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Guide · Capital Gains

STCG Tax on Shares 20% u/s 111A, Slab on Others

How short-term capital gains are taxed — 20% on listed equity and equity mutual funds under Section 111A, slab rates on property, gold, unlisted shares and debt funds — with holding periods, set-off rules and worked examples for AY 2026-27.

Written by
TaxClue Editorial Desk
Updated
18 August 2026
Reading time
5 min
Questions
15 answered
  • Updated for AY 2026-27
  • CA reviewed
  • Post Budget 2024 rate
Quick Answer

Short-term capital gains (STCG) arise when you sell a capital asset within its short-term holding period. For listed equity shares and equity-oriented mutual funds held 12 months or less, STCG is taxed at 20% under Section 111A (raised from 15%, effective 23 July 2024) — STT must have been paid. For all other assets — property held ≤ 24 months, gold, unlisted shares, and debt mutual funds — STCG is added to your income and taxed at your applicable slab rate. Long-term equity gains are taxed at 12.5% under Section 112A.

At a glance

STCG Tax Rates by Asset Type — AY 2026-27

The short-term holding period and rate depend entirely on the asset. Only listed equity and equity mutual funds get the special 20% flat rate under Section 111A; everything else is taxed at your slab.

AssetShort-term holdingSTCG rateBasis
Listed equity shares (BSE/NSE)≤ 12 months20%Section 111A (STT paid)
Equity-oriented mutual funds (≥65% equity)≤ 12 months20%Section 111A (STT paid)
Debt mutual funds (bought on/after 1 Apr 2023)Any periodSlabDeemed STCG — no LTCG benefit
Residential / commercial property≤ 24 monthsSlabAdded to total income
Physical gold / gold ETF / gold MF≤ 24 monthsSlabAdded to total income
Unlisted equity shares≤ 24 monthsSlabAdded to total income
Listed bonds & debentures≤ 12 monthsSlabAdded to total income

STT must be paid at sale for the 20% Section 111A rate on equity; off-market transfers do not qualify. Rates verified on incometax.gov.in for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27).

The 23 July 2024 change — 15% became 20%

Budget 2024 raised the Section 111A STCG rate on listed equity and equity mutual funds from 15% to 20% for transfers on or after 23 July 2024. For sales between 1 April 2024 and 22 July 2024 the old 15% applied; from 23 July 2024 onward the whole gain is taxed at 20%. This 20% rate continues for FY 2025-26.

Short vs long

STCG vs LTCG on Equity — Side by Side

20%

STCG — held ≤ 12 months

  • Section 111A flat 20% (STT paid)
  • No basic-exemption cushion on the special rate
  • No annual exemption like the ₹1.25 lakh
  • Set off only against other capital gains
  • Section 87A rebate does not apply
12.5%

LTCG — held > 12 months

  • Section 112A: 12.5% above ₹1.25 lakh/year
  • First ₹1.25 lakh of gains exempt each year
  • No indexation on equity
  • Loss set off only against LTCG
  • Holding period counted from purchase date

The single biggest lever is the 12-month holding line: crossing it drops the rate from 20% to 12.5% and unlocks the ₹1.25 lakh yearly exemption. Read the long-term side in our Section 112A and LTCG tax guides.

Worked example

How STCG on Equity is Calculated

Suppose you sell listed shares held for 7 months with a short-term gain of ₹2,00,000 in FY 2025-26, and separately book a slab-rate STCG on gold.

111A STCG on equity

Sale value₹8,00,000
Less: cost₹6,00,000
Short-term gain₹2,00,000
Tax @ 20%₹40,000
Tax payable (+cess)≈ ₹41,600

Slab STCG on gold

Short-term gain₹2,00,000
Added to incomeYes
Taxed at slab (e.g. 20%)₹40,000
Tax at your slabVaries

Add 4% health & education cess (and surcharge if applicable). Equity STCG at 20% is a flat special rate that does not merge with your slab, while gold/property STCG is simply added to income. Estimate the total with the income-tax calculator.

TaxClue Insight — the 87A rebate does not save equity STCG

The Section 87A rebate (up to ₹25,000 in the new regime for income up to ₹7 lakh) does not apply to Section 111A STCG or Section 112A LTCG — these are special-rate gains. So even a small-income investor pays 20% on equity STCG. Compare regimes for the rest of your income in our new tax regime guide.

Watch-outs

Debt Funds, F&O and Property — Special Rules

  • Debt mutual funds bought on/after 1 April 2023 are always taxed at slab rates as deemed short-term gains — no LTCG rate and no indexation, regardless of holding period (Finance Act 2023). Units bought before 1 Apr 2023 and held over 24 months get 12.5% (no indexation).
  • F&O (futures & options) is not capital gains at all — it is non-speculative business income taxed at slab rates, reported in ITR-3, with turnover computed on absolute profit/loss.
  • Property held ≤ 24 months is short-term; the gain is added to income and taxed at slab. A long-term property gain (over 24 months) is 12.5% without indexation, with a 20%-with-indexation option only for property acquired before 23 July 2024.
  • Unlisted shares and gold held ≤ 24 months are short-term at slab; held over 24 months they are long-term at 12.5% without indexation.
Equity STCG cannot be set off against LTCG

A Section 111A short-term loss can be set off against any capital gain (short or long), but Section 111A gains are taxed as a distinct block. A long-term loss, by contrast, can only be set off against long-term gains. Plan year-end booking accordingly.

If you make a loss

STCG Loss Set-off & Carry Forward

  • Short-term capital loss can be set off against any capital gain — short-term or long-term — in the same year.
  • Long-term capital loss can be set off only against long-term capital gains, not against STCG.
  • Unabsorbed capital losses (short or long) can be carried forward for 8 assessment years, set off only against capital gains.
  • To carry a loss forward you must file your ITR by the due date; STCG is reported in Schedule CG of ITR-2 or ITR-3.

✓Tax-loss harvesting helps if

  • You have taxable STCG this year
  • You also hold loss-making shares you can book
  • You want to reduce the 20% equity STCG bill

!Be careful because

  • Long-term losses cannot offset STCG
  • The 87A rebate does not apply to 111A gains
  • Off-market equity sales lose the 20% rate — taxed at slab u/s 112

Sold shares, property or gold this year? Get your capital gains computed and filed correctly.

File ITR with a CA →
Sources
  1. Section 111A & tax on short-term capital gains: incometaxindia.gov.in
  2. New capital-gains regime FAQs (eff. 23 Jul 2024): incometax.gov.in
  3. STCG on equity 20% (Budget 2024, from 23 Jul 2024); LTCG 12.5% above ₹1.25 lakh u/s 112A
  4. Debt MF bought on/after 1 Apr 2023 taxed at slab (Finance Act 2023)

Disclaimer: This guide is general information based on the law and notifications in force when it was last updated. It is not professional advice for your case — rates, thresholds and due dates change, so check the current position or speak to our CA team before you act on it.

People also ask

Questions, answered

Short, direct answers to the 15 questions readers ask most on this topic.

For listed equity shares and equity-oriented mutual funds held 12 months or less, STCG is taxed at 20% under Section 111A. This rate was raised from 15% and applies to transfers on or after 23 July 2024 (Budget 2024). STT must have been paid on the sale. The 20% rate continues unchanged for FY 2025-26 / AY 2026-27.

Short-term capital gains on immovable property, gold, unlisted shares and other non-equity assets are added to your total income and taxed at your applicable income-tax slab rate — there is no special flat STCG rate for them. Property, gold and unlisted shares are short-term when held for 24 months or less.

Equity mutual funds (at least 65% equity) held 12 months or less are taxed at 20% under Section 111A. Debt mutual funds bought on or after 1 April 2023 are taxed at slab rates as deemed short-term gains regardless of holding period, with no LTCG benefit or indexation. Gold and other non-equity funds held 24 months or less are taxed at slab rates.

Budget 2024 increased the Section 111A short-term rate on listed equity and equity mutual funds from 15% to 20% for transfers on or after 23 July 2024, alongside raising the long-term Section 112A rate from 10% to 12.5%. For sales between 1 April 2024 and 22 July 2024 the old 15% applied.

Listed equity shares, equity mutual funds and listed bonds are short-term if held 12 months or less. Immovable property, unlisted shares, gold and other physical assets are short-term if held 24 months or less. Debt mutual funds bought on or after 1 April 2023 are treated as short-term irrespective of holding period.

Section 111A STCG on listed equity and equity mutual funds is a flat special rate of 20% and is not merged with your slab income. STCG on other assets such as property, gold and debt funds is added to total income and taxed at your slab rate.

A short-term capital loss can be set off against any capital gain — short-term or long-term. However, a long-term capital loss can be set off only against long-term capital gains, not against STCG. Section 111A equity gains are taxed as a distinct 20% block. Unabsorbed capital losses carry forward for 8 assessment years.

No. The Section 87A rebate does not apply to Section 111A STCG or Section 112A LTCG — these are special-rate capital gains. The rebate only reduces tax on income taxed at normal slab rates, so equity STCG is taxed at 20% even for small-income investors.

STCG is reported in Schedule CG (Capital Gains) of ITR-2 or ITR-3. Section 111A equity STCG goes under "STCG on equity shares/units on which STT is paid"; other STCG goes in the relevant sub-section by asset type. If you have only salary plus STCG and no business income, use ITR-2; F&O traders use ITR-3.

Yes. An unabsorbed short-term capital loss can be carried forward for 8 assessment years and set off against any future capital gains (short or long). You must file your ITR by the due date to carry the loss forward.

No TDS is deducted on capital gains of resident investors selling listed shares or mutual fund units; you pay the tax yourself as advance tax or at filing. For non-residents, TDS may apply under Section 195/196A.

No. Futures and options (F&O) trading is treated as non-speculative business income, not capital gains. F&O profits are taxed at your normal slab rates and reported in ITR-3, with turnover computed as the absolute sum of profits and losses. Losses can be set off against business income and carried forward for 8 years.

Debt mutual funds bought on or after 1 April 2023 are always taxed at slab rates as deemed short-term gains, with no long-term rate and no indexation, whatever the holding period (Finance Act 2023). Units bought before 1 April 2023 and held over 24 months qualify for 12.5% long-term tax without indexation.

Yes. Securities Transaction Tax (STT) must have been paid on the sale for the Section 111A 20% rate to apply to listed equity and equity mutual funds. Off-market transfers where STT is not paid fall outside 111A and are taxed at slab rates.

Short-term gain on immovable property (held 24 months or less) is added to your total income and taxed at your slab rate — the flat 20% rate applies only to Section 111A equity gains. A long-term property gain (over 24 months) is taxed at 12.5% without indexation, with a 20%-with-indexation option only for property acquired before 23 July 2024.