Indexation of the cost of acquisition will not be allowed. Indexation refers to adjusting the gains against inflation, which brings down the real quantum of gains.

Setting off the cost of transfer or improvement of the share/unit will also not be allowed.

Before 31 Jan 2018 Rahul bought 20000 shares for Rs 100 and have held it for more than 12 months (to qualify for LTCG) and he sold all the shares for Rs 130 on 1 May 2018.

• The fair market value of the share on 31.01.2018 is Rs 120 and
• The purchase price considered or cost of acquisition of one share would be Rs 120. (lower of 120(fair market price) and 130(Sale price) which is 120 & higher of 120(from earlier step) and 100(purchase price) which is 120)
• You would have realised LTCG of Rs 130 – Rs 120 i.e. Rs 10 as For shares or equity MF units bought after 31.1.2018, capital gain would be computed as = Selling price – cost of acquisition.
• The total long-Term Capital Gain would be 20000 X 10 = 2,00,000
• As 1 lakh of long-term capital gain is exempted, the taxable long term considered is = 2,00,000 – 1,00,000 = 1,00,000
• Long Term Capital Gain Tax is 10% of the Long-term capital gain so = 10% of 1,00,000 = 10,000

Example when the Sale Price is less than Fair Market Price as on 31 Jan 2018 but more than the Purchase price

Before 31 Jan 2018 Rahul bought 20000 shares for Rs 100 and have held it for more than 12 months and he sold all the shares for Rs 110 after 1 Apr 2018. The fair market value of the share on 31.01.2018 is Rs 120

• The purchase price considered or cost of acquisition of one share would be Rs 110. (lower of 120(fair market price) and 110(Sale price) which is 110 & higher of 110(from earlier step) and 100(purchase price) which is 110)
• You would have realised LTCG of Rs 110 – Rs 110 i.e. Rs 0 as For shares or equity MF units bought after 31.1.2018, capital gain would be computed as = Selling price – cost of acquisition.
• The total long-Term Capital Gain would be 20000 X 0 = 0

Example when the Sale Price is less than Fair Market Price as on 31 Jan 2018 and less than the Purchase price

Before 31 Jan 2018 Rahul bought 20000 shares for Rs 100 and have held it for more than 12 months and he sold all the shares for Rs 60 after 1 Apr 2018. The fair market value of the share on 31.01.2018 is Rs 80

• The purchase price considered or cost of acquisition of one share would be Rs 100. (lower of 80(fair market price) and 60(Sale price) which is 80 & higher of 80(from earlier step) and 100(purchase price) which is 100)
• You would have realised LTCG of Rs 60 – Rs 100 =-40  per share or -40*20,000=-80,000 . As For shares or equity MF units bought after 31.1.2018, capital gain would be computed as = Selling price – cost of acquisition.
• Now you have a long-term capital loss.

How is Capital Loss Handled

When you sell an asset example Real estate, Mutual Funds, Gold, you have to account for Income From Capital Gain. When you calculate your Capital Gains and where the sale from a Capital Asset is less than cost of acquisition (whether indexed or not) and expenses on transfer instead of a Capital Gain you incur a Capital Loss. While Capital Gains are taxed according to the tax rate applicable based on the type of asset and whether they are long term or short term, let’s understand how Capital Losses are treated.

Set off of Capital Losses: The Income Tax does not allow Loss under the head Capital Gains to be set off against any income from other heads – this can be only set off within the ‘Capital Gains’ head. Long Term Capital Loss can be set off only against Long Term Capital Gains. Short Term Capital Losses are allowed to be set off against both Long Term Gains and Short Term Gains.

Carry Forward of Losses: Fortunately, if you are not able to set off your entire capital loss in the same year, both Short Term and Long Term loss can be carried forward for 8 Assessment Years immediately following the Assessment Year in which the loss was first computed. If Capital Losses have arisen from a business, such losses are allowed to be carried forward and carrying on of this business is not compulsory.You should file your I-T return before July 31 to carry forward any losses.

Calculator for Long Term Capital Gain on Stocks and Mutual Funds as per Budget 2018

The Calculator given below calculates Long Term Capital Gain on Stocks and Mutual Funds as per Budget 2018. One needs to provide Number of Units, Per Unit Purchase Price, Sale Price and Fair Market Price as on 31 Jan 2018. Also one needs to provide Purchase and Sale Dates.

History of Long Term Capital Gains on Stocks

In 2004-05, as part of its attempts to encourage long-term investment in equity shares, the government had abolished LTCG tax replacing it with securities transaction tax (STT). India used to tax capital gains on equity till 2003-04 when the then finance minister Jaswant Singh proposed to abolish it for securities held for more than a year. This was to be reviewed in a year. The next budget in 2004-05 was presented by P. Chidambaram, who carried forward the idea and imposed a securities transaction tax (STT) to make up the tax loss.

While the Centre has brought back LTCG, it has, however, decided against abolishing or reducing the STT rates, which, many feel, is a case of double taxation. Just by way of comparison, in the US, all short-term gains are taxed as regular business income, and long-term gains are taxed at a rate of 15%.

Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia, while addressing the media, explained that the purpose of STT and LTCG is different and that the former only helps the government in keeping a track of equity transactions without any windfall revenue collection.

According to the finance minister, the total amount of exempted capital gains from listed shares and units is around ₹3.67 lakh crore as per returns filed for the assessment year 2017-18. The government has collected ₹ 9,000 crore through STT.

The issue of LTCG tax replacing STT was raised by a large section of market participants this year with some even highlighting that the government had lost revenue of over ₹ 3 lakh crore by withdrawing LTCG in 2004-05. The amount of tax foregone because of tax-free LTCG can be gauged from data released by the tax authorities this year. In the assessment year 2014-15, the total amount that escaped the tax net due to LTCG was Rs 64,521 crore. A recent research report published in the Economic And Political Weekly estimates the loss to the exchequer due to capital gains tax exemption at Rs 45,000 crore. With the reforms introduced by the government and incentives given so far, the equity market has become buoyant. The total amount of exempted capital gains from listed shares and units is around Rs 3,67,000 crore as per returns filed for the assessment year 2017-18. Major part of this gain has accrued to corporates and LLPs (limited liability partnerships). This has also created a bias against manufacturing, leading to more business surpluses being invested in financial assets.

Interestingly, in a letter written in 2015 to the then joint secretary of the ministry of finance, BSE had made a similar proposal for bringing back LTCG. The government was losing an estimated ₹49,000 crore in taxes from LTCG exemption, the BSE said recently. Foreign portfolio investors pay no tax even on short-term gains under the terms of the tax avoidance treaty that India has with Singapore and Mauritius. So, about 60 percent of equity trades have zero tax

Meanwhile, there is also a view that the proposed structure of LTCG would make it more lucrative for entities to trade through tax treaty countries such as Singapore and Mauritius till the time the treaty benefits exist.

Video on Grandfathering

What Is Grandfathering Concept In Long Term Capital Gains Tax Explained By CA Rachana

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