What is the Stamp Duty Calculator?
Stamp duty and registration charges are levied on property transfers and are payable from savings rather than borrowed alongside the purchase. On a substantial property they add a meaningful sum to the cash required at completion.
This calculator estimates the charge from the property value and applicable rate. Rates vary by jurisdiction and often by buyer category, so verify the current figure locally before budgeting.
What each input means
- Property value
- The value duty is charged on, usually the higher of the agreement price and the government guideline value.
- Stamp duty rate
- Your state's rate for this purchase. It can be lower for women buyers or joint owners, and can differ between urban and rural areas.
- Registration charge
- The fee for registering the sale deed, as a share of the value.
- Registration fee cap
- Some states cap the registration fee at a fixed amount. Enter it to apply the cap, or leave it at 0.
How this calculation works
The charge is calculated as a percentage of the assessed property value. Registration fees are usually levied separately, often at a lower percentage, and both are typically due at the time of registration.
The assessed value is not always the price you paid. Many jurisdictions maintain prescribed minimum values by area, and duty is charged on the higher of that figure and the transaction price.
Formula: Charges = property value × stamp duty rate + property value × registration rate, capped where your state caps it
Getting the most out of the result
- Confirm the current rate for your specific location and buyer category, since these change and vary widely.
- Check whether concessions apply — female buyers, first-time buyers and certain property types attract reduced rates in some jurisdictions.
- Budget for registration fees and legal costs separately, as they are additional to duty.
- Verify the prescribed minimum value for the area, since duty may be assessed on that rather than your price.
- Remember these costs are generally not financeable and must be paid from your own funds at registration.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most disruptive error is omitting these charges from the purchase budget entirely, leaving a shortfall at completion when the money is needed immediately and cannot be borrowed. Buyers also assume duty applies to the agreed price when the assessed value may be higher. Concessions frequently go unclaimed because buyers do not know they exist. And rates are often taken from outdated sources, since they are revised more regularly than most people expect.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays stamp duty?
The buyer, in the overwhelming majority of cases, though the parties can agree otherwise. It is payable at registration and is a precondition of the transfer being recorded.
Can stamp duty be included in a home loan?
Usually not. Lenders typically fund a percentage of the property value and exclude duty and registration from that calculation, so these must come from your own savings.
Why might duty be charged on more than I paid?
Many jurisdictions publish prescribed minimum values by locality. Where the transaction price falls below that figure, duty is assessed on the prescribed value instead, to limit under-declaration.
Are there concessions available?
In many places, yes — commonly reduced rates for female buyers, first-time buyers, or particular property categories. Eligibility rules are specific and these concessions are frequently missed simply because buyers do not ask.
Is registration fee the same as stamp duty?
No. They are separate charges, usually calculated at different rates and sometimes capped. Both are typically payable at registration, so budget for both.
Is stamp duty refundable if a deal falls through?
Sometimes partially, if the instrument was never executed or registration did not proceed, subject to strict conditions and time limits. Once registered, it is generally not recoverable.
Does stamp duty apply to gifted or inherited property?
Transfers by gift usually attract duty, sometimes at concessional rates between close relatives. Inheritance is treated differently in most jurisdictions. Rules vary considerably, so check the specific provision.