Why does stamp duty vary by state?
Stamp duty on company incorporation documents — the Memorandum of Association (MOA) and Articles of Association (AOA) — is levied under state stamp legislation, not a central law. That means every state (and Union Territory) sets its own rate, its own structure (flat, slab-based, or percentage-linked to authorized capital), and can change it by notification without a corresponding national update. This is why the same ₹1 lakh authorized capital company can attract a stamp duty bill ranging from ₹0 in Sikkim to several thousand rupees in states like Kerala or Madhya Pradesh.
This calculator is a lookup, not a formula — it shows the approximate reference figure Shunya has researched for each state at ₹1 lakh authorized capital, along with a link to that state's full cost guide for how the figure scales at higher capital and what else goes into your total incorporation cost.
Which states have the lowest and highest stamp duty?
Haryana (around ₹135), Nagaland (a flat ₹100), and Himachal Pradesh (around ₹123) are among the lowest figures in the country, alongside several Northeastern states such as Mizoram and Manipur. Sikkim is the only state with genuinely nil stamp duty. On the higher end, states like Kerala (around ₹3,025), Karnataka (a wide ₹6,000–10,000 range), and Madhya Pradesh (around ₹7,550) charge noticeably more. Punjab's figure, drawn from a single source we could not fully corroborate, appears to be an outlier on the high side — treat it as a rough starting point and confirm carefully during your consultation.
Shunya's flat ₹1,999 professional fee is the same nationwide — only the government stamp duty and MCA fee components vary by state. Get an exact, state-specific quote from a CA.
See full incorporation cost breakdown →Does stamp duty change if I register an LLP instead of a company?
Yes, generally lower for an LLP. An LLP's incorporation document (the LLP Agreement, filed as Form 3) typically attracts less stamp duty than a company's Memorandum and Articles of Association. The exact LLP figure is state-specific too — see your state's cost guide or the LLP Cost Calculator for the government-fee side.
Why is Sikkim's stamp duty zero?
Sikkim levies nil stamp duty on company incorporation documents. This is a genuine, confirmed state legal position — not an estimate or a gap in our data — so if you're incorporating in Sikkim, you can budget ₹0 for this line item.
Which states have the lowest stamp duty?
Haryana (around ₹135), Nagaland (a flat ₹100), and Himachal Pradesh (around ₹123) are among the lowest figures nationally, along with a few Northeastern states such as Mizoram and Manipur. Sikkim is the only state with genuinely nil stamp duty.
Does stamp duty scale with authorized capital?
In many states, yes — the figures shown here are reference points at ₹1 lakh authorized capital, and the amount can increase as your authorized capital increases. Some states (like Rajasthan) use an explicit formula with a percentage component, while others use slab-based or flat structures. Check your specific state's cost guide for how it scales.
This tool is for quick estimation only and is not a substitute for professional tax or legal advice. Stamp duty figures are approximate reference points researched by Shunya and can change with state notifications — for your exact, current figure, consult a practicing CA.
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