Summary
The Indian Stamp Act, 1899 is a law that provides for the collection of stamp duty on various instruments such as deeds, agreements, and contracts. The Act is intended to prevent tax evasion and ensure that the government collects revenue on various types of transactions. The Act also provides for the penalties and fines for non-payment of stamp duty. It applies to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The Act has been amended several times to include new types of instruments and increase the rate of stamp duty.