Q1. What is stamp duty?

A. It is a tax collected by the government, which must be paid on time. If there is delay in payment, it attracts penalty.


Q2. Is stamp duty payable on the instrument or transaction?

A. It is payable on instruments and not on transactions. Stamp duty should be charged on the basis of the contents of the instrument only. If any information essential for working out stamp duty is missing in the instrument, valuation officer can call for the same. However if information is already given like, area of flat, No. of floors, year of construction etc. he should not ask for a certificate to that effect from builder or society.


Q3. Why should stamp duty be paid?

A. A stamp duty paid instrument/document is considered a proper and legal instrument/document and as such gets evidentiary value and is admitted as evidence in courts. The instruments / documents not properly stamped are not admitted in evidence by the court.


Q4. What are the instruments on which stamp duty is to be paid?

A. Instruments include every document by which any right or liability is or purports to be created, transferred, limited, extended, extinguished or recorded but does not include a bill of exchange, cheque, promissory note, bill of exchange, bill of lading, letter of credit, policy of insurance, transfer of shares, debentures proxy and receipt.


Q5. Is stamp duty payable on transfer of a flat from husband to wife or children and vice versa?

A. Yes. Stamp duty will be same as applicable to conveyance. However 10% rebate could be expected during valuation, at the discretion of the valuation officer.


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Q6. Is stamp duty payable on all instruments/documents relating to transfer of immovable property?

A. Except transfer by will (or by nomination in a co-operative housing society) all transfer instruments/documents including agreements to sell, Conveyance Deed, Gift deed, Mortgage Deed, Exchange Deed, Deed of Partition, Power of Attorneys, Leave and Licence agreement, Agreement of tenancy, lease deeds, etc has to be properly stamped before registration.

If you have purchased the flat, in a co-operative housing society, on or after 10-12-1985 you must pay the stamp duty on market value as per ready reckoner. Flat purchased on or before 09-12-1985 required stamp paper of Rs.5 only. However on flat purchased on or before 09-12-1985 will require stamp duty on market value at the time of conveyance of the property in favour of the society. The concept of payment of stamp duty on market value was introduced from 04-07-1980. Property purchased prior to 04-07-1980 will be charged on agreement value only.


Q7. What is the relevance of dates 10-12-1985 and 04-07-1980?

A. Any flat purchased in a co-operative housing society on or after 10-12-1985 is required to pay stamp duty on market value at the time of signing the agreement itself. However prior to 10-12-1985 such transactions required a stamp paper of Rs.5 only at the time of signing the agreement, however stamp duty on market value has to be paid on all such transactions at the time of conveyance of the property in favour of the society.

In case of the property not covered under co-operative housing society, they are required to pay stamp duty on market value from 04- 07-1980 onwards. This payment is required at the time of execution of the document. However prior to 04-07-1980 there was no market value concept hence agreement value was accepted for stamp duty payment.


Q8. What is the stamp duty payable in case of exchange of properties?

A. In this case stamp duty is payable only on the value of that property, among the two properties exchanged, whose value is higher.


Q9. When is stamp duty payable?

A. It is payable either before execution of the document/instrument or on the day of execution of document/instrument or on the next working day of executing such instrument/document. Execution of document/ instrument means putting signatures on the instrument by persons executing the instrument/s.


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Q10. What is the penalty for the delayed payment?

A. If stamp duty is not paid on time, it attracts the penalty at the rate of 2% per month on the deficit amount of the stamp duty. However maximum penalty can be only 2 times of the deficit amount of the stamp duty. (This amendment has come into force from 0 1 -05-200 1) Documents lodged with sub-registrar/superintendent of stamps prior to any amnesty scheme will attract lump sum penalty of Rs.250 or Rs.300 only, as the case may be.


Q11. What is the rate of stamp duty?

A. Stamp duty on ownership residential flats in a co-operative housing society attracts concessional rates depending upon its value.

On first 10 lakhs, it is Rs.38,750/ and above that it is 8% of the amount above Rs.10. Lakhs.

On non-residential properties either in a co-operative society or not, it is at a flat rate of 10% of the value. However non-residential property for the use of nursing home or bank have some relief in it's valuation. Garrage which is a part of the resident flat is valued at 25% of the rate applicable to flat in that zone.

On Leave and Licence agreement for one year stamp duty is Re.2,000/ and for 3 years it is Rs. 10,000/. For more then three years it will be charged as per lease agreement. Leave and Licence agreement can be for any length of period and not necessarily for 11 months, which is a misconception. If there is any deposit, refundable or not, additional stamp duty will be charged at the rate of 1 % of the deposit amount, irrespective of the period of the agreement.

In case of transfer of tenancy, stamp duty is charged at the rate of Rs.200 per Sq.Mtr for Residential premises and Rs.2,000 per Sq.Mtr. in case of non-residential premises, irrespective of the location of the property.


Q12. Some agents claim to get the valuation reduced to save substantial amount of stamp duty. Is it correct?

A. Many people are under the impression that some consultants and agents can help them in reducing the stamp duty. We would like to warn them that this can be done only by furnishing misleading information like wrong C.T.S. No. & zone, less area of flat, longer age of building and building having lift as not having lift. This would prove to be very detrimental and harmful when, in future, they receive notice from the department for under valuation due to concealment of facts. Even a registered document can be reopened anytime within 10 years from the date of registration. Please note that writing misleading information in the agreement is offence under Stamp Act, which is Punishable with fine and imprisonment.

Q13. Who is liable to pay stamp duty?

A. In the absence of any agreement to the contrary the purchaser/transferee has to pay stamp duty or in case of exchange of properties both parties have to bear stamp duty equally.


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Q14. In whose name are the stamp papers required to be purchased?

A. From 01105/1994 stamp papers are to be purchased in the name of one of the parties to the instrument/document. If the stamp paper is not in the name of the parties and it is used for preparing the agreement it will be treated as if no stamp paper is used. However it will not make the agreement invalid and can be enforced in law if proper stamp duty is paid subsequently.

Prior to 01/0511994 stamp paper could be purchased in any name and was valid for any period of time. However from 01105/1994 stamp paper has a life of six months only and after that it is treated. as ordinary paper as if it has no stamp.


Q15. Is stamp duty paid on the consideration amount stated in the document or on the market value of property as determined by stamp duty authorities?

A. Stamp duty is payable on the market value of property. Market value of any property is determined by the stamp duty Authorities on the basis of ready reckoner issued by the government every year on 1 st of January. However where value is decided by government or semi government bodies like LIC, CIDC0, BMC MHADA, Income Tax Department etc. then that value is accepted as market value for the purpose of stamp duty.


Q16. What needs to be done to know the amount of stamp duty payable on an instrument before executing the instrument?

A. One can work out the stamp duty amount with the help of ready reckoner easily available. Alternatively one of the parties to the instrument should get the instrument adjudicated with the stamp duty authorities. Adjudication means determination, by collector of stamps, of proper stamp duty amount, which will become payable if the instrument is executed. For adjudication one of the parties to the instrument can apply to the collector of stamps by furnishing a true copy or an abstract of the instrument on which stamp duty is to be determined along with the details of the property pertaining which the stamp duty is to be determined along with payment of the adjudication fees of Rs. 100.

In case of a signed document, adjudication must be done within one month otherwise two per cent interest per month will be levied as penalty. An adjudicated unsigned document is valid up to 31st December of that year for the purpose of the valuation.


Q17. What is the market value of a property?

A. Market value in relation to any property which is the subject matter of the instrument means the price which such property would have fetched if sold in open market on the date of execution of such instrument or document or the consideration stated in the instrument whichever is higher. However, for payment of stamp duty, market value is the value as worked out as per ready reckoner.


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Q18. What if after adjudication one does not pay stamp duty?

A. If the agreement is signed before adjudication, one has to pay stamp duty with interest and penalty as applicable. However in case of an unsigned agreement, one may ignore the adjudication order and close the matter if he so desires.


Q19. Where can a person pay stamp duty?

A. Stamp duty could be paid legally without adjudication, on the basis of the Ready Reckoner, at the following offices. An amount up to Rs.25,000 is accepted in cash and an amount above that is to be paid by bank draft or pay order drawn in favour of the "Superintendent of Stamps, Mumbai" payable at Mumbai. An amount above Rs.25,000 can also be paid in cash at Reserve Bank of India, through an duly authorised challan. A duly authorised challan can be obtained from General Stamp Office at Fort.

General Stamp Office, Town Hall Building, Ground Floor, Near Horniman Circle, Fort, Mumbai 400001.

Office of The Sub-Registrar and Administrative officer Old Custom House, Ground Floor, Near Horniman Circle, Fort, Mumbai 400 023.

General Stamp Office, Extended Sales Counter, MMRDA Building, l st Floor, Near Sales Tax office, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai 400 051.

Office of The Sub-Registrar,
Now Administrative building, Near Ration Office, Ramkrishna Chemburkar Marg, Chembur, Mumbai 400 071.

Also there are various authorised stamp vendors from whom stamp paper of the required amount can be purchased and agreement made on them, which is another way of paying stamp duty. Stamp vendors sell stamp papers of face value up to Rs. 10,000 and one can purchase as many stamp papers as one wants from them.


Q20. What are the office hours of stamp offices?

A. Stamp offices work from Monday to Saturday, except the second and fourth Saturday and public holidays, between 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.


Q21. How does one get a refund of stamp duty?

A. Refund should be claimed within six months from the date of purchase of Stamp. Refund is granted on spoiled paper, blank document or document executed but afterwards found to be unfit due to some mistake. An application ,should be made to Collector of Stamps, Mumbai.


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Q22. Where to get market value rates from year 1985 to 2001 for stamp duty valuation?

A. The publisher of this ready reckoner, The Architects Publishing Corporation of India, have published these rates and they may be contacted for further details.

One should refer ready reckoner of the year in which property is purchased so as to arrive at proper market value for payment of stamp duty on old agreements.

Even they have also published market value as on 01 -04-1981 in Mumbai, for capital gains tax purpose.


Registration

Q1. Within how much time one should register a document?

A. The document should be registered within four months from the date of the execution. If the document could not be registered within four months, then it can be registered within an additional period of four months after making an application, with reason for the delay, to the sub-registrar and paying penalty as imposed by the sub-registrar. Penalty can be legally upto 10 times of registration fees, which is very high. However registrars are lenient on this account and may impose a nominal penalty.

Q2. What should Do done if more than eight months have passed and one wants to register an instrument?

A. If more than eight months have passed since execution of documents and if it is to be registered then one should prepare a deed of confirmation and the said document should be attached as an annexure to the deed of confirmation. One should register the deed of confirmation to which the original agreement has been annexed.

Q3. What other documents are required at the time of registration of documents?

A. (1) Property Card of land on which the property being registered is situated. This requirement is irrespective of whether land is sold or building is being sold or any part of the building is being sold and also irrespective of whether the seller of property is recorded as owner on property card or not. In other word even flat owners are expected to produce this paper at the time of registration.

(2) Photographs of Buyer and seller of the property is also required at the time of registration.

(3) C.C copy or O.C copy.

(4) Pancard.

(5) Left hand thumb impression.

(6) BMC Tax receipt.


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Q4. Where can one get copy of the Property Card?

A. For copy of property card following off ices may be contacted.

For Mumbai City District. For Mumbai Suburban District

The Superintendent The Superintendent of Lands & Records,

Mumbai City Survey & Land Records, Mumbai Suburban District,

1st Floor, Old Custom House, Fort, 10th Floor, New Administrative Building,

Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg, Housing Board Colony, Near Chetna College,

Mumbai 400 023. Mumbai 400 051.

Tel: 266 1231 Tel: 642 9874

Q5. What are the other requirements before registration?

A. A document/instrument should be correctly stamped as per the Ready Reckoner so as to confirm that proper stamp duty has been paid, otherwise the sub-registrars do not register the document.

In view of recent ruling by the Hon. Mumbai High Court Sub-registrars are now accepting the documents and keep it pending for its market value clearance.

For registration of printed and typed documents relating to property in Mumbai city, one should go to Old Custom House, Fort, along with the original document and one photocopy.

For Registration for property in Mumbai Suburb i.e. Borivli and Andheri Taluka is done at MHADA Building, Bandra East and Family Cout Building, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra. East and for Kurla Taluka registration is done at Administrative Building, Chembur.

For registration at Bandra or the Chembur offices one photocopy with the original are required. The agreement must be typed on 90 GSM Paper on one side only. Photocopies should be taken on only one side of paper and paper should be of 90 GSM quality and there should be a butter paper in between two sheets of the photocopy.

One should go with two witnesses or with a valid passport, for registration.

It is proposed to register document with the help of computer and the original document will be returned after scanning on the same day. Hence photocopy will not be required in future.

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Q6. Is registration compulsory for all types of transfer of immovable properties?

A. Except in case of transfer of share of co-operative housing society and Housing Limited Company where registration is optional, virtually in all cases of transfer of immovable property like family arrangement, agreement to sell, conveyance, gift deed, lease deed (above one year), Leave & Licence agreement, tenancy agreement, declaration deed, mortgage deed, exchange deed etc has to be registered compulsorily under Indian Registration Act 1908 otherwise the proper legal title will not pass on to the purchaser/Transferee i.e. title will be defective if registration of document is not done.

However in view of amendments with effect from 01-01-2002 in the Indian Registration Act, 1908., many legal practitioners are of the opinion that even the document of co-operative housing society should also be registered.

Q7. In what languages should the document be written so that it can be registered in Mumbai?

A. It should be normally in English, Hindi, Marathi and Gujrati only.

Q8. What are the office hours of Registration Offices?

A. The office of the Registrar works from Monday to Saturday, except the second and fourth Saturday and public holidays, between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

However registration work is not done on all Saturdays due to administrative reasons.

Q9. Where in Mumbai one can register documents relating to property?

A. In Mumbai agreements are registered at the following four offices.

For property situated from Colaba to Mahim/Sion.

Office of the Sub-registrar of Assurance,

Mumbai City 1 (Fort) & Mumbai City 2 (Worli),

Old Custom House, Ground Floor, Near Horniman Circle,

Fort, Mumbai 400 001

For property situated between Bandra and Dahisar.

Office of the Sub-registrar of Assurance, Andheri Taluka 1 (Bandra) & Borivli Taluka 1 (Malad), MHADA Building, Ground Floor, Kala Nagar, Bandra East, Mumbai 400 051.

Office of the Sub-registrar of Assurance, Andheri Taluka 2 (Andheri), Borivli Taluka 2 (Kandivli) & Borivli Taluka 3 (Borivli). Family Court Building, Ground Floor, Back side, Near MMRDA Building, Opp. Sales Tax Office, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai 400 051.

For property situated between Sion and Mulund.

Office of the Sub-registrar of Assurance, Kurla Taluka 1 (Kurla) & Kurla Taluka 2 (Vikhroli) Administrative Building, Chemburkar Marg, Near Rationing office, Chembur, Mumbai 400 071.

Registration fees is to be paid at Sub-registrar's office at the time of registration only or as per the challan prepared by the Sub-registrar which is to be deposited along with cash in the specified bank.

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Q10. After how long is the document given for registration returned?

A. Documents has to be kept for indexed & scanning, it is refund to the party within one or two days.

Q11. What is the Registration fee?

A. Registration Fee is a fee for the service provided by the sub-registrar's office, of recording and storing the document for years together and in proper condition. If one does not pay registration fees, he will not be able to register the document and will be deprived of these services but there is as such no penalty for non payment as is the case in stamp duty. So whenever a person goes for registration he is charged the same registration fees as is chargeable on his document on the date of registration and no interest etc. is charged.
Registration fees is one percent of the Market Value or Rs.30,000/.

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Disclaimer: The information given is solely for referential purpose and shouldn’t be considered as thumb rule. We hold no responsibility of advice given and people should follow them on their own risk.