Guidance Value in Karnataka 2026
Karnataka's official government property valuation — the rate stamp duty is actually charged on (also called Guideline Value, Circle Rate) — how to look it up for Bengaluru and Mysuru, and what changed in the latest revision.
What is the guidance value?
The guidance value is the minimum value at which a property can be registered in Karnataka, notified locality-by- locality by the Department of Stamps and Registration (Inspector General of Registration & Commissioner of Stamps), Government of Karnataka. When you register a sale deed, the sub-registrar compares your declared price against this rate and charges stamp duty on the higher of the two. Stamp duty is charged on the higher of the guidance value or the declared consideration.
Karnataka specifics: Stamp duty is slabbed by value (2% up to ₹20 lakh, 3% to ₹45 lakh, 5% above) — so the guidance value can change the duty slab, not just the base.
Check the official rate for your locality
Karnataka publishes rates on Kaveri Online Services. Select your district, area/village and property type to see the notified value per sq metre or sq ft.
Open Kaveri Online ServicesFree guidance-value search without login on the upgraded Kaveri 2.0 portal. Reports of a Feb 2026 Bengaluru 6-15% pocket revision and the pending April 2026 statewide hike come from property-news blogs only, not a verified official notification — treat as provisional.
Latest revision
1 October 2023 statewide (avg 25-30%, up to 50% in some areas). The Oct 2023 revision was the first in about 4 years. A further statewide hike of ~10-15% was proposed for 1 April 2026 but the gazette notification had not been issued as of mid-2026 — old rates apply until notified. Separately, the registration fee doubled from 1% to 2% on 31 August 2025.
How stamp duty uses this rate in Karnataka
Suppose you agree to buy a flat in Bengaluru for ₹65,00,000, but the notified government value of that flat works out to ₹70,00,000. Stamp duty is charged on ₹70,00,000 — the higher figure — at 5%, i.e. about ₹3,50,000, plus registration charges. Declaring a lower price in the deed does not reduce the duty.
The same government value also drives income tax: under Section 50C the seller's capital gains are computed as if they received at least this value, the buyer pays tax on the shortfall under Section 56(2)(x) if the price is more than 10% below it, and the buyer's 1% TDS is deducted on the higher value too. This is why lenders, buyers and sellers all check the guidance value before fixing a deal price.
Frequently asked questions
What is the guidance value in Karnataka?+
It is the minimum property value fixed by the Department of Stamps and Registration (Inspector General of Registration & Commissioner of Stamps), Government of Karnataka for each locality, and it is the floor on which stamp duty and registration charges are computed in Karnataka. The same rate is also called Guideline Value, Circle Rate.
How do I check the guidance value for my area?+
Use the official Kaveri Online Services portal (https://kaveri.karnataka.gov.in). Select your district, sub-registrar office or village/locality, and property type to see the notified rate. Free guidance-value search without login on the upgraded Kaveri 2.0 portal. Reports of a Feb 2026 Bengaluru 6-15% pocket revision and the pending April 2026 statewide hike come from property-news blogs only, not a verified official notification — treat as provisional.
When was the guidance value last revised in Karnataka?+
1 October 2023 statewide (avg 25-30%, up to 50% in some areas). The Oct 2023 revision was the first in about 4 years. A further statewide hike of ~10-15% was proposed for 1 April 2026 but the gazette notification had not been issued as of mid-2026 — old rates apply until notified. Separately, the registration fee doubled from 1% to 2% on 31 August 2025.
What happens if I buy a property below the circle rate?+
Stamp duty is still charged on the government value — you cannot save duty by declaring a lower price. There is also an income-tax hit on both sides: if the declared price is more than 10% below the government value, Section 50C taxes the seller as if they sold at that value, and Section 56(2)(x) taxes the buyer on the difference as "income from other sources".
Is the circle rate the same as the market rate?+
No. The market rate is what buyers actually pay; the government rate is an administrative floor for duty collection. In prime areas the market price usually runs well above the government rate; occasionally (after a sharp correction) the government rate can be higher than market, which inflates the duty payable.
Sources
- Kaveri Online Services
- Sobha — Guidance value Bangalore updates
- PropNewz — April 2026 revision not yet notified
Verified 2026-07. Rates are revised by government notification — always confirm the current notified value with the official portal or sub-registrar before a transaction.