Capital Gains Taxation Rules Ready Reckoner

Last Updated on March 2, 2025 at 9:29 pm

Tax expert Manmohan Sethumadhavan has prepared a downloadable comprehensive capital gains taxation rules ready reckoner for freefincal readers based on the amendments to the Finance Bill 2024.

When the budget was presented on 23rd July 2024, it was immediately apparent that
the wording obscured the complexity of the changes to capital gains taxation.

• The following changes impacted several aspects of capital gains taxation:
  The rate for equity instruments under section 111A (short-term) was changed
  from 15% to 20%.
• The rate for equity instruments under section 112A (long-term) was changed
  10% to 12.5%.
• The rate for all other long-term assets under section 112 was changed from 20%
  to 12.5%.
• LTCG for listed bonds and other listed securities except ETF under section 112
  first proviso was optionally 10% without indexation; this was removed.
• A new proviso was added to section 112 which allows to ignore the excess of
  gains for LTCG from immovable property acquired before 23-07-2024, if
  calculated at 20% with indexation as per the old rates.
• LTCG for NRIs arising from sale of unlisted securities and private shares were
  optionally at 10% without indexation; this was removed.
• The default holding period under section 2(42A) for an asset to qualify as
  long-term was changed from 3 years to 2 years.
• The holding period for any listed security (except ETFs) and equity MFsto
  qualify as long-term was 1 year. ETFs and REITs/InVITs also was included in it.
• Indexation under section 48 was removed.
• Section 50AA resets any long-term gains to short-term for Specified MF
  acquired on/after 01-04-2023, and Market Linked Debentures. Unlisted bonds &
  Unlisted debentures acquired during any period, were added to this clause.
  All these changes above are with effect from 23-07-2024, the budget day.
• Under 50AA, Specified MF was defined as funds investing less than or equal to
  35% in domestic equity shares. This was completely changed and the definition
  for Specified MF is now fixed as funds investing more than 65% in debt
  instruments or funds investing more than 65% in such funds.
  This amendment above will take effect from 1st April, 2026 and will, accordingly,
  apply in relation to the assessment year 2026-2027 (financial year 2025-26) and
  subsequent years.

The ready reckoned is presented below as images. Click on them to zoom in. PDF download link is given below.

Considering the various rates and holding periods for different assets, both existing
and amended, this creates a complex matrix of permutations and combinations,
which I have compiled to the best of my ability.

Download the Capital Gains Taxation Rules Ready Reckoner updated for Fy 2025-2026

Please join me in thanking Manmohan Sethumadhavan for this wonderful effort. He can reached on Twitter (X): @ManuTsr