Real estate is governed by one of India's most demanding compliance ecosystems — the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act 2016 (RERA) for project and agent registration and escrow discipline, intricate GST rules with the 1% and 5% no-input-credit schemes, heavy stamp duty and registration charges, land-title and due-diligence risk, FEMA conditions on foreign investment in construction development, and capital-gains provisions such as Sections 54, 54F, and 54EC and TDS under Section 194-IA. A single defective title chain or a missed RERA filing can derail an entire project.
Our real estate and RERA advisory practice works with developers, landowners, investors, brokers, and buyers across the project lifecycle — RERA project and agent registration and quarterly compliance, Joint Development Agreement (JDA) and SPV / JV structuring, GST advisory on under-construction and completed property, stamp-duty optimisation, land and title due diligence, FEMA / FDI structuring for foreign capital, capital-gains and TDS planning on sale, and RERA dispute and recovery support. Whether you are launching a project, signing a development agreement, structuring an investment vehicle, or planning a profitable exit, we keep the transaction clean, compliant, and tax-efficient.
RERA 2016
Project Registration
JDA / SPV
Project Structuring
Sec 54 / 54F
Capital-Gains Relief
Laws & Frameworks We Work Under
RERA Act 2016
State RERA Rules
Joint Development (JDA)
GST 1% / 5% Scheme
Stamp & Registration Acts
Transfer of Property Act
Sec 194-IA TDS
Sec 45(5A) JDA Tax
Sec 54 / 54F / 54EC
FEMA Construction FDI
Benami & Title Laws
RERA Adjudication
FAQs on Real Estate & RERA in India
When must a real-estate project be registered under RERA?
Under the RERA Act 2016, a promoter must register a project with the state RERA authority before advertising, marketing, booking, or selling any unit, unless the project is below the area / apartment threshold prescribed by the state (commonly 500 square metres or 8 apartments). Ongoing projects without a completion certificate also required registration. Real-estate agents must register separately. Selling an unregistered project attracts significant penalties under the Act.
What is the 70% escrow rule under RERA?
RERA requires the promoter to deposit 70% of the amounts collected from buyers for a project into a separate escrow account maintained for that project. Funds can be withdrawn only to cover land and construction cost, and withdrawals must be certified by an engineer, architect, and chartered accountant in proportion to project completion. This ring-fences buyer money and prevents diversion to other projects — a core protection that we help promoters implement and document.
How is GST charged on real estate in India?
Under-construction residential property is generally taxed at 1% (affordable housing) or 5% (other residential) without input tax credit, while completed property sold after the occupancy / completion certificate attracts no GST. Commercial under-construction property and works contracts are taxed at higher rates with credit. JDA and Transferable Development Rights have their own GST treatment and timing. The correct scheme depends on project type and stage, and we determine the position and defend it in scrutiny.
How are capital gains taxed on a Joint Development Agreement?
For an individual or HUF landowner, Section 45(5A) defers the capital-gains charge on a JDA to the year in which the completion certificate is issued, rather than the date of the agreement, with the stamp-duty value of the owner's share (plus any cash) treated as the sale consideration. This avoids tax falling due before any units are received. Outside Section 45(5A) (for example, for companies or where the owner transfers the share before completion), the gain may be taxed earlier — so structuring and timing matter.
What TDS applies when buying property in India?
A buyer must deduct 1% TDS under Section 194-IA on purchase of immovable property (other than agricultural land) where the consideration or stamp-duty value is fifty lakh rupees or more, depositing it via Form 26QB. For rent above a threshold, Section 194-IB applies. Where the seller is an NRI, TDS is instead governed by Section 195 at higher capital-gains rates, and the seller can apply for a lower-deduction certificate to avoid over-withholding. We compute and manage these obligations on both sides.
Can foreigners or NRIs invest in Indian real estate?
Foreign direct investment in construction-development projects is permitted up to 100% under the automatic route, subject to FEMA conditions on minimum project size (now largely eased), lock-in, and exit. NRIs and OCIs can freely buy residential and commercial property (but not agricultural land, plantation, or farmhouses) and repatriate sale proceeds within limits. Foreign nationals not of Indian origin face tighter restrictions. Reporting in Form FC-GPR and adherence to pricing and repatriation rules is essential.
What can a buyer do if a builder delays possession?
Under RERA, a buyer facing delayed possession can file a complaint with the state RERA authority seeking refund with interest, compensation, or possession with delay interest, depending on the relief chosen. Orders are appealable to the RERA Appellate Tribunal. RERA provides a faster, specialised forum than civil courts. We represent buyers in framing claims and developers in defending complaints, and help quantify interest and compensation accurately.
Clean Title. Compliant Project. Tax-Smart Exit.
Partner with our real-estate and RERA experts for project registration, JDA and SPV structuring, GST and stamp-duty optimisation, due diligence, and capital-gains planning for FY 2026–27.
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