what is stamp duty on property purchase in Kolkata

Stamp duty on property purchase in Kolkata is governed by the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, as adopted and modified by West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act 1997. The stamp duty rate varies depending on the nature of the transaction, the location of the property, and the gender of the purchaser, with women often getting concessional rates. The Calcutta High Court has held that stamp duty must be paid on the market value or the agreement value, whichever is higher. Under West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act 1997, the stamp duty is calculated on the guidance value or market value of the property in West Bengal. Underpayment of stamp duty renders the document inadmissible in evidence and subject to penalty. The stamp duty can be paid through non-judicial stamp papers, franking, or e-stamping. After payment of stamp duty, the document must be registered with the Sub-Registrar within four months of execution.