Investing in the stock market is a great way to build wealth and enjoy high returns, especially in the long term. However, stock market investments also have risks that might hamper the returns. So, traders must address the risks and identify opportunities to maximise returns. You will require a trading account to start investing in the stock market. You can only buy or sell securities after opening a trading account in India. To hold securities/assets, you must open a Demat account. People having a Demat account should be aware of the tax implications applied by the concerned authorities. Read on to understand the tax implications associated with your Demat account.
Tax on capital gains for short term
You can hold financial securities such as stocks, debentures, bonds, mutual funds etc for as long as you want. When you hold securities for 12 months or less, it will be referred to as short-term gain. For taxation purposes, profits from selling short-term capital assets are referred to as Short-Term Capital Gains (STCG).
For STCG, the prescribed tax is 15% of the total profit. It is crucial to note that the tax is applied only for trades that involve Securities Transaction Tax (STT). Some stock market trades might not involve STT, so the 15% tax is not applicable. However, you cannot prevent tax for stock market trades where STT is not applicable. For stock market trades with no STT, short-term capital gains are added to the taxable income. Therefore, the tax as per individual applicable slab is applied to the total taxable income.
Tax on capital gains for long term
When you decide to hold capital assets such as debentures, mutual funds, stocks, bonds, or derivatives for more than a year, they are considered as long term capital assets. Thus, when profits are earned after selling long-term capital assets, they are termed as Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG).
When you sell a long-term capital asset from your Demat Account, a tax of 10% is applied to the profit. However, the tax on LTCG will only be applied when the profit is more than one lakh in a financial year.
Tax on capital loss for short term
There might be situations where traders may have to sell their assets at a lower price. When a trader sells a particular asset at a price lower than the purchase cost, they incur a loss. Loss on capital assets held for 12 months or lower is called Short-Term Capital Loss (STCL). According to the Income Tax Act 1961, traders can offset their short-term or long-term capital losses against short-term gains. Also, you can carry forward the STCL on your Demat Account for up to eight years. However, there might be cases where the total short-term capital loss might not be offset. In such a case, the trader has no choice but to carry forward the STCL to the next financial year.
Tax on capital loss for long term
Traders might have to sell long-term assets for a loss in some situations. Before 2018, traders were prohibited from setting off or carrying forward their long-term capital losses. In February 2018, the government passed a new law that allowed traders to set off or carry forward their long-term capital losses. It is crucial to note that long-term capital losses can be set off only against long-term capital gains. When the long-term capital loss is not set off completely, it can be carried forward to the next financial year. As per the law, long-term capital losses can only be forwarded for up to eight financial years. The forwarded long-term capital loss can only be offset against the long-term capital gains made in that particular year.
Dividend Income Tax Implications
A dividend represents the portion of company profits that are distributed among its shareholders. Until the financial year of 2019-2020, dividends in India were not taxable. However, the rules have changed after the Finance Act 2020. Now dividends are subject to tax at the investor's individual tax slab rate.
Understanding Securities Transaction Tax (STT)
STT, or Securities Transaction Tax, is a charge applied by the Indian government every time securities are bought or sold. The rate of STT varies based on the transaction nature and the asset class involved. For example, an equity share sale has an STT of 0.1% levied on the transaction value. For Futures, it's 0.0125% on the sell side. The amount paid as STT can be claimed as a deduction when computing the taxable income arising from capital gains.
Tax Implications for Bonds and Debentures
Interest income received from bonds and debentures is subject to Tax Deduction at Source (TDS). The exception to this rule is tax-free bonds, which, as the name suggests, are exempt from tax.
In a nutshell
Before opening a Demat and trading account, you must also understand the tax implications. From decoding short-term and long-term capital gains to exploring the changes in dividend tax rules and the mechanics of Securities Transaction Tax, learning these concepts is essential for a sound investment strategy. Being aware of the taxation structure for bonds and debentures is also paramount. Understanding the nuances of tax implications on your Demat account is an indispensable part of your investment journey.
