PUNE: The increased penalty of ₹1 lakh for executing property documents without adequate stamp duty will be effective from January 1, 2026. An official from the Inspector General of Registration (IGR) office confirmed this on Monday, stating, “The amendment was notified on December 31, 2025, and will be enforced starting January 1, 2026. Any case registered concerning a shortfall in stamp duty post this date will be subjected to the revised penalty.”
During the Maharashtra Budget presentation for 2026-27 on March 6, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasized this change, proposing an increase in the penalty from the existing ₹5,000 to ₹1 lakh for property registration documents lacking sufficient stamp duty.
The IGR official noted that the new penalty would apply to cases emerging from this year, stating, “We are currently evaluating the cases that will fall under the new provisions.”
The revised penalty entails amendments to sections 59, 60, 63A, and 68A of the Maharashtra Stamp Act, addressing penalties for documents executed without proper stamp duty. The Act stipulates rigorous imprisonment and fines upon conviction for executing instruments with inadequate stamp duty.
Officials indicated that these amended provisions will enhance measures against intentional underpayment of stamp duty on property documents. The revised regulations stipulate that anyone executing or signing an instrument intended to evade duty, without proper stamp, may face imprisonment for one to six months, or a fine up to ₹1 lakh, or both upon conviction.
Officials noted that this change aims to deter instances where agreements or instruments are purposely executed with lower stamp duties than required.
