e-Stamping
Digital stamp-duty payment through SHCIL with a tamper-proof certificate — verify any e-stamp instantly by its UIN on shcilestamp.com.
Definition
e-Stamping is the electronic method of paying stamp duty to the government, introduced to replace physical stamp paper and franking and to curb fraud such as counterfeit stamp paper. Instead of a physical stamp, you receive a computer-generated e-stamp certificate bearing a Unique Identification Number (UIN), which is attached to or printed with your document as proof of duty payment.
The system is operated by Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL), the only Central Record Keeping Agency (CRA) appointed by the Government of India for e-stamping. SHCIL maintains a secure central electronic record of every certificate issued, while Authorized Collection Centres (ACCs) — typically designated banks and registered vendors — issue certificates to the public on its behalf. e-Stamping is currently available in more than 24 states and union territories, though a few states run their own separate systems (for example, Maharashtra's GRAS e-payment system).
A key advantage is instant verifiability: anyone can check an e-stamp certificate on the SHCIL portal (shcilestamp.com) by entering the certificate's UIN along with the state, certificate type, and issue date. Because each certificate is matched against SHCIL's central database, a forged or reused certificate is exposed immediately — protection that physical stamp paper never offered.
Example
Before signing the rent agreement, the landlord verified the e-stamp certificate's UIN on shcilestamp.com to confirm it was genuine and issued for the correct amount.
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Sources
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