Stamp Duty

Court-ordered sales: Original deal value to decide stamp duty

Summary: This blog explains a key judgement from the Karnataka High Court that clarifies stamp duty on court-directed sale deeds should be calculated on the original agreement price, not the current market value. This protects buyers from unfairly higher stamp duty due to litigation delays and provides much needed certainty and fairness for all parties involved in property transactions under specific performance decrees. Continue Reading Court-ordered sales: Original deal value to decide stamp duty

In a key decision, the Karnataka High Court dealt with two connected writ petitions involving leading real estate developers[1], challenging the decision of the stamp and registration authorities in Karnataka. The key issue was whether stamp duty applies to super built-up areas and car parks when the sale deed refers only to an undivided land share. The decision clearly explains the legal position on dual ownership and how stamp duty must be calculated on such documents.Continue Reading Building Vs. Land: A Tale of Two Owners in Indian Property Law

The Supreme Court Revisits the Consequences of Non-Payment of Stamp Duty on the Arbitration Agreement – Part I

In Part I of this post, we discussed the findings of the Court on the issue of separability of arbitration agreements from the underlying contract and the corresponding validity of arbitration agreements in unstamped agreements. In this part, we will analyse the findings of the Court with respect to arbitrability of disputes involving fraud; and issue of maintainability of writ petitions against orders passed under the Arbitration Act and provide our views on the Judgment.Continue Reading The Supreme Court Revisits the Consequences of Non-Payment of Stamp Duty on the Arbitration Agreement – Part II

The Supreme Court Revisits the Consequences of Non-Payment of Stamp Duty on the Arbitration Agreement – Part I

Introduction

Recently, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court in M/s N.N. Global Mercantile Pvt. Ltd. v. M/s Indo Unique Flame Ltd. & Others[1] has reiterated and clarified the law on the (i) doctrine of separability of arbitration agreements from the underlying contract; (ii) arbitrability of disputes involving fraud; and (iii) maintainability of a writ petition against orders passed under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (“Arbitration Act”).
Continue Reading The Supreme Court Revisits the Consequences of Non-Payment of Stamp Duty on the Arbitration Agreement – Part I

stamp Act amendments 2019

The key amendments that the Finance Act, 2019 proposes to the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 have been examined in Decoding the Amendment to the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 for Debentures – Part I. The impact of the amendments on debentures have also been analysed against the prevailing stamping arrangement for debentures.

This second part deals with the interplay between the definitions of ‘debentures’ and ‘securities’ under the Amendment, and issues relating to the implementation of the Centralised Collection Mechanism (CCM).
Continue Reading Decoding the Amendments to the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, for Debentures – Part II

Amendments to the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 for Debentures

The Finance Act, 2019[1] (Amendment) proposes to make some significant amendments to the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 (Act). The primary objective of the Amendment is to set up a zero-evasion centralised collection mechanism under which stamp duty is collected through one agency, at one place and on one instrument for securities market transactions.

It also seeks to standardise the stamp duty payable on issuance, sale and transfer of securities market instruments. It does so by removing multiple instances of stamp duty, waiving stamp duty on certain instruments, and removing the ability of the State Governments to determine rates or levy stamp duty in addition to the Act[2].
Continue Reading Decoding the Amendments to Indian Stamp Act, 1899, for Debentures – Part I