Rent Agreement Stamp Paper Value by State (2026)

A rent agreement for a term of 11 months or less is usually executed on a ₹100 or ₹200 non-judicial stamp paper, while agreements that run longer attract stamp duty calculated as a percentage of the rent and deposit rather than a flat paper value. The exact rental agreement stamp paper you need depends on your state, the monthly rent, the security deposit and the lease term — so the single "right" value differs between Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi and Tamil Nadu. This guide lays out the state-by-state position for 2026.

What decides the rental agreement stamp paper value

Stamp duty is a state subject in India, charged under each state's stamp law and the central Indian Stamp Act, 1899 framework. Four things move the number:

• Lease term: up to 11 months the law in most states accepts a nominal ₹100 or ₹200 paper; beyond 11 months the duty is a percentage and registration becomes mandatory.
• Annual rent and deposit: percentage-based duty is applied on the total or average annual rent, often including the refundable deposit.
• Your state: Maharashtra uses 0.25% of total rent; Karnataka caps the under-11-month figure at ₹500; Delhi uses 2% of average annual rent for 1–4 year leases.
• Payment mode: physical stamp paper, e-stamping or franking — the value is the same, only the medium differs.

Before you buy paper, it pays to confirm the current duty and complete stamp paper for rent agreement steps for your city, because an under-stamped deed cannot be used as evidence in court.

Rent agreement stamp paper value by state (2026)

The table below summarises the common position for an 11-month residential lease and the method used when the term is longer. Where a state uses a percentage, we show the formula, not a flat rupee figure, because the rupee amount changes with your rent and deposit.

These are indicative figures as of 2026 and states revise them periodically. Rates vary and some portals quote different minimums — always verify the current figure for your rent and deposit on the official state stamp or registration portal before you pay. Where sources disagree (Karnataka and UP in particular), treat the lower nominal value as a floor, not a guarantee.

When is ₹100, ₹200 or ₹500 stamp paper enough?

People often ask whether a ₹100 stamp paper is "valid" for a rent agreement. It is — for a short, under-11-month lease in states that accept a nominal value — but validity and sufficiency are two different things. A paper can be genuine yet under-valued for your rent, which is where penalties bite. Use this quick reference:

For a deeper walk-through of the ₹100 paper specifically, see our guide on the ₹100 stamp paper rent agreement.

Physical stamp paper, e-stamping or franking?

The duty value is identical across these three channels — only the medium changes:

e-Stamping (SHCIL)

Most states route e-stamping through the Stock Holding Corporation of India (SHCIL), which issues a tamper-evident e-stamp certificate carrying a unique certificate number. It is the cleanest audit trail and is widely accepted. Our e-stamp paper for rent agreement guide covers the step-by-step process.

Physical non-judicial stamp paper

Bought from a licensed stamp vendor. Still common in smaller towns, but supply of specific denominations can be patchy, which is the real-world reason people default to ₹100 papers even when the duty should be higher.

Franking

A bank or authorised agency stamps the printed agreement after you pay the duty. Useful where e-stamping is not yet live.

Registration and the 11-month rule

The 11-month term is not a tax loophole — it is the threshold above which registration under the Registration Act becomes compulsory. For an 11-month-or-shorter deed, nominal stamp paper plus notarisation is the norm and registration is optional. Cross 11 months and you must register at the sub-registrar, paying registration charges (often around ₹1,100 in Delhi, ₹200+ in Bengaluru) on top of stamp duty. If you need the registered route, our rent agreement registration service handles stamp duty and e-registration end to end.

Worked example: how the rupee value changes by state

Take a flat let at ₹20,000 a month with a ₹1,00,000 refundable deposit on an 11-month term. The nominal-value states and the percentage states land in very different places:

• Delhi (nominal): a ₹100 stamp paper is accepted for the short term, so your stamp cost is effectively ₹100.
• Maharashtra (0.25% of total rent + deposit): total rent for 11 months is ₹2,20,000; adding the deposit the duty base is higher, and 0.25% works out to roughly ₹550–800 — above the ₹500 minimum paper.
• Karnataka (0.5% of annual rent + deposit, capped at ₹500 for under 11 months): the formula would exceed ₹500, so the ₹500 ceiling applies and you pay ₹500.

The lesson: the same lease costs ₹100 in one state and five times that in another. Never copy a friend's ₹100-paper habit across a state border without checking.

Why the deposit is part of the calculation

A common surprise is that in percentage-duty states the refundable security deposit is added to the annual rent to form the duty base. On a large deposit — common in Bengaluru, where ten months' rent as deposit is not unusual — this can lift the duty noticeably. If your deposit is unusually high, factor it in before you assume a ₹500 paper covers you. The deposit does not change the nominal-value states (Delhi, Tamil Nadu), because there the duty is a flat figure rather than a percentage.

Common stamp paper mistakes to avoid

• Back-dating the stamp paper: the purchase date on the paper should not post-date the agreement; mismatched dates invite questions.
• Using an old denomination out of habit: the ₹100 default is fine in Delhi but short in Maharashtra — match the paper to the state.
• Skipping witnesses: two witnesses with names and signatures strengthen enforceability, especially for a notarised (unregistered) deed.
• Treating notarisation as registration: a notarised 11-month deed is not a registered one; only the sub-registrar can register, and only registration gives a longer lease its full evidentiary weight.
• Ignoring e-stamp verification: always verify the SHCIL e-stamp certificate number on the official portal to rule out a forged certificate.

Penalty for under-stamping a rent agreement

Under Section 35 of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, an instrument that is not duly stamped is inadmissible as evidence, and the penalty for insufficient duty can run up to ten times the deficient stamp duty, in addition to the actual duty payable. In plain terms: saving ₹400 on the right stamp paper today can cost thousands if a dispute ever reaches court. This is why matching the paper to your state and rent — not just grabbing a ₹100 sheet — matters.

Residential vs commercial leases

The stamp paper rules above describe residential rent agreements. Commercial leases — a shop, office or warehouse — are usually stamped at higher percentage rates and are far more likely to be registered because of their longer terms and larger values. If you are leasing commercial space, do not assume the residential ₹100–500 range applies; check the commercial slab for your state, which is typically a higher percentage of annual rent. For a residential let, the figures in this guide are the correct starting point.

Does a higher stamp value make the agreement "more legal"?

No. Paying more than the required duty does not add legal weight — the agreement is valid once it is correctly stamped for your state and rent. Over-paying simply wastes money, while under-paying exposes you to the penalty. The goal is the correct value, not the highest value. This is exactly why a state-aware calculation beats a one-size-fits-all ₹100 habit, and why using the registration workflow that computes duty for your inputs removes the guesswork entirely.

How to get the stamp paper value right the first time

1. Fix your lease term — keep it at 11 months unless you specifically need a longer registered lease.
2. Note your monthly rent and refundable deposit; percentage-duty states use the combined figure.
3. Check your state's current rate on its official stamp/registration portal or SHCIL.
4. Pick the medium (e-stamp preferred) and buy the correct denomination.
5. Print the agreement on the stamp paper, sign with two witnesses, and notarise or register as required.

If you would rather skip the manual calculation, you can get the correct stamp paper for your rent agreement with duty computed for your state, rent and deposit automatically.

This article is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are approximate and change over time — always verify with a qualified professional or the official source before making a decision.

Written and reviewed by the Rent Agreement Generator editorial team. Facts checked against primary sources; see the reference above.

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