# Property transfer in Islamabad: CDA fee, FBR tax and the steps

URL: https://which.pk/property/guides/property-transfer-islamabad/
Author: Ahtisham
Updated: 29 Oct 2026

## Summary

On 9 April 2026 the CDA Board agreed to cut its transfer fee in Islamabad from 3% to 1% of the FBR-notified value, but we could not find the formal notification, so confirm the rate with CDA Estate. FBR adds advance tax for tax year 2027: 2.75% on the seller (section 236C) and 1.25% on the buyer (236K) if they are filers; non-filers pay far more. ICT stamp duty is reported at 1% but is unconfirmed. Figures as of October 2026.

## Key facts

- CDA transfer fee (Board, 9 Apr 2026): 1% of FBR value, down from 3%
- Seller tax, 236C (filer): 2.75%
- Buyer tax, 236K (filer): 1.25%
- ICT stamp duty: Reported 1%, unconfirmed

A property transfer in Islamabad costs a **CDA transfer fee, FBR advance tax and ICT stamp duty**. On 9 April 2026 the CDA Board agreed to cut its fee from 3% to **1% of the FBR-notified value**. FBR's tax year 2027 card adds **2.75% on the seller and 1.25% on the buyer** if both are filers. We could not find CDA's formal notification, so confirm the fee with CDA Estate before you pay. Figures as of October 2026.

CDA is the Capital Development Authority, which allots and manages land in Islamabad. ICT is the Islamabad Capital Territory. A **fard** is the land-record extract from the revenue department.

## What does a property transfer cost in Islamabad?

| Charge | Who pays | Rate, as of Oct 2026 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDA transfer fee | Per CDA's rules | 1% of FBR value, cut from 3% (Board decision, 9 Apr 2026) | CDA Board minutes |
| CDA change-of-title fee (sale deeds) | Per CDA's rules | 0.5% of FBR value, as reported in July 2025 | Zameen, Pakistan Observer |
| Advance tax, section 236C | Seller | 2.75% if on the Active Taxpayers List; 11.5% if not | FBR rates card, tax year 2027 |
| Advance tax, section 236K | Buyer | 1.25% if on the list; 10.5% (up to Rs 5 crore), 14.5% or 18.5% if not | FBR rates card, tax year 2027 |
| ICT stamp duty | Per your deal | Reported 1%, cut from 4%; not confirmed | CDA Board minutes, one line |

The Active Taxpayers List (ATL) decides whether you count as a filer. See [filer vs non-filer](/business/guides/filer-vs-non-filer/). For the non-filer 236K rate, the bands are up to Rs 5 crore, Rs 5 to 10 crore, and above Rs 10 crore.

**What we could not confirm:** The 1% CDA fee rests on the Board minutes of 9 April 2026. The minutes tell the staff to notify the new fee and give no start date, and we did not find the notification on CDA's site. We also did not find a source for the current **family, legal-heir, gift or power-of-attorney** rate, the **ICT registration fee**, or whether any other federal levy still applies. Ask CDA Estate for the written schedule.

## Is the CDA transfer fee 1% or 3%?

It was 3% from 1 July 2025, when the CDA Board raised it from 1% for property leased, allotted or sold by CDA. Zameen and Pakistan Observer both reported the rise.

On 9 April 2026 the Board agreed to go back to 1%. The minutes give four reasons: the Middle East crisis, possible Gulf investment, Punjab's 1% local government tax on transfers, and a recent cut in ICT stamp duty from 4% to 1%.

The two July 2025 reports disagree on family transfers. Zameen says they were charged 0.25%, then 0.75% after what a CDA spokesperson called a typo. Pakistan Observer says 0.75%. We don't know the rate after the April 2026 cut, so we don't state one.

## How is the tax worked out, and on which value?

Every charge above is set on the **FBR value** of the property, not the price you agree. In December 2025 ProPakistani reported FBR notification S.R.O. 2392(I)/2025, which raised Islamabad valuations by roughly 150% to 200% in many areas, though some fell. The report gives examples such as Rs 6 lakh per square yard for open E-7 plots and Rs 4.5 lakh in F-8. We didn't read the notification itself.

Section 236K is charged on the fair market value, and 236C on the gross sale price. Higher FBR values therefore raise your CDA fee and both taxes. We didn't confirm the base on which ICT stamp duty is charged.

**Example: Rs 5 crore plot, FBR value Rs 5 crore, both parties filers:** About Rs 6.3 lakh (buyer's 236K) and Rs 13.75 lakh (seller's 236C), plus the CDA fee (236K: 1.25% of Rs 5 crore = Rs 6.25 lakh. 236C: 2.75% = Rs 13.75 lakh. If the CDA fee is 1% of FBR value, that adds Rs 5 lakh. Illustration only: it assumes the Board's 1% is in force and leaves out stamp duty and any registration fee we could not confirm.)

If the buyer is not on the ATL, the same 236K would be 10.5% (Rs 52.5 lakh) at the lowest band. Overseas Pakistanis with a POC or NICOP who are non-resident pay the filer rate even if they are not filers, according to FBR's 2025 FAQ. See [buying property as an overseas Pakistani](/property/guides/overseas-pakistani-property/).

## What are the steps to transfer a CDA plot or house?

The only step-by-step guide we found is Zameen's December 2022 article, so check it against CDA's forms page before you start.

1. The transferor and transferee sign a letter to the Director (Land & Estate), attested by a Class-I magistrate.
2. Collect the original allotment letter, CNIC copies of both parties and the attesting officer, three signature and thumb specimens, passport photos, a notarised indemnity bond, a Board of Revenue NOC and the witnesses' CNICs.
3. A female transferee, a non-resident transferee or a transferor abroad needs extra affidavits.
4. Pay the 236C and 236K challans through FBR and the CDA fee at the rate CDA Estate confirms.
5. CDA processes the transfer and issues the new allotment record in the buyer's name.

Zameen's 2022 article also says family transfers of residential property no longer needed a Building Control Section NOC, and that NOC validity went from three months to one year. We couldn't confirm either as current, and we found no source for how long CDA takes.

## Can I get a fard online in Islamabad?

Possibly. ProPakistani reported on 1 October 2026 that NITB and the ICT Administration launched land-record and property services on the unified **Pak App**. You apply on a phone or at a Citizen Facilitation Desk, with CNIC verification, biometrics and an OTP. The report also mentions electronic stamp papers for property transfers.

We found no official page, no fee and no step list. An older APP report said digital land records covered 24 of 112 mouzas, which sits oddly with a "fully digitised" claim, and it didn't say whether CDA-allotted plots are included. Ask at a facilitation desk before you rely on it.

For Punjab, see [fard online in Punjab](/property/guides/fard-online-punjab/) and [property transfer in Punjab](/property/guides/property-transfer-punjab/). Building plans are covered in [CDA building bylaws](/property/guides/cda-building-bylaws-islamabad/).

## More guides

[New housing schemes in Islamabad](/property/guides/new-housing-schemes-islamabad/) · [Tax on property sale](/property/guides/tax-on-property-sale-pakistan/) · [Is my society approved?](/property/tools/society-approval-check/) · [Best housing society in Islamabad](/property/guides/best-housing-society-islamabad/)

## Questions people ask

### What is the CDA transfer fee in 2026?

On 9 April 2026 the CDA Board decided to cut the fee from 3% to 1% of the FBR-notified value. We could not find the formal notification or its start date, so confirm the rate with CDA Estate before you pay.

### How much tax do I pay on property in Islamabad?

For tax year 2027, FBR's rates card shows 2.75% (section 236C) on the seller and 1.25% (section 236K) on the buyer if they are on the Active Taxpayers List. Non-filers pay 11.5% as sellers and 10.5% to 18.5% as buyers.

### Can I get a fard online in Islamabad?

ProPakistani reported on 1 October 2026 that NITB and the ICT Administration launched land-record services, including a fard, on the Pak App and at Citizen Facilitation Desks. We found no official fee or guide, so check that your area is covered.

### Did FBR change Islamabad property values?

Yes. Reports of FBR notification S.R.O. 2392(I)/2025, from December 2025, say valuations rose by roughly 150% to 200% in many areas. That raises every charge worked out on FBR value.

## Sources

- [Agenda and minutes of the 3rd CDA Board meeting, 9 April 2026 (item 3.3: revision of transfer fee)](https://www.cda.gov.pk/public/storage/public_notices/Qm3x4mEuxFlf4nPkdXLKErdX85D4v9DajAUlpcPr.pdf), Capital Development Authority (accessed 29 Oct 2026)
- [Withholding Tax Rates Card, Tax Year 2027](https://download1.fbr.gov.pk/Docs/202681113864992WithholdingTaxRatesCard2027.pdf), FBR (accessed 29 Oct 2026)
- [FAQs for Overseas Pakistanis (rates under Finance Act 2025)](https://download1.fbr.gov.pk/Docs/2025731875237917FAQs.pdf), FBR (accessed 29 Oct 2026)
- [Property transfer fee in Islamabad raised (4 July 2025)](https://www.zameen.com/news/property-transfer-fee-in-islamabad-raised.html), Zameen.com News (accessed 29 Oct 2026)
- [Property transfer fee calculator: CDA's revised charges after July 2025 update](https://pakobserver.net/property-transfer-fee-calculator-cdas-revised-charges-after-july-2025-update/), Pakistan Observer (accessed 29 Oct 2026)
- [FBR sharply raises Islamabad property valuation rates (10 Dec 2025)](https://propakistani.pk/2025/12/10/fbr-sharply-raises-islamabad-property-valuation-rates/), ProPakistani (accessed 29 Oct 2026)
- [Check Islamabad property records online (1 Oct 2026)](https://propakistani.pk/2026/10/01/check-islamabad-property-records-online/), ProPakistani (accessed 29 Oct 2026)
- [The Ultimate Guide to Transferring Property Ownership in Islamabad (Dec 2022)](https://www.zameen.com/blog/property-transfer-procedure-islamabad.html), Zameen.com Blog (accessed 29 Oct 2026)