SHORT-TERM CAPITAL GAINS CALCULATOR

How much tax on your short-term gains?

Short-term capital gains are taxed at different rates depending on the asset. Equity STCG is 20%, while other assets are taxed at your slab rate. Enter your purchase and sale details to see your exact STCG liability.

Equity at 20%

Slab rate for others

Net proceeds after tax

Your short-term gains details

STCG tax rate depends on the asset

Equity STCG (held ≤12 months) is taxed at 20%. Debt funds, property, and gold held short-term are taxed at your income slab rate. No LTCG exemption applies.

1. Asset type

Select asset

2. Purchase & sale details

Purchase price

₹

Sale price

₹

Holding period (months)

Your income slab rate

Holding period determines STCG vs LTCG. Slab rate applies only to non-equity STCG.

3. Expenses

Purchase expenses

₹

Brokerage, stamp duty

Sale expenses

₹

Brokerage, transfer fees

4. Loss set-off & cess

Short-term capital loss to set off

₹

STCL can offset STCG from any asset

Include cess & surcharge

4% cess + surcharge if income > ₹50L

Your other annual income

₹

Used for surcharge and slab determination

STCG tax estimate

Tax on short-term gains

₹0

estimated liability

Gross short-term gain ₹0 sale − purchase

Effective tax rate 0% on gross gain

Asset classification Equity held ≤ 12 months

Net gain after tax ₹0 take-home proceeds

How your gain is split

STCG computation

Sale price ₹0

− Cost of acquisition ₹0

− Transfer expenses ₹0

= Gross short-term gain ₹0

− STCL set-off ₹0

= Net taxable STCG ₹0

Tax + cess ₹0

= Net gain after tax ₹0

See rate reference Have questions?

RATE REFERENCE

Short-term capital gains tax rates (FY 2024-25)

Quick reference for STCG rates by asset type.

Asset type	Short-term holding	STCG rate	Long-term holding	LTCG rate

Note: Equity STCG is taxed at 20% (plus cess). Debt funds, property, gold, and unlisted shares held short-term are taxed at your income slab rate. The holding period threshold for equity is 12 months; for other assets, it's 24 months.

WHAT MATTERS

Four things that decide your STCG tax

These are the key factors that shape your short-term capital gains liability.

1. Asset type

Equity STCG is taxed at a flat 20%. Debt funds, property, gold, and unlisted shares are taxed at your slab rate (up to 30%). This makes equity STCG more predictable.

2. Holding period

If you cross the long-term threshold (12 months for equity, 24 for others), your gain becomes LTCG and is taxed at a lower rate. A few extra days can save significant tax.

3. Your income slab

For non-equity STCG, your slab rate matters. If you're in the 30% bracket, debt fund gains held short-term are taxed at 30% plus cess. Planning around your slab can help.

4. Loss set-off

Short-term capital losses (STCL) can offset STCG from any asset. This makes tax-loss harvesting powerful — book losses to reduce gains, and carry forward unused losses for 8 years.

DEEP DIVE

Short-term capital gains: the complete guide

How STCG is taxed, how to compute it, and how to reduce your liability.

1. What are short-term capital gains?

Short-term capital gains (STCG) arise when you sell a capital asset within a specified holding period — 12 months for listed equity and equity mutual funds, 24 months for most other assets. The profit is your STCG, and it's taxed differently from long-term gains.

2. STCG tax rates (FY 2024-25)

Asset	Short-term holding	STCG rate
Listed equity shares	≤ 12 months	20%
Equity mutual funds	≤ 12 months	20%
Debt mutual funds	≤ 24 months	Slab rate
Real estate	≤ 24 months	Slab rate
Gold / commodities	≤ 24 months	Slab rate
Unlisted shares	≤ 24 months	Slab rate

💡 Equity STCG at 20% is often lower than the 30% slab rate for high earners. But holding for 12+ months converts it to LTCG at 12.5% (above ₹1.25L) — a much better deal.

3. How to compute STCG

The basic formula:

Gross STCG = Net sale consideration − Cost of acquisition − Transfer expenses
Net taxable STCG = Gross STCG − STCL set-off
Tax = Net taxable STCG × Applicable rate (+ cess + surcharge)

4. Setting off losses

Short-term capital losses (STCL) can be set off against:

Short-term capital gains (any asset)
Long-term capital gains (any asset)

Unused STCL can be carried forward for up to 8 years if you file your ITR on time. This makes tax-loss harvesting a powerful tool — sell loss-making investments to offset gains.

5. How to reduce STCG tax

Hold longer: Crossing the 12-month threshold for equity converts STCG (20%) to LTCG (12.5% above ₹1.25L).
Harvest losses: Book short-term losses to offset gains.
Time your sales: If possible, defer sales to the next financial year to spread income.
Use the ₹1.25L exemption: Only applies to LTCG, but worth planning for.
Invest in tax-efficient instruments: Equity is more tax-efficient than debt for short-term holding.

⚠️ STCG is subject to advance tax. If your total tax liability exceeds ₹10,000, pay advance tax quarterly to avoid interest under 234B and 234C.

6. Common mistakes

Selling just before the long-term threshold: A few days can cost you 7.5% extra tax (20% vs 12.5%).
Not tracking holding periods: Use a portfolio tracker to know exactly when each lot becomes long-term.
Forgetting cess: 4% cess applies on STCG tax.
Not setting off losses: Many investors pay tax on gains while sitting on unrealised losses.
Ignoring advance tax: Missing deadlines attracts interest penalties.

7. Final thoughts

Short-term gains are taxed at higher rates than long-term gains. The simplest strategy is to hold equity for over 12 months (and other assets for over 24 months) to qualify for LTCG rates. If you must sell short-term, plan around your slab, harvest losses, and account for advance tax.

Use this calculator to see your exact STCG liability, then plan your sale timing and reinvestment strategy accordingly.

NEXT STEPS

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QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions

30 common questions about short-term capital gains tax.

What is short-term capital gains tax?

STCG tax is the tax on profit from selling a capital asset held for a short period (≤12 months for equity, ≤24 months for others). Equity STCG is taxed at 20%; other assets at your slab rate.

What is the STCG rate on equity?

Equity STCG (listed shares and equity mutual funds held ≤12 months) is taxed at 20% plus 4% cess and surcharge if applicable. This rate applies from FY 2024-25.

How is STCG on debt funds taxed?

Debt mutual funds held ≤24 months are taxed at your income slab rate (up to 30% plus cess). From April 2023, indexation benefits were removed for debt funds.

What is the holding period for STCG?

For listed equity and equity mutual funds, the holding period is 12 months or less. For debt funds, property, gold, and unlisted shares, it's 24 months or less. Beyond these, gains become long-term.

Can I set off short-term capital losses?

Yes. Short-term capital losses (STCL) can offset both short-term and long-term capital gains. Unused losses can be carried forward for 8 years if you file your ITR on time.

Is STCG taxable in the new regime?

Yes. STCG is taxable in both old and new regimes. Equity STCG is taxed at 20% in both. Non-equity STCG is taxed at slab rates, which differ between regimes.

How can I reduce STCG tax?

Hold equity for over 12 months to qualify for LTCG at 12.5% (above ₹1.25L). Harvest losses to offset gains. Time sales to spread income across years. Consider tax-efficient instruments.

What is advance tax on STCG?

STCG is subject to advance tax. If your total tax liability exceeds ₹10,000 in a year, pay advance tax in quarterly instalments (June 15, Sep 15, Dec 15, Mar 15). Missing deadlines attracts interest under 234B and 234C.

Is STCG on property taxed at slab rate?

Yes. Property held ≤24 months is short-term, and gains are taxed at your slab rate. Property held >24 months is long-term, taxed at 12.5% without indexation.

Can I claim STCG exemption?

No. STCG has no exemption like the ₹1.25L available for equity LTCG. The only relief is setting off capital losses. STCG is fully taxable.

How is STCG on gold taxed?

Gold held ≤24 months is short-term, taxed at your slab rate. Gold held >24 months is long-term, taxed at 12.5% without indexation. This applies to physical gold, gold ETFs, and gold funds.

What is the difference between STCG and LTCG?

STCG applies to assets held short-term (≤12 months equity, ≤24 months others) and is taxed higher (20% equity, slab rate others). LTCG applies to longer holdings and is taxed lower (12.5% for most assets).

Are STCG taxed at 15% or 20%?

From FY 2024-25, equity STCG is taxed at 20% (increased from 15%). The 15% rate applied up to FY 2023-24. Debt funds and other assets are taxed at slab rates.

Can I offset STCG against salary?

No. Capital losses can only be set off against capital gains, not salary income. However, STCG is added to your total income for slab determination and surcharge.

What is the tax on intraday trading?

Intraday trading is treated as speculative business income, not capital gains. It's taxed at your slab rate. Losses can only be set off against other speculative income.

What is the tax on F&O trading?

F&O trading is treated as non-speculative business income, taxed at slab rates. Expenses are deductible, and losses can be set off against other non-speculative income (except salary) and carried forward for 8 years.

Is STT deductible from STCG?

No. Securities Transaction Tax (STT) is not deductible from capital gains. However, brokerage and other transaction charges are deductible from the sale proceeds.

What is the surcharge on STCG?

Surcharge applies if your total income exceeds ₹50 lakh. Rates: 10% (₹50L–₹1Cr), 15% (₹1Cr–₹2Cr), 25% (above ₹2Cr in new regime). For equity STCG, surcharge is capped at 15%. Plus 4% cess.

Can I harvest STCG losses?

Yes. Selling loss-making investments to book short-term losses can offset your STCG. This is called tax-loss harvesting. You can repurchase the investment immediately (no wash sale rule in India).

How is STCG on mutual funds taxed?

Equity mutual funds held ≤12 months: STCG at 20%. Debt mutual funds held ≤24 months: STCG at slab rate. Hybrid funds are taxed based on their equity/debt allocation.

Do I need to pay advance tax on STCG?

Yes. If your total tax liability (including STCG) exceeds ₹10,000 in a year, advance tax applies. Pay in quarterly instalments to avoid interest penalties under 234B and 234C.

What records should I keep for STCG?

Keep purchase statements, sale statements, brokerage receipts, and any expense proof. These are needed to compute gains accurately and to substantiate your ITR in case of scrutiny.

Is STCG applicable on ESOPs?

Yes. ESOPs are taxed at exercise (perquisite tax) and at sale. If shares are held ≤12 months after exercise, gains are STCG (20%). Held >12 months, gains are LTCG (12.5% above ₹1.25L).

Can I set off long-term losses against STCG?

No. Long-term capital losses can only offset long-term capital gains. Short-term losses can offset both short-term and long-term gains.

What is the tax on unlisted shares held short-term?

Unlisted shares held ≤24 months are short-term, taxed at your slab rate. Held >24 months, they're long-term, taxed at 12.5% without indexation.

Can NRIs set off STCG losses?

Yes, NRIs can set off capital losses against capital gains, subject to the same rules. NRIs should also consider DTAA benefits and TDS implications on capital gains.

Is STCG taxable if I reinvest?

No. STCG has no reinvestment exemption. Section 54/54F exemptions apply only to LTCG. STCG is taxable regardless of whether you reinvest.

Is my data stored?

No. Everything runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, tracked, or stored. Your purchase and sale figures never leave your device. If you want to keep a record, download the PDF or take a screenshot.

This short-term capital gains tax calculator provides estimates based on the current income tax framework (FY 2024-25) and typical asset structures. Actual tax depends on your exact purchase and sale details, holding period, loss set-off, and total income. Tax laws change periodically. Consult a qualified tax professional for personalised advice. This is not tax advice.

Know your STCG tax. Plan your exits better.

Estimate your short-term gains tax, plan holding periods, and use loss harvesting wisely.

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