Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has proposed a stamp duty of Rs 50,000 on the transfer of common areas and facilities of apartment projects from promoters to associations of allottees, as part of measures to simplify the registration and transfer process of apartment units in the state.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari introduced the Indian Stamp (Odisha Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Odisha Legislative Assembly on Monday.
The proposed amendment seeks to simplify the transfer of common areas and facilities, reduce the financial burden on apartment owners and safeguard the revenue interests of the state government.
Under the Odisha Apartment (Ownership and Management) Act, 2023, promoters are required to transfer the common areas and facilities of a project to the Association of Allottees through a registered deed before the transfer of individual apartment units.
The common areas and facilities include the project land, garages, staircases, lifts and other facilities associated with the apartment project.
The government said the stamp duty applicable to the transfer of these common areas and facilities was imposing an additional financial burden on apartment owners.
To address the issue, the Bill proposes an amendment to Article 23(c) of Schedule I-A of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899.
Under the proposed amendment, a stamp duty of Rs 50,000 will be levied on the deed transferring common areas and facilities from the promoter to the Association of Allottees.
Thereafter, stamp duty at the rate of 5 per cent will be levied on the transfer deed of an individual apartment unit, including the undivided proportionate share in the common areas.
The government said the proposed arrangement would reduce the financial burden on apartment owners while protecting government revenue.
The registration fee for the transfer of common areas and facilities of an apartment had earlier been capped at Rs 20,000.
The Bill also proposes to replace the existing slab-based stamp duty structure of 3 per cent, 4 per cent and 5 per cent for individual apartment transfers with a uniform rate of 5 per cent.
At present, stamp duty is levied at 3 per cent for apartments valued up to Rs 5 lakh, 4 per cent for apartments valued between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 15 lakh, and 5 per cent for apartments valued above Rs 15 lakh.
The government has already provided a 90 per cent exemption on stamp duty and registration fees for houses available under affordable housing schemes for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
As a result, the earlier provisions relating to 3 per cent and 4 per cent stamp duty on apartments valued up to Rs 15 lakh for EWS beneficiaries are no longer applicable after the 90 per cent exemption, the government said.
The amendment had earlier been promulgated as an Ordinance and published in the Odisha Gazette.
Once passed by the Legislative Assembly, the Indian Stamp (Odisha Amendment) Bill, 2026 will replace the Ordinance and come into force as the Indian Stamp (Odisha Amendment) Act, 2026.
Speaking on the occasion, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the proposed amendment would make the registration and transfer process of apartment units simpler and more convenient.
He said the measure would also reduce the additional financial burden associated with the transfer of common areas and facilities and protect the interests of apartment owners while safeguarding the revenue interests of the state government.
