elsewhere, plus cess, surcharge and the registration fee.
Could Karnataka introduce a women's concession?
It could. The government can grant remissions by notification. None applied as of 19 Oct 2026 that we could find, so don't build one into your budget. Confirm with the sub-registrar office before registration.
Do joint owners pay stamp duty twice?
No. Duty is charged once on the deed, on the higher of the price and the guidance value, however many buyers are named.
Talk it through with acre&key
If you'd like help working out the charges and ownership structure for your purchase, book a consultation with acre&key.
Lawyer note: Concessions are set by notification and can change. Confirm the applicable duty with the sub-registrar or your lawyer before registration.
References
Checked 19 Oct 2026.
- Karnataka Stamp Act 1957 (Art. 20 conveyance; Art. 28 gift): https://dpal.karnataka.gov.in/storage/pdf-files/34%20of%201957%28E%29.pdf
- Revenue Department notification RD/46/MNMU/2025, 29 Aug 2025 (registration fee to 2% from 31 Aug 2025), Karnataka Gazette No. 513 (via Department of Stamps and Registration): https://igr.karnataka.gov.in/
- CAG, Stamp Duty and Registration Manual (2020), §8.6 (gift) and §7.4 (surcharge): https://saiindia.gov.in/uploads/media/Stamp-Duty-and-Registration-Manual-20200914191933.pdf