What is Patta?

Patta is the land revenue record in Tamil Nadu that officially identifies who owns a piece of land as far as the government revenue department is concerned. Every parcel of land in Tamil Nadu has a survey number and a corresponding patta. The patta shows the current registered owner's name, the land's survey number, its area, whether it is agricultural or non-agricultural (natham), and the applicable property tax (kist).

When land changes hands through sale, inheritance, or gift, the patta must be updated in the new owner's name — this process is called patta transfer or mutation. If the patta is not transferred, the government revenue records still show the old owner, creating complications for loans, tax payments, and future transactions.

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Patta is not the same as title: Just like khata in Karnataka, patta is a revenue record — NOT proof of legal ownership. Ownership is established by the registered sale deed. However, patta in the seller's name and then in the buyer's name after transfer is a critical document for banks and future buyers. Always insist on patta transfer after purchase.

Patta, Chitta, and Adangal — Understanding the TN Revenue Records

DocumentWhat it RecordsWho Uses It
PattaLand ownership — owner name, survey number, area, tax detailsProperty buyers, sellers, banks, courts
ChittaCultivation — what is grown on agricultural land, dry vs wet landAgricultural purposes; now merged with patta into A-Register
AdangalVillage revenue register — all land details in a village including ownership and cultivationRevenue officers, courts, general reference
A-Register (FMB)Combined field measurement book — shows boundaries, area, and owner for each survey numberTechnical land measurement and boundary disputes
EC (Encumbrance Certificate)All registered transactions on the property — mortgages, sales, gifts, inheritanceBuyers, banks — confirms property is free from encumbrances

How to Check Patta Online in Tamil Nadu

1

Visit the TN ePatta Portal

Go to eservices.tn.gov.in and click on "Patta Chitta" under the e-Services section.

2

Select District, Taluk, and Village

Choose your district from the dropdown, then your taluk (e.g., Tambaram, Sholinganallur, Ambattur), and then the village or locality name.

3

Enter Survey Number or Owner Name

Enter the survey number of the land parcel (found in the sale deed) or search by owner name. The patta record will be displayed.

4

Download and Verify

Download the patta extract. Verify the owner's name, survey number, and land area match the sale deed. Pay the prescribed fee for a certified copy if needed for legal purposes.

How to Apply for Patta Transfer

After purchasing a property in Tamil Nadu and registering the sale deed, you must apply for patta transfer to update the revenue records:

StepActionWhere
1Collect documents — sale deed, previous patta, encumbrance certificate, property tax receiptsFrom Sub-Registrar and seller
2Submit application online or at Taluk Office with Form A and required documentseservices.tn.gov.in or Taluk Office
3Revenue Inspector verifies property details — site inspection may happenRevenue Department
4Public notice issued — 30-day objection periodVillage Notice Board
5New patta issued in buyer's name if no objectionsTaluk Office / Online download
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Timeline: Patta transfer in Tamil Nadu is expected within 30 days under the government's time-bound service commitment. In practice, it may take 45–90 days. Apply immediately after registration. Online applications through eservices.tn.gov.in are faster than physical office visits.
Sale Deed Encumbrance Certificate Mutation Khata Property Tax Guideline Value Due Diligence

Frequently Asked Questions

Patta is a revenue document issued by the Tamil Nadu government that records land ownership. It shows the owner's name, survey number, land extent, land classification (agricultural or residential), and property tax details. It is the Tamil Nadu equivalent of Khata in Karnataka. Every land transaction in Tamil Nadu should be followed by a patta transfer to the new owner's name.
Patta is the ownership record showing who owns the land. Chitta is the cultivation record for agricultural land showing what is grown and whether it is wet (irrigated) or dry land. Together they are called Patta Chitta. The Tamil Nadu government has now integrated both into a single document called the A-Register, which is available online on the ePatta portal at eservices.tn.gov.in.
Visit eservices.tn.gov.in and click on Patta Chitta service. Select your district, taluk, and village from the dropdown menus. Enter the survey number or owner name to search. The patta details — owner, survey number, land area, classification, and tax — will be displayed. You can download a patta extract online. For a certified copy for legal use, pay the prescribed fee.
For flats in approved apartment complexes within CMDA-approved layouts, patta is typically at the project/land level held by the builder or housing society — individual flat owners generally do not get separate pattas. Banks require patta of the parent land as part of their due diligence. For individual houses and plots, patta in the owner's name is essential for home loans and property transactions.
No. Patta is a revenue record for tax and identification purposes — it does not constitute legal proof of ownership. Ownership is established by the registered sale deed. However, patta in the current owner's name is important evidence of possession and revenue record consistency. Courts and banks give significant weight to patta as corroborating evidence of ownership alongside the sale deed.
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