Rent agreement and stamp duty in Haryana: what you pay and why
Short answer
In Haryana, a rent agreement for less than a year pays the same stamp duty as a bond on the whole rent payable, which works out to about 1.5%. A lease for more than a year must be registered, which is why most agreements run for 11 months.
How is stamp duty worked out?
Article 35 of Schedule 1-A of the Indian Stamp Act, as it applies in Haryana, covers leases and “any agreement to let”. The duty depends on the term.
| Term of the agreement | Stamp duty (Article 35) |
|---|---|
| Less than one year | Same as a bond, on the whole rent payable under the agreement |
| One to five years | Same as a bond, on the average annual rent |
| No definite term | Same as a conveyance, on three times the average annual rent for the first ten years |
The bond scale charges Rs 15 up to Rs 1,000 and Rs 7.50 for every further Rs 500 or part of it. That is about 1.5%. As a worked example (our arithmetic from the schedule): a rent of Rs 30,000 a month for 11 months is Rs 3,30,000 payable, so the duty is about Rs 4,950. If the tenant pays charges the law makes the landlord’s, such as the owner’s share of municipal taxes, those count as part of the rent.
Does my rent agreement need to be registered?
Section 17(1)(d) of the Registration Act makes registration compulsory for leases from year to year, for any term exceeding one year, or reserving a yearly rent. An agreement for less than a year falls outside it, which is why 11 months is common. It is a practice, not a rule. In 2020 the Supreme Court held that a monthly rent note with no fixed term did not need registration, even with a clause raising the rent 10% each year.
How do I pay the stamp duty?
Haryana collects stamp duty through e-GRAS (egrashry.nic.in). Registered deeds go through the Haryana e-registration portal, where you book an appointment. Both parties bring ID proof, and two witnesses with their ID. The schedule lists a Rs 200 service charge for registering a lease.
Step by step
Agree the term and rent
The term decides both the stamp duty and whether the agreement must be registered.
Work out the duty
Under a year: the bond scale on the whole rent payable. One to five years: the bond scale on the average annual rent.
Pay through e-GRAS
Pay the stamp duty on egrashry.nic.in by net banking or card, or in cash at a bank branch.
Register if the term is over a year
Book an appointment on the Haryana e-registration portal and attend with ID proof and two witnesses.
Frequently asked questions
How much stamp duty do I pay on an 11-month rent agreement in Gurgaon?
The same duty as a bond on the whole rent payable for the 11 months: Rs 15 up to Rs 1,000 and Rs 7.50 for every further Rs 500, about 1.5%. On Rs 30,000 a month that is about Rs 4,950.
Do I have to register my rent agreement?
Only if it runs from year to year, for more than one year, or reserves a yearly rent. That is section 17(1)(d) of the Registration Act. An 11-month agreement does not need registration.
Why is every rent agreement 11 months?
Because a term under one year falls outside compulsory registration. No law requires the 11-month format; it is common practice.
How do I pay stamp duty online in Haryana?
Through the e-GRAS site, egrashry.nic.in, which Haryana's revenue department names for stamp duty. When we checked on 28 October 2026 the site did not respond, so try again later or ask at the registration office.
What changes if I sign a two or three year lease?
Stamp duty is charged at the bond scale on the average annual rent, and the lease must be registered: book a slot on the e-registration portal and bring two witnesses with ID.