Taxes and registration (general level): Bengaluru buyer questions
Short answer
This page answers 6 common Bengaluru buying questions on "Taxes and registration (general level)". Each answer was checked against official sources, which are listed under it. Rates, fees and time limits change, so the answers point you to the current rule instead of quoting a figure. This is general information, not legal, tax or investment advice.
Is GST charged on an under-construction flat?
GST on a builder's sale of an under-construction apartment is set by notifications, and the rate and conditions have changed over time, so check the current rule. The GST Council's real estate FAQ ties the construction-service rules to the stage of the project, using the completion certificate or first occupation as reference points, and it mentions a land-value deduction and credit conditions. Ask the builder which rate and conditions your cost sheet applies and to which charges, then confirm with a tax adviser.
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Is GST charged on a resale flat?
We cannot give a general answer. The GST Council's real estate FAQ that we opened deals with a promoter's construction of apartments in a project and says nothing about a sale between individual owners. Whether any tax arises can turn on the facts and on the notification in force, so do not assume either way. Check the current rule on the official GST sites, ask a tax adviser before you sign, and ask the seller to say in writing what tax, if any, they say applies.
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How much is stamp duty and registration for a flat in Karnataka?
We do not print stamp duty or registration rates. The state sets them, and Kaveri's own pages refer to revisions in the registration fee, so check the current rule on Kaveri and the state registration and stamps department site. Also ask how the taxable value is decided, because Kaveri's help text refers to a government-published guidance value when the Sub-Registrar fixes market value. In your cost sheet, ask whether stamp duty and registration are shown separately and on what value each is worked out.
What is the difference between an agreement for sale and a sale deed?
In a purchase from a builder, the RERA Act requires a written agreement for sale before the promoter takes more than a limited advance, and that agreement sets out payment dates, the possession date and interest on default. The registered conveyance deed that the promoter later executes in your favour, with possession, is the document that conveys the flat. A booking receipt is neither of these. Read each document with a lawyer and ask for drafts before you pay.
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What are the steps to register a property in Bangalore?
In general, you confirm the documents with your lawyer, pay the stamp duty and fees due, book an appointment for document registration at the Sub-Registrar office through the Kaveri online service, and attend with the parties and identity proof. Kaveri's own pages show appointment booking and online payment, but the forms, steps and fees change, so check the current rule there and ask your lawyer for the current checklist. Ask your lawyer what follow-up steps apply after registration.
What is guidance value?
Guidance value is a reference value for property that the government publishes. Kaveri's help text says Sub-Registrars fix the market value of a property for registration with reference to it, and the portal shows an estimated guidance rate during the process. Values are revised from time to time, so look up the current figure on Kaveri or ask the Sub-Registrar office before you plan your cash for registration. We do not state any values here, and a developer's quote is not a substitute for the official lookup.
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