Introduction
According to the Registration Act of 1905, homebuyers in Kerala have to pay stamp duty and registration fees to become legal owners. The property should be registered after purchase. The Kerala Registration Department was responsible for levying and collecting stamp duty and registration charges. India imposes the highest stamp duty on property purchases.
Table of Contents
- Stamp Duty and Registration Charges in Kerala
- Stamp Duty on Other Property Deeds in Kerala
- Stamp Duty Calculator in Kerala
- List of Documents for Property Registration in Kerala
- How to Pay Registration Charges in Kerala?
The Government of Kerala has amended the Registration Rules (Kerala), 1958. Registration (Amendment) Rules (Kerala), 2021 notified by inserting clause (viii) in rule 30. Such rescission or deed of rescission is admissible for registration unless such rescission or deed of rescission is executed by all executors and parties claiming the conveyance mentioned in the settlement deed.
In Kerala, the stamp duty is Rs. In case of more than 1 lakh, it is also mandatory to purchase e-stamps from authorized vendors of Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL). E-stamps can also be purchased from the official portal of the Kerala State Registration Department.
Stamp Duty and Registration Charges in Kerala
The details of stamp duty and registration charges in Kerala in 2024 are given in the table below.
| Name | Stamp duty as a percentage | Registration charges as a percentage |
| Man | 8% | 2% |
| Woman | 8% | 2% |
| Joint (man + woman) | 8% | 2% |
| Joint (man + man) | 8% | 2% |
| Joint (woman + woman) | 8% | 2% |
Most states in India charge a registration fee of 1% of the deal value. Fees you pay the authorities for paperwork. Kerala charges 2% of the transaction value as a registration charge. This increases the total cost of property acquisition in Kerala.
Stamp Duty on Other Property Deeds in Kerala
The details of the stamp duty on other property deeds in Kerala in 2024 are detailed in the table below.
| Deed type | Stamp duty | Registration fee |
| Adoption deed | Rs 250 | Rs 1,050 |
| Agreement of an agreement (to giving authority or power to a promoter or developer, by whatsoever name called, for construction, development or sale or transfer of any immovable property | Rs 1000 | 2% on the value or the estimated cost or fair value |
| Agreement or memorandum of an agreement (if relating to Monthly Deposit Section 2(fb):- “family” means father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, husband, wife, son, adopted son, daughter, adopted daughter, grandchildren, brother and sister (inserted by Kerala Finance Act, 2018) | Rs 100 | 2% on the value or the estimated cost or fair value |
| Agreement or memorandum of an agreement (If relating to advertisement on mass media) | Rs 500 per contract | 2% on the value |
| Agreement, relating to deposit of title deeds (Equitable Mortgage) | 0.1%, Minimum: Rs 200, Maximum: Rs 10,000 | Rs 0.1 for every Rs 100 or part there of |
| Agreement, relating to the pawn or Pledge. | 0.1%, Minimum: Rs 200, Maximum: Rs 10,000 | Rs 0.1 for every Rs 100 or part there of |
| Release, discharge or cancellation of agreements relating to deposit of the title. | 0.1%, Minimum: Rs 200, Maximum: Rs 10,000 | Rs 0.1 for every Rs 100 or part there of |
| Cancellation deed of a previously executed deed (if attested and not otherwise provided for) | Rs 500 | Rs 210 |
| Certificate of sale – granted to the purchaser of any property sold by public auction by a Civil or Revenue Court or by the Govt., Collector or other Revenue Officer | 8% | 2% |
| Copy or Extract: certified to be a true copy or extract by or by order of any public officer and not chargeable under the law for the time being in force relating to court fees | Rs 50 | For first 10 pages -Rs.210/-, every additional page above first 10 pages – Rs. 5/- per page for a document |
| Gift in Favour of any of the members of the family and/or legal heirs of the deceased family member. | Two rupees for every rupee 1000 or part thereof, subject to a minimum of rupees 1000. | 1% of the fair value or market value whichever is higher |
| Gift in Favour of a non-family person | 8% | 2% of the fair value / market value whichever is higher |
| Lease (less than 1 year) | 5 rupees for every Rs 100 or part thereof of the whole amount payable | 2% of total sum payable under the lease |
| Lease (not less than 1 year but not more than 5 years) | 5 rupees for every Rs.100 or part thereof for Average Annual Rent (AAR) reserved. | 2% of average annual rent |
| Lease (exceeding 5 years but not exceeding 10 years) | 8 rupees for every Rs.100 or part thereof for Average Annual Rent (AAR) reserved. | 2% of average annual rent |
| Lease (exceeding 10 years but not exceeding 20 years) | 8 rupees for every Rs.100 or part thereof for twice the AAR reserved. | 2% of twice the amount of AAR |
| Lease (exceeding 20 years but not exceeding 30 years) | 8 rupees for every Rs.100 or part thereof for thrice the AAR reserved. | 2% of thrice the amount of AAR |
| Power of Attorney for sole purpose of Registration in relation to a single transaction | Rs 50 | Rs 210 |
Stamp Duty Calculator in Kerala
If you are buying the property for Rs. 50 lakhs. Therefore, the stamp duty charge is Rs. 3.5 lakhs (7%) and registration charges of Rs. 1 lakh (2%). But the total property value of charges is Rs.4.5 lakhs.
List of Documents for Property Registration in Kerala
Below is the list of documents you need for property registration in Kerala:
- Agreement to sale
- Sale deed
- Land map
- Building plan approval
- No-objection certificate
- Share certificate
- Building plan approval
- Proof of ownership
- ID proof: Voter ID, Ration Card, Aadhaar Card, Driving Licence
- Address proof: Passport, Aadhaar, water bill
- Proof of identity of any two witnesses
How to Pay Registration Charges in Kerala?
To initiate online property registration in Kochi, Kerala, visit the official website of the Kerala Registration Department. Register using your login ID and password to create login credentials.
- Visit the official website http://www.keralaregistration.gov.in
- Click on ‘Online Document Details Registration – User Registration’.
- Now a new page will open. Enter all the required information in it and press ‘Submit’.
- Now your registration will be completed in the Kerala Registration Department portal.
All registered users have to follow three key steps to register their property in Kerala.
- Select an available time slot.
- Enter the document details.
- Apply and get an acknowledgment slip.
- After logging in, go to ‘Doc Registration’ and fill in the mandatory fields. Click on ‘View Token’. A list of available time slots will be generated. Click on an available slot that suits you.
- Click on ‘Submit’ without selecting the transaction type.
- Next, the person submitting the property for registration fill all the mandatory information about the property. All the boxes should be filled carefully.
- Next, enter the claimant’s details (buyer’s details).
- Provide details of witnesses. These witnesses must be present at the time of property registration.
- Enter the stamp paper details
- Double check the time and date you have selected. Click on ‘Accept & Submit to SR’ to modify the slot if necessary and apply.
- Your ‘Payment Method’ will appear on the screen with stamp duty and registration fee payable for property registration. Click on ‘Go’ to continue. Payments can be made online.
- Once the payment is processed, a receipt slip will appear on the screen with the reference number and the date, time and venue of the show.
On the day of property registration, copies and originals of all property-related documents, identity proofs, and address proofs should be carried without fail.
Conclusion
Property buyers in Kerala should keep in mind the crucial aspect of property registration in Kochi. Recently the property registration rules. But as part of those amendments the Kerala Registration Department has made it mandatory for the buyer(s) and seller(s) to be present at the time of sale deed registration. For more information, visit openplot.