HUF Deed Stamp Paper and Notary: What It Really Costs
There is no single all-India cost for an HUF deed. Stamp duty is set by each state, and no state schedule we read names an HUF deed. A notary charges a separate fee. So your cost is three things: your state's stamp duty, the notary's fee, and the drafting fee if someone drafts it.
- Stamp duty is a state subject. The figure for a family in Lucknow is not the figure for a family in Pune.
- The "Rs 100 stamp paper" or "Rs 500 stamp paper" you hear about is practice in some places. It is not a national rule.
- State schedules do not list an HUF deed by name. It is stamped under a general head, usually as a declaration or affidavit.
- Under-stamping is the costly error. The central Stamp Act allows a penalty of up to ten times the shortfall.
- A plain HUF deed normally needs no registration fee, because it normally does not need registration.
In this guide
What does an HUF deed cost in total?
An HUF deed is a signed declaration by the Karta (the family member who manages the HUF) that names the family, its members and its starting money. The bank and the PAN application ask for it. Here is what you pay for.
| Cost | Who sets it | What we can say for sure |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp paper or e-stamp | Your state government | Differs by state. See the examples below. |
| Notary | Fee rules made under the Notaries Act | We could not confirm the current fee from an official page. Ask before you sign. |
| Drafting | Whoever drafts it | Rs 1,499 at AprilTax. Drafting only. |
| Registration | State registration department | Normally not needed for a plain deed. |
How much stamp paper does an HUF deed need?
Why can nobody give you one number? Because stamp duty on most documents is fixed state by state, through a schedule of rates. Each schedule lists types of document: affidavit, agreement, partition, settlement and so on. We read the schedules below and none has an entry called "HUF deed".
In practice the deed is written as a declaration by the Karta and stamped like an affidavit or declaration. Some offices may treat it as an agreement not otherwise provided for. No official page we found says which head is correct for an HUF deed, so treat the figures below as the duty on an affidavit in that state, not as an official "HUF deed rate".
| State | What the government source says | How current |
|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | Affidavit or declaration: Rs 10. Agreement not otherwise provided for: Rs 100. | Schedule I-B on the state stamp department's site. The file carries no date. |
| Maharashtra | Affidavit: Rs 500, raised from Rs 100. | In force from 14 October 2024 under the Maharashtra Stamp (Amendment) Act, 2024. |
| Delhi | A Revenue Department affidavit form asks for Rs 10 non-judicial stamp paper. | The form is from 2010. Confirm the current value. |
See the spread: Rs 10 in one state and Rs 500 in another for the same kind of paper. That is why copying a figure from a friend in another city is risky. For any other state, ask a licensed stamp vendor or the sub-registrar's office what the duty on an affidavit or declaration is today.
Do you need a notary, and what does it cost?
We found no rule that says an HUF deed must be notarised. It is common practice, and many banks expect it, because a notary's seal shows that the Karta signed in front of an authorised person on a given date. Ask your bank what it wants before you spend on it.
Notary fees are governed by rules made under the Notaries Act, 1952. We could not open the official rules today and other websites quote different amounts, so we are not giving a figure. Ask the notary for the fee and for a receipt. In Delhi, the form mentioned above also refers to a Rs 5 notarial stamp, which is a small extra stamp on notarised papers there.
A worked example: what under-stamping costs
Suppose your state charges Rs 500 on a declaration and you sign the deed on Rs 100 paper because a template said so. You are short by Rs 400.
Section 35 of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 says a document that is not duly stamped cannot be admitted in evidence or acted upon by a public officer. It can be accepted later only after you pay the shortfall plus a penalty of up to ten times the shortfall.
- Shortfall: Rs 400
- Penalty at ten times: Rs 4,000
- Total to cure the deed: Rs 4,400, to save Rs 400 on day one
Some states run their own Stamp Acts with their own penalty rules, so the exact amount may differ where you live. Uttarakhand's registration department, for example, says a shortfall paid on your own within one year of signing is accepted without penalty. The direction is the same everywhere: paying the right duty at the start is cheaper.
The mistake most families make
They treat "Rs 100 stamp paper" as the law. It is a habit from a time when many states charged that on affidavits. Maharashtra moved its affidavit duty to Rs 500 in October 2024, and a deed signed there on Rs 100 paper after that date is short.
The second mistake is buying stamp paper in one state for a deed signed in another. Duty follows the state where the deed is signed. Buy the paper or e-stamp there, in the name of the HUF or the Karta, dated on or before the day of signing.
Is this something to do yourself? Buying stamp paper and visiting a notary, yes. That part is a local errand. The part worth paying for is the wording, mainly the clause on where the HUF's money came from, which decides how its income is taxed. Our guide on HUF deed format lists the clauses.
What to do next: confirm the affidavit duty in your state, ask your bank whether it wants the deed notarised, and get the deed drafted before you buy the paper so the stamp date and the signing date match.
Sources
- Uttar Pradesh Stamp and Registration Department: Schedule I-B, Indian Stamp Act (checked 12 Nov 2026)
- Government of Maharashtra gazette: Maharashtra Stamp (Amendment) Act, 2024 (checked 12 Nov 2026)
- Delhi Revenue Department: affidavit form for e-stamp refund (checked 12 Nov 2026)
- Uttarakhand Stamp and Registration Department: FAQs on stamp duty (checked 12 Nov 2026)
- India Code: Indian Stamp Act, 1899, sections 3 and 35 (India Code did not open on 12 Nov 2026; read from an archived copy of this PDF dated 25 Jul 2025)
How AprilTax can help
Stamp paper and notary are local errands. The wording is where a deed goes right or wrong. A Tax Expert at AprilTax drafts your HUF deed for Rs 1,499 from one online form. The fee is for drafting only. Stamp paper and stamp duty, notary charges, registration and the PAN application are separate and you pay them directly. Start at HUF deed drafting.
Frequently asked questions
What stamp paper value is needed for an HUF deed?
Is Rs 100 stamp paper enough for an HUF deed?
Is it compulsory to notarise an HUF deed?
How much does a notary charge for an HUF deed?
What happens if the HUF deed is on stamp paper of too low a value?
Can I use e-stamp paper for an HUF deed?
Does the Rs 1,499 AprilTax fee include stamp paper and notary?
What sellers say
4.9 on Google →Read next
Stuck on a return or registration?
File GSTR-1 free with the tool, or hand it to a Tax Expert at a fixed fee.