e-Stamping in India: How the System Works and How to Buy an e-Stamp (2026)

How-To · Stamp Duty

Updated for 2026 · Claw Editorial

You have an agreement, an affidavit or a power of attorney ready, and the other side says it must be on stamp paper. Buying physical stamp paper means a trip to a vendor, a risk of fake paper, and a stamp that may not match the document. E-stamping is the digital way to pay stamp duty. You pay the duty, and you get a tamper-proof e-stamp certificate with a unique number instead of physical stamp paper. It is run by Stock Holding Corporation of India (SHCIL) through its Authorised Collection Centres, and in some states through the state’s own portal. This guide shows the steps, how to verify an e-stamp, and which documents commonly need stamping.

01What e-stamping is

Stamp duty is a tax the state charges on many legal documents. Traditionally, you paid it by buying paper with a printed stamp, or by using a franking machine. E-stamping replaces this with an electronic record.

When you e-stamp a document, the duty is paid online or at a collection centre. You then get an e-stamp certificate. It shows the details of the transaction, the amount of duty paid, and a unique certificate number. The certificate is printed on ordinary paper, and your document is then written on it or attached to it.

Why people use it

• Harder to fake: every certificate has a number you can check against the official record.
• No stock of paper: you pay the exact amount, without buying several lower value papers to make up the sum.
• Faster: in many cases you can finish the process in one sitting.
• Easy to trace: the payment is recorded, so the duty paid can be confirmed later.

02Who runs it and where it works

The central e-stamping system is run by Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL), now also known as StockHolding. SHCIL appoints Authorised Collection Centres (ACCs). These are usually banks, financial institutions, licensed stamp vendors and similar service points. They take your application and the duty, and they issue the certificate.

Not every state works the same way. Some states use the SHCIL system, some run their own e-stamp or e-payment portal, and some still allow physical stamp paper alongside e-stamps for certain amounts. The rules also change over time.

So the first step is always the same: find out what your state uses today. The official SHCIL e-stamping website lets you pick your state and shows the services available there. Your state revenue or registration department website will say whether it has its own portal.

03How to buy an e-stamp in India, step by step

The exact screens differ by state, but the flow is the same everywhere.

Step 1: Find your route

Check whether your state is on the SHCIL system or on a state portal. If you prefer not to use a computer, locate an Authorised Collection Centre near you. Use the ACC locator on the official site.

Step 2: Register or prepare to apply

On the online route, you create an account on the portal with an email address and activate it from the link sent to you. You may need to link a bank account or payment method. For the ACC route, no account is needed. You fill a form at the counter.

Step 3: Fill the application

You will be asked for these details. Keep them ready before you start.

• The state and the type of document (for example, rent agreement, sale deed, affidavit, power of attorney).
• The names and addresses of the first party and the second party.
• A short description of the document and the consideration amount, if it applies.
• The stamp duty amount, as per the state schedule.
• The name of the person who is paying the duty.

Check every spelling. A mistake in a party name is the most common reason people have to buy a new certificate.

Step 4: Pay the stamp duty

Pay the duty and any service fee. Online, the portal usually offers internet banking, UPI, cards and similar modes. At an ACC, you pay at the counter. Keep the payment proof.

Step 5: Get the e-stamp certificate

After payment, the system issues the e-stamp certificate. It carries the unique certificate number and the details you entered. Download it, or collect the print from the ACC. Print it on plain paper. Make sure all parts of the certificate are readable.

Step 6: Verify, then use it

Verify the certificate (see the next section). Then write or attach your document to it, and have the parties sign as required. Keep the original certificate safe, because the document may need to be shown in court, to a bank or at registration.

04How to verify an e-stamp

Always verify an e-stamp before you rely on it, especially when someone else hands it to you. Fake papers are the main reason the system exists, and checking takes only a minute.

1. Open the official e-stamp verification page on the SHCIL e-stamping website.
2. Enter the unique certificate number, and other details the page asks for, such as the state and the amount.
3. Compare what the system shows with what is printed on your certificate. The parties, date, state and amount must match.
4. If your certificate carries a QR code, you can also use the official app or scanner to read it.

If anything does not match, do not use the certificate. Contact the ACC that issued it, or the official helpline.

An e-stamp is only as good as its record. If the number does not check out on the official page, treat the paper as invalid.

05Documents that commonly need stamping

Which documents need stamping, and how much duty they attract, depends on the state. As a general guide, these are the documents people most often e-stamp.

An insufficiently stamped document can cause trouble later. It may not be accepted as evidence until the deficit duty and a penalty are paid.

Stamping and registration are two different steps. Paying stamp duty does not register a document. If your document is a rent agreement, see our guide on the rent agreement format in India for what the agreement should contain.

06Common mistakes to avoid

• Wrong party names or spellings. The certificate cannot be edited later. You will need a new one.
• Wrong state. Buy the e-stamp for the state that matches where the document is executed or will be used.
• Wrong document type. Choose the correct article or instrument type, or the duty may be too low.
• Not verifying. Always check the certificate number on the official page.
• Using third-party sites without checking. Use the official portal or a listed ACC, and never pay anyone who cannot show a proper receipt.
• Waiting too long. Some states expect the document to be signed within a short time after the e-stamp is issued. Check your state rule.

For anything unusual, such as a high value property deal or a document that will be used in another state, it is best to confirm the duty with a local advocate or the state department.

07Where Claw fits

Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.

Claw does not issue e-stamps. That is done by SHCIL, its collection centres and the state portals. Where Claw helps is the work around the stamp: drafting the agreement or affidavit that will go on the e-stamp, using a clause library and templates, and keeping the signed version in a searchable place. Claw has a free plan for individual advocates, and paid plans for teams and enterprises. To see how stamped documents fit into a law student or junior advocate workflow, read our guide to AI tools for law students and junior advocates. If you work with government bodies and PSU matters, see litigation tracking for government and PSU legal teams.

08Sources and further reading

Always confirm the current process and the stamp duty rate with the official source for your state.

• SHCIL e-stamping portal: shcilestamp.com
• StockHolding (SHCIL): stockholding.com
• Claw: clawlaw.in

This guide is general information and not legal advice. Duty rates, fees and state rules change, so check the official site before you pay. Last verified October 2026.

09Frequently asked questions