Tamil Nadu has made online presenceless registration mandatory from 15 September 2026 for the Deposit of Title Deeds and Receipt Deeds involving banks and financial institutions. The decision followed an announcement by the Commercial Taxes and Registration Minister in the Legislative Assembly on 7 September 2026.
Background
The first phase of presenceless registration began on 17 August 2026. It covered the first sale of plots and flats by promoters and developers, along with connected loan documents for eligible bank-financed purchases. According to the department, 1,00,134 documents were registered through the system within 44 days, which led to the mandatory extension.
Procedural relaxations reported
- Proof of ownership need not be verified for registering receipt documents relating to loan completion.
- Mortgage deeds submitted through the Citizens’ Gateway are accepted for registration.
- No holiday fee is payable for non-attendance registration.
Next phase
The Stamps and Registration Policy Note 2026-27, published on 8 September 2026, set a second stage for settlement, release, partition and revocation deeds among family members. One report dated 26 October 2026 states that paperless family property registration has been postponed to 2 November 2026. Confirm the current date with the Registration Department before relying on it.
What borrowers and owners should do
- Ask your bank how it will file the deposit of title deeds or receipt deed online.
- After repaying a loan, insist that the bank registers the receipt deed so that the mortgage entry is cleared in the records.
- Check the Encumbrance Certificate afterwards to confirm that the entry appears correctly.
This update is for general information and is not legal advice. Please consult a qualified advocate before acting on any development discussed here. Apex Law Office LLP.
