E-Stamping for Affidavit - Process, Charges & Validity

If you've ever had to prepare an affidavit you've probably heard "stamp paper" circulated. Perhaps you were told to buy an Rs50 or Rs100 stamp card at a vendor in the vicinity of the court. This sounds easy however, in reality it was quite a headache lengthy lines and fake stamp papers and there was no way to confirm whether the item you purchased was actually genuine.

This is exactly why the government came up with the e-Stamping system. If you haven't yet made the switch this is everything that you should knowin plain, easy words.

What Is an Affidavit, Anyway?

Before we dive into e-Stamping, we need to know what an affidavit actually is.

An affidavit is essentially an official document in which you state that you are certain about something -and then you swear to it under an oath. It's a legal document therefore it is valid before courts, government offices as well as institutions.

It is possible to require an affidavit to cover a range of reasons:

• Change your name

• Making your address and income public

• Verifying your birth date

• In reporting a lost or stolen document (like the marksheet or passport)

• The process of making a marriage or property declaration

As an affidavit is legally binding and is required by the government, you are required to pay stamp duty on it. Imagine it as the cost that gives the document an legal, official title.

What is the reason we moved From Paper Stamps to e-Stamping?

For a long time, people relied on physical stamp papers bought through licensed vendors. Although this method worked but it also had grave issues:

• Stamp papers were frequently offered at high prices

• Counterfeit stamps were common (remember those who were victims of the Telgi fake?)

• The availability of services was not reliable, particularly in towns that were smaller

• The entire process was manual, and susceptible to mistakes.

To remedy this the government came up with electronic stamping which is a totally digital method to pay stamp duty and receive an official stamp certificate. It's quicker, safer and is able to be checked online at any time.

When Do You Need e-Stamping for an Affidavit?

If stamp duty applies to your affidavit - which happens most times you'll require an electronic stamp. In a number of Indian States, e-Stamping has already replaced the physical stamp paper completely.

The most common situations that require the affidavit of a stamped stamp include name changes and income certificates, lost documents, proof of address and court filings.

How Does the e-Stamping Process Work? (Step by Step)

The good thing is that the procedure is fairly simple. Here's how:

Step 1 - Sign in Log into an authorized e-Stamping service with your login credentials.

Second Step - Fill In The details Input basic information like the name of you (as the person who is deposing) and the state in which the affidavit is to be used and the kind of document.

Step 3 - Select your Stamp Value Choose the right stamp value in accordance with the state's requirements. Affidavits for general use typically have smaller values such as Rs10, the Rs20, Rs50 or even Rs100. For financial or property declarations, the amount could be greater.

Step 4: upload your document If necessary, upload the draft of your affidavit or other supporting documents.

5. Pay the Tax You can pay the stamp duty on line via Net banking, UPI or a credit/debit card.

Step 6 - Verify your email After you've made your payment you'll get an email confirmation for the eSigning process for your e-Stamp certification.

7. Keep track of the Status Utilize the dashboard of the platform to monitor the development of your e-Stamp in real-time.

Step 8: Download the Certificate When your e-Stamp is prepared, download it in PDF format and attach it to the document. Done!

What Does e-Stamping Cost?

The cost is split into two parts:

1. Stamp Duty: It's the real tax imposed by the government and varies according to the state. In the majority of regular affidavits it's a small amount The most commonly used denominations include Rs10, the Rs20, Rs50 and 100 rupees. Affidavits pertaining to financial or property matters could have higher duties.
2. Processing Fee: Based on the service you select it could be a processing fee added to that stamp duty. They differ by service provider.

Overall, e-Stamping on the standard affidavit is inexpensive.

Does an e-Stamp Certificate Expire?

This is among the most frequent questions people have -- but the solution is always reassuring.

A e-Stamp generally doesn't have a end day.

Once you've paid the stamp tax, the certificate will remain valid. However, it's an excellent idea to sign (sign and then notarize) the affidavit as soon as you've receiving the e-Stamp as certain authorities prefer newly prepared documents.

Why e-Stamping Is Worth It

To summarize Let's look at the reasons why e-Stamping definitely the best option:

• No counterfeit stamps Every certificate comes with an unique Identity Number (UIN) which can be verified on the internet.

• There are no middlemen Purchase directly, without relying on sellers

• Open 24 hours a day There is there is no need to go to the vendor prior to the time of closing.

• Instant confirmation of payment Digital documents that you are able to use at any time

• States-compliant -aligned with State amendments and the Indian Stamp Act and state amendments

Final Thoughts

The process of preparing an affidavit does not have to be difficult. With e-Stamping, all the procedure -starting with paying the stamp duty, to the download of your certificate can be completed from your computer or smartphone in just a few minutes.

If you ever need an affidavit, avoid the visit to the vendor selling stamps. Stay on top of the law, go digital and complete the process quicker.

I'm Aayush Kumar, a dedicated digital marketer at Surepass Technologies Pvt. Ltd., A leading company that provides verification solutions such as background verification.