Stamp duty on rent agreements, state by state
By Giridhar Reddy, founder of Domvio, Bengaluru
Updated
Stamp duty on a rent agreement is set by each state, so the same 11-month agreement costs different amounts. For homes, Karnataka charges 0.5% of a year's rent capped at ₹500, Maharashtra 0.25% of the rent plus part of the deposit, Telangana 0.4% of the total rent, Tamil Nadu 1% of rent plus advance, and West Bengal about 4%.
This is a sample for general information, not legal advice. Laws differ by state. It has not yet been reviewed by a lawyer. Have a lawyer examine it for your situation before you use or rely on it.
Stamp duty calculator for rent agreements
This calculator needs JavaScript. The table below gives each state's rate for an 11-month agreement.
Only states we could check at the source
Every rate comes from the state's registration department, a state government portal or the state's own copy of the Stamp Act, linked on each state's page. Nothing you type leaves your phone or computer.
Stamp duty on an 11-month rent agreement: state comparison
| State | Rate | Charged on | Duty at ₹20,000/month | Must register? | Registration fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karnataka | 0.5%, capped at ₹500 | Average annual rent, plus any advance, premium and fine | ₹500 | Only if over a year | ₹5 for every ₹1,000 or part, minimum ₹200 (only if you register) |
| Maharashtra | 0.25%, minimum ₹100 | Total licence fee for the whole term, plus 10% of the refundable deposit for each year (or part) of the term, plus any non-refundable deposit | ₹550 | Yes, always | ₹1,000 in urban areas, ₹500 in rural areas, plus ₹300 document handling charge |
| Telangana | 0.4% | Total rent for the whole term | ₹880 | Only if over a year | 0.2% of the same value the stamp duty is charged on |
| Tamil Nadu | 1% (₹1 for every ₹100 or part) | Total rent for the term, plus any fine, premium or advance | ₹2,200 | Yes, always | No fee for Rent Authority registration; a ₹100 service charge for the online service |
| West Bengal | About 4%: the same duty as a bond | The whole rent payable for the term | ₹8,800 | Only if over a year | Charged under Article A(1) of the state's Table of Fees; we could not confirm the value it is worked out on for a lease, so check on e-Nathikaran |
The gap comes from the base as much as the rate. Karnataka and Telangana look at the rent alone. Maharashtra adds a share of the deposit for every year of the term, and Tamil Nadu adds the whole advance. West Bengal charges its bond rate on the whole rent for the term.
Does the security deposit count for stamp duty?
It depends on the state, and this is where most online calculators go wrong. Here is what each official source says.
| State | Deposit |
|---|---|
| Karnataka | The official table adds "advance" to the base. Whether a refundable security deposit counts as an advance is disputed; with the ₹500 cap it only matters at low rents. |
| Maharashtra | Counted. The IGR calculator adds 10% of the refundable deposit for each year or part year of the term (up to five years) and the whole of any non-refundable deposit. |
| Telangana | The table charges 2% on any fine, premium or money advanced in addition to rent. It does not say whether a refundable security deposit counts; the calculator leaves it out. |
| Tamil Nadu | Counted. The state's tenancy portal defines the amount as the total rent, fine, premium or advance payable, so an advance paid to the landlord is added. |
| West Bengal | Not counted if it is refundable. The state's table says "security charges advanced" means non-refundable security charges or deposits only. |
Do you have to register an 11-month rent agreement?
Under section 17 of the Registration Act, 1908, a lease for more than a year must be registered. That is why so many agreements run for 11 months. Two of the five states go further:
- Maharashtra: every leave and licence agreement must be registered, whatever its term. You can do it online with the IGR.
- Tamil Nadu: every tenancy agreement must be registered with the Rent Authority within 90 days, even one for less than 12 months.
- Karnataka, Telangana and West Bengal: registration is optional for 11 months, and compulsory beyond a year. See rent agreement registration for registered versus notarised agreements and how to register.
What happens if a rent agreement is not stamped properly?
Under section 35 of the Indian Stamp Act, as printed in the official copies for Telangana and West Bengal, an agreement that is not duly stamped cannot be used as evidence or registered until the missing duty is paid with a penalty. The penalty can be ten times the shortfall. Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have their own stamp laws with their own penalty rules.
In practice, the agreement matters most when something goes wrong: a tenant stops paying, or will not leave. That is the moment you need it to be admissible. Pay the right duty when you sign.
States not covered yet
We only publish a state once we can read its rate on an official page. These large rental states are still missing:
- Delhi. The only official copy of the lease schedule we found online is an old edition with rates in annas. The registration fee for a lease deed is official: ₹1,000 plus ₹100 pasting fee.
- Uttar Pradesh. UP revised its rent agreement duty in October 2026, according to news reports. We could not find the notification on an official site yet.
- Haryana. The state's fee pages were not loading when we checked, and private guides disagree on the rate and on whether the deposit counts.
For tenant police verification, we cover eight states, including these three. See tenant police verification by state.
After the agreement: collecting the rent
The agreement is signed. Now the rent.
Domvio sends each tenant a WhatsApp reminder with a UPI link before rent is due, and a PDF receipt when they pay. It does not draft or stamp agreements. See the rent collection app.
Official sources by state
- Karnataka: Karnataka Department of Stamps and Registration: stamp duty and registration fees; Karnataka registration fee notification, 29 August 2025; Registration Act, 1908, section 17
- Maharashtra: IGR Maharashtra leave and licence stamp duty calculator; IGR Maharashtra e-registration of leave and licence; Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999, section 55 (Government of Maharashtra)
- Telangana: Telangana Registration and Stamps Department: Ready Reckoner (stamp duty, transfer duty, registration fee); Registration Act, 1908, section 17
- Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu tenancy portal (Housing and Urban Development Department): FAQs; Tamil Nadu tenancy registration portal
- West Bengal: Directorate of Registrations and Stamp Revenue, West Bengal: rates of stamp duty and registration fees; The Indian Stamp Act, 1899, as applied in West Bengal (state copy); Registration Act, 1908, section 17
Once the agreement is signed, Domvio sends your tenant a WhatsApp rent reminder every month, with a UPI link to your own account and a PDF receipt when they pay. Free during early access.
Try Domvio freeFrequently asked questions
How much is stamp duty on an 11-month rent agreement?
It depends on the state. At ₹20,000 a month with no deposit, it is ₹500 in Karnataka, ₹550 in Maharashtra, ₹880 in Telangana, ₹2,200 in Tamil Nadu and ₹8,800 in West Bengal.
Which state has the lowest stamp duty on rent agreements?
Of the five states we cover, Karnataka is lowest for most rents, because duty on a residential agreement of up to a year is capped at ₹500. Maharashtra is low on the rate (0.25%) but adds part of the deposit and requires registration.
Is stamp duty charged on the security deposit?
In Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, yes: the official sources add a share of the deposit (Maharashtra) or the whole advance (Tamil Nadu). West Bengal leaves out refundable deposits. Karnataka and Telangana are unclear; see each state's page.
Who pays stamp duty on a rent agreement, landlord or tenant?
Whoever the agreement says. Owners and tenants often split it or the tenant pays. Write it into the agreement so there is no argument later.
Why is Delhi not on this page?
We could not find the current lease rate on an official Delhi page. We will add Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana once we can source them properly.
Stop chasing rent every month
Domvio reminds your tenants on WhatsApp, takes rent straight to your UPI ID and sends PDF receipts automatically. Free during early access.