Capital Gains Tax Calculator for Shares and Equity Mutual Funds
LTCG and STCG on listed shares and equity funds under the rates for your sale date, with the ₹1.25 lakh exemption, grandfathering for pre-2018 shares, surcharge and cess.
Listed shares and equity mutual funds held more than 12 months pay long-term capital gains tax of 12.5% on gains above ₹1.25 lakh a financial year; held 12 months or less, short-term gains pay 20%. Those rates apply to sales from 23 July 2024 (10% and 15% before), plus 4% cess. Shares bought before 1 February 2018 use the grandfathered cost, and the calculator loads the 31 January 2018 NSE high for any stock.
Gains on listed equity shares and equity-oriented mutual funds (on which securities transaction tax is paid) are taxed at special rates that depend on how long you held them and when you sold. Enter the buy and sell dates and prices; the calculator works out the holding period, applies the rate in force on the sale date and shows each step.
For shares bought before 1 February 2018, the cost is grandfathered to the 31 January 2018 price. Load the stock's NSE symbol and the calculator fills in that day's highest traded price on NSE, taken from the exchange's own file for the day.
Rates by sale date
Sold on or after 23 July 2024: short-term gains (held 12 months or less) 20%; long-term gains (held more than 12 months) 12.5% on the amount above ₹1.25 lakh in the financial year. The ₹1.25 lakh limit applies to the whole of FY 2024-25 onwards.
Sold from 1 April 2018 to 22 July 2024: short-term 15%; long-term 10% above ₹1 lakh a year (the limit for FY 2024-25 as a whole is ₹1.25 lakh). Sold before 1 April 2018: long-term gains on listed equity were exempt.
Health and education cess of 4% is added to the tax, and a surcharge of up to 15% applies on these gains for higher incomes. Brokerage on the purchase is part of the cost and brokerage on the sale is deducted from the sale value; securities transaction tax is not deductible.
Grandfathering for shares bought before February 2018
When the exemption on long-term gains ended in 2018, gains made up to 31 January 2018 stayed tax-free. For shares bought before 1 February 2018, the cost of acquisition is the higher of the actual cost and the lower of the fair market value on 31 January 2018 and the sale price. For listed shares, the fair market value is the highest price quoted on the exchange that day; for mutual fund units, the NAV on 31 January 2018.
Strota's figure is the high from NSE's equity bhavcopy for 31 January 2018, as quoted then. A later share split divides it in the same ratio as your cost; bonus shares allotted after that date are new shares with nil cost and no grandfathering.
What this calculator does not cover
Intraday trading is taxed as speculative business income and futures and options as non-speculative business income, both at your slab rate, not as capital gains. Debt mutual funds bought from 1 April 2023 are taxed at slab rates whatever the holding period. Unlisted shares, foreign shares and non-resident cases follow different rules. This is an estimate to help you understand the numbers; your return should be prepared from your broker's capital gains statement, ideally with a tax professional.
Key takeaways
- Held more than 12 months: long-term, 12.5% above ₹1.25 lakh a year (sales from 23 July 2024).
- Held 12 months or less: short-term, 20% (sales from 23 July 2024).
- Before 23 July 2024 the rates were 10% and 15%, with a ₹1 lakh exemption.
- Pre-February 2018 shares use the higher of cost and the lower of the 31 January 2018 high and the sale price.
- Add 4% cess; STT is not deductible.
Frequently asked questions
What is the LTCG tax rate on shares in India?
For listed equity shares and equity mutual funds held more than 12 months and sold on or after 23 July 2024, long-term capital gains are taxed at 12.5% on the amount above ₹1.25 lakh in a financial year, plus 4% cess and any surcharge. Before 23 July 2024 the rate was 10% above ₹1 lakh.
What is the STCG tax rate on shares?
Short-term capital gains on listed equity shares and equity funds held 12 months or less are taxed at 20% for sales on or after 23 July 2024, and 15% for sales before that, plus 4% cess and any surcharge.
Is the ₹1.25 lakh exemption per sale?
No. It is one limit for all long-term gains on listed equity and equity funds in a financial year. Enter gains already used elsewhere in the year in the 'other LTCG' box and the calculator applies only what is left.
How does grandfathering work for shares bought before 2018?
For shares bought before 1 February 2018, the cost is the higher of what you paid and the lower of the 31 January 2018 highest price and your sale price. If you paid ₹500, the 31 January 2018 high was ₹800 and you sell at ₹1,200, your cost for tax is ₹800.
How are intraday and F&O profits taxed?
Not as capital gains. Intraday equity trading is speculative business income and futures and options trading is non-speculative business income, both taxed at your slab rate.
Can I set off capital losses?
A short-term capital loss can be set off against short- and long-term gains; a long-term loss only against long-term gains. Unused losses can be carried forward for eight years if the return is filed by the due date.
Which shares are taxed first when I sell part of a holding?
For shares held in demat, the earliest bought are treated as sold first (first in, first out). Work out each lot's gain with its own buy date and price.