Kerala charges 8% stamp duty and a 2% registration fee on a sale deed. The rates are simple. The base is where buyers get caught: it's the higher of the price you agreed and the fair value the Registration Department has set for that survey number.
If the fair value is below your price
| Line | How it’s worked out | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp duty | 8% of ₹1,85,00,000 (agreed price) | ₹14,80,000 |
| Registration fee | 2% of ₹1,85,00,000 | ₹3,70,000 |
| Registration cost on top of the price | Charges are 10.0% of the price | ₹18,50,000 |
If the fair value is above it
| Line | How it’s worked out | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp duty | 8% of ₹2,00,00,000 (fair value) | ₹16,00,000 |
| Registration fee | 2% of ₹2,00,00,000 | ₹4,00,000 |
| Registration cost on top of the price | Charges are 10.8% of the price | ₹20,00,000 |
Same property, same agreed price, ₹1,50,000 more. You can't pay duty on less than the fair value, and it's revised without general notice, so the figure a relative checked last year may not hold.
There's no lower rate for women buyers
A 5% rate for female buyers is widely repeated online. It isn't Kerala's rule. The 8% applies to every buyer, and budgeting on the lower figure leaves you short at the Sub-Registrar.
Registration isn't the last step
- Fair value (₹2,00,00,000) exceeds the agreed price (₹1,85,00,000), so duty is charged on the fair value. You cannot pay duty on less.
- Mutation at the village office and the update to local property tax records are separate steps after registration, with their own small fees.
Rates in this article were checked on 30 Aug 2026.
Sources
- Kerala Registration Department (IGR Kerala)
- ClearTax — Stamp duty and registration charges in Kerala
Estimates only. Fees change; confirm with DLD or the Sub-Registrar before committing.