Inherited (wirasat) property can be sold in Karachi, but only after the legal heirs are established and the title is transferred. Here's the order of steps, the documents you need, and the tax position.
By Modood Ahmed, Founder & CEO, Zell·Updated 30 July 2026
Quick answer
To sell inherited (wirasat) property in Karachi you must first establish the legal heirs — usually via a succession certificate or letters of administration and a NADRA legal-heir certificate — transfer the property into the heirs' names, get all heirs to agree, and only then sell. Inheritance itself is not income tax; normal seller taxes apply on the sale.
Inherited property is one of the most common reasons families sell in Karachi — and one of the most likely to stall, because you cannot sell what is not yet legally in your name. The good news: once the paperwork is in order, an inherited property sells like any other. Here's the correct order of steps.
You must establish the legal heirs first (usually a succession certificate or letters of administration, plus a NADRA legal-heir certificate), transfer the property into the heirs' names, get every heir to agree to the sale, and only then sell. Inheritance itself is not taxed as income; the usual seller taxes apply when you sell.
1. Establish the legal heirs
Before anything can move, the law needs to know who inherits. In Pakistan this is settled under the deceased's personal law of succession. Practically, you obtain a succession certificate or letters of administration from the court, along with a legal-heir certificate from NADRA and the deceased's death certificate. These confirm who the rightful heirs are and in what shares.
2. The documents you'll need
Death certificate of the owner (NADRA)
Succession certificate or letters of administration (court)
NADRA legal-heir certificate listing all heirs and shares
Original title document (allotment/transfer letter or registered deed)
CNICs of all legal heirs
A clean No Demand/No Dues Certificate from the society or authority
3. Transfer the title into the heirs' names
With the heirs established, the property is transferred (mutation) from the deceased into the heirs' names at the relevant society, DHA T&R office or sub-registrar. Only once the title reflects the current owners can the property be sold and transferred cleanly to a buyer.
4. Get every heir on board
Where there are multiple heirs, all must consent to the sale (or formally authorise one heir to act, often via a power of attorney). Disagreement between heirs is the single most common reason inherited sales fall through — settle it before you go to market. If some heirs are overseas, they can authorise the sale remotely (see our guide on selling property from abroad).
5. The tax position
Inheriting property is not itself treated as taxable income. When you sell, the normal seller taxes apply — FBR advance tax under section 236-C and the 7E certificate — with filers paying materially less than non-filers. Use the true cost of buying & selling tool for an exact, filer-vs-non-filer figure. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
The Zell way: a salaried, in-house advisor guides the heirs through the succession and transfer steps, verifies the property, prices it against real market data, and sells it — never above your agreed price (no TOP). We are not lawyers; we work alongside your legal counsel where formal succession is involved.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell inherited property in Karachi before transferring it?
No. The property must first be transferred into the legal heirs' names — which requires establishing the heirs via a succession certificate or letters of administration and a NADRA legal-heir certificate — before it can be sold and transferred to a buyer.
What is a succession certificate?
A court document that confirms who the legal heirs of a deceased person are and in what shares, allowing them to deal with the deceased's assets — including transferring and selling property.
Do all heirs have to agree to sell inherited property?
Yes. Every legal heir must consent to the sale, or formally authorise one heir to act on their behalf (often through a power of attorney). Unresolved disagreement between heirs is the most common reason these sales stall.
Is inherited property taxed in Pakistan?
Inheriting property is not treated as taxable income. When you sell, the usual seller taxes apply (236-C advance tax and 7E), with filers paying less than non-filers. Confirm your exact position with a tax adviser.
What's your property worth?
Get a free Zell Estimate, then a salaried advisor lists it — we never sell above your agreed price.
