Bhubaneswar, Sept 29: The Odisha government has brought relief for apartment buyers by reducing and rationalising stamp duty and registration charges applicable to apartment registration and transfer. The Odisha Legislative Assembly has passed the Indian Stamp (Odisha Amendment) Bill, 2026, aimed at simplifying the registration and transfer process and reducing the financial burden on apartment owners. Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari introduced the Bill in the House. Under the Odisha Apartment (Ownership and Management) Act, 2023, builders are required to transfer common areas of an apartment project to the apartment owners’ association. These common areas include playgrounds, parks, community halls, lifts and other shared facilities, which are subsequently managed by the apartment society. However, the high stamp duty applicable to the transfer and registration of common areas had placed an additional financial burden on apartment owners. To simplify the process, the government has amended the provisions of the Indian Stamp Act. Under the amendment, the stamp duty for registration of common areas has been fixed at Rs 50,000. Subsequently, when an individual apartment unit is transferred, the undivided proportionate share in the common areas will be included in the transfer document, with stamp duty charged at a uniform rate of 5%. The amendment also caps the registration fee for apartment registration at Rs 20,000. Earlier, stamp duty on the transfer of individual apartment units was levied under different slabs of 3%, 4% and 5%. The amendment has simplified the system by introducing a uniform 5% stamp duty rate for the transfer of all apartment units. The government has also retained a 90% exemption on stamp duty and registration fees for houses provided under affordable housing schemes for economically weaker sections (EWS). The amendments had earlier been issued as an ordinance and published in the Odisha Gazette. Following the passage of the Indian Stamp (Odisha Amendment) Bill, 2026, the provisions will now come into force as the Indian Stamp (Odisha Amendment) Act, 2026, replacing the ordinance.
Odisha govt reduces stamp duty, registration charges for apartment buyers
