What Is Khata Transfer?
Khata transfer means changing the name recorded against a property in the municipal property register after the property is transferred from one person to another. The updated record is used for municipal property-tax assessment and related records.
The BBMP Revenue Department defines Khata as the recording of a property in the property register maintained by the municipal corporation. The record identifies the person primarily responsible for paying property tax and assigns a municipal property number.
For example, suppose Ravi owns a Bengaluru property and sells it to Anil through a registered sale deed. The registered deed records the transfer between Ravi and Anil. Khata transfer updates the municipal property record so that Anil's details are reflected there.
Khata transfer does not itself create or transfer legal title. The registered title document is what establishes the transaction between the parties. Khata is a municipal record connected mainly with property-tax assessment and municipal administration.
The term mutation is also used because the owner's details are mutated, or changed, in the relevant property record. Under Bengaluru's property-tax framework, information about transfers through sale, inheritance, gift or other means can be recorded in the mutation register.
In simple Kannada:
Khata transfer = ಖಾತಾ ವರ್ಗಾವಣೆ
It means updating the municipal Khata record from the previous person's name to the new person's name after a recognised property transfer.
Why Is Khata Transfer Needed After a Property Changes Hands?
Khata transfer is needed because the municipal property record should reflect the person responsible for the property after a recognised transfer. It connects the changed ownership information with the property's municipal tax record.
This becomes relevant immediately after a property is transferred. For example, after buying a flat in Bengaluru, the buyer may have a registered sale deed, but the municipal record can still show the previous person's details until the Khata record is updated.
The BBMP Revenue Department states that a change of Khata is required when property is transferred through a registered sale deed or through succession after the death of the Khatedar.
The Karnataka municipal law framework also links a transfer of the person primarily liable for property tax with an obligation to give notice of the transfer. The relevant provision states that notice should generally be given within three months after execution or registration of the transfer instrument.
This distinction matters:
Sale deed: records the property transaction between the parties.
Khata record: records the property in the municipal system and identifies the person primarily responsible for property tax.
Property tax record: records the assessment and payment details associated with the property.
So, registering a sale deed and updating the Khata are related but separate parts of maintaining the property's records.
If you've recently bought a property in Bengaluru, the next step is to check whether the municipal record reflects your name.
Need help with your khata transfer? Get started with Vault Proptech.
When Is Khata Transfer Required?
Khata transfer is required when the person recorded against an existing Khata changes because of a recognised property transfer. The exact documents depend on how the property was transferred.
1. After Buying a Property
After a property is sold through a registered sale deed, the buyer can apply for Khata transfer. BBMP's current document list for a sale-based Khata transfer includes the sale deed, current-year property-tax receipt and Encumbrance Certificate in Form 15 from the sale-deed date to the current date.
The purpose is to update the municipal record from the seller's details to the buyer's details.
2. After Inheriting a Property
Khata transfer can also be required when a property passes to legal heirs after the death of the existing Khatedar.
BBMP lists different documentation depending on whether the inheritance is supported by a Will. For an inheritance involving a Will, its document list includes the previous title document or possession certificate, current-year tax receipt, Will, death certificate and relevant EC. In certain cases, a notarised family tree and NOC from family members are also listed.
3. After Receiving a Gift
A registered gift can also result in a Khata transfer. BBMP's current document requirements include the previous title document or possession certificate, gift deed, current-year property-tax receipt and relevant EC.
4. After Partition or Release
A property record may also need to be updated after a partition or release deed changes the person's interest in the property.
BBMP specifically lists partition/release deed, current-year tax receipt and the relevant EC among the documents for Khata transfer in this situation.
These examples show why Khata transfer isn't limited to buying a house. The required record update depends on the document through which the property has changed hands.
Planning a khata transfer? Check your documents and apply with expert assistance.
How Does Khata Transfer Relate to Bengaluru's e-Aasthi System?
Bengaluru's e-Aasthi system provides digital access to property and e-Khata records, including an option for automatic mutation. The current government portal also allows citizens to check e-Khata status using the property's ePID.
This is useful because property owners no longer have to rely only on a physical Khata document to understand what is recorded against their property.
The current BBMP e-Aasthi portal provides options to:
Search an e-Khata using the SAS property-tax number.
Check e-Khata status using ePID.
Access draft e-Khata.
Apply for final e-Khata.
Use the automatic mutation facility.
Upload supporting information such as a registered deed and property-tax details where required.
The portal also states that draft e-Khata is issued based on the existing BBMP Property Tax Register. This means the existing municipal record remains an important starting point for the digital Khata record.
For a property owner, the practical point is simple: after a property transfer, don't assume that the sale deed alone tells you what the municipal record currently shows. Check the property's e-Khata or municipal record and verify that the relevant details have been updated.
Bengaluru's municipal administration is also operating within the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) framework in 2026. The official GBA website i,e. https://bbmp.gov.in/ currently continues to provide an e-Khata/New Khata helpline and e-Khata-related citizen information.
How Vault Helps with What Is Khata Transfer
Vault Proptech helps property owners in Bengaluru with the Khata transfer process, including document coordination and application support.
The service is useful for homeowners who have recently purchased a property, inherited one, received property through a gift, or need to update the municipal record after another recognised transfer.
The support can include:
Checking the documents required for the particular transfer.
Reviewing the property records submitted for the application.
Helping coordinate the Khata transfer application.
Assisting owners who live outside Bengaluru or are unable to handle the process themselves.
Helping track the application through the relevant process.
For an NRI or an owner living in another city, this can be especially useful because the property may be in Bengaluru while the owner is not available to handle document submissions or follow-ups personally.
Looking for a simple khata transfer process? Let Vault Proptech help you handle the application.