2. Types of Capital Assets:
Capital assets are of two types:
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Short-Term Capital Asset (STCA)
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Long-Term Capital Asset (LTCA)
(1) Short-Term Capital Asset - STCA [Section 2(42A)]:
A capital asset held by an assessee for Not more than 36 months immediately preceding the date of its transfer is known as a short term capital asset.
Exceptions :
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The following assets shall be treated as short-term capital assets if they are held for Not more than 12 months (instead of 36 months mentioned above) immediately preceding the date of its transfer:
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a security including shares (other than unit) listed in a recognised stock exchange in India
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a unit of an equity oriented fund
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a zero coupon bond
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The following assets shall be treated as short-term capital assets if they are held for Not more than 24 months (instead of 36 months/12 months mentioned above) immediately preceding the date of its transfer:
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Share of a company (not being a share listed in a recognised stock exchange in India)
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An immovable property being land and building or both.
Hence, if unlisted share or immovable property is transferred after 24 months from the date of its acquisition, the gain arising from the transfer of share or immovable property shall be treated as long-term capital gain.
(2) Long-Term Capital Asset - LTCA [Section 2(29A)]:
It means a capital asset which is not a short-term capital asset.
In other words, if the asset is held by the assessee for more than 36 months/24 months/12 months, as the case may be, such an asset will be treated as a long-term capital asset
(3) Meaning of Capital Assets in Graphical Chat (Section 2(14) :
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3. Computation of Tax on Short-Term Capital Gain if Security Transaction Tax (STT) is applicable (Section 111A).
Where the total income of an assessee includes any income chargeable under the head "Capital gains", arising from the transfer of a short-term capital asset, being
- an equity share in a company or
- a unit of an equity oriented fund or
- a unit of a business trust
and
- the transaction of sale of such equity share or unit is entered into on or after 1.10.2004;
- such transaction is chargeable to Securities Transaction Tax (STT) ;
the tax payable by the assessee on the total income shall be computed as under—
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On such Short-Term Capital Gains — 15% [+SC+HEC] ; and
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On the balance amount of the total income — Special Rates or Normal as applicable.
For the purpose of short-term capital gain, the period of holding in this case of a unit of a business trust shall be 36 months instead of 12 months. |
(A) Deductions Under Section 80C to 80U are NOT available -
Deductions under sections 80C to 80U are not available in respect of short-term capital gain, if securities transaction tax is applicable.
(B) Exemption Limit in some Cases [Proviso to Section111A] -
Short-term capital gain (where securities transaction tax is applicable) is taxable at the rate of 15% . The entire amount is taxable at 15% (no exemption limit).
However, in the case of a resident individual/HUF, the benefit of exemption limit is available if taxable income (minus short-term capital gain, which is subject to securities transaction tax) is less than exemption limit. In such a case, the following shall be deducted from the short-term capital gain –
Exemption limit—(Net income or taxable income–Short-term capital gain, where securities transaction tax is applicable) |
After deducting the aforesaid amount, the balance amount of short-term capital gain is chargeable to tax at the rate of 15% [+ SC + HEC].
Example :
Mr. Clean (58 years) is a resident individual. For the assessment year 2018-19, she has the following incomes—
Short-term capital gain on transfer of shares (securities transaction tax is applicable) (ST) |
24,000 |
| Short-term capital gain on transfer of Gold |
45,000 |
| Bank Interest |
36,000 |
| Salary Income ( After Standard Deduction) |
1,62,000 |
| Net Income (NI) |
2,67,000 |
In this case, Mr. Clean is a resident individual. His exemption limit is Rs. 2,50,000. Taxable income (minus short-term capital gain subject to securities transaction tax) is Rs. 2,43,000. It is less than exemption limit.
Consequently, from the short-term capital gain the following shall be deducted—
Rs. 2,50,000 (exemption limit)—[Rs. 2,67,000 (NI)—Rs. 24,000 (ST)] = Rs. 7,000 |
In this case, the short-term capital gain chargeable to tax will be Rs. 17,000 (i.e., Rs. 24,000 – Rs. 7,000).
Note :
- If Securities Transaction Tax is not applicable, short-term capital gain is taxable like any other income (no special rate). |
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4. Computation of Tax on Long-Term Capital Gain
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Long-Term Capital Gain is Taxable at a Flat Rate of 20% [+ SC + HEC].
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However, Long-Term Capital Gain in the hands of Non-Residents under Section 115AB, 115AC, 115AD or 115E is Taxable at the Rate of 10% [+ SC + HEC].
DEDUCTIONS UNDER SECTIONS 80C TO 80U ARE NOT AVAILABLE -
Deductions under sections 80C to 80U are not available in respect of long-term capital gain.
EXEMPTION LIMIT IN SOME CASES [Proviso to Section 112(1)(a)] -
Long-term capital gain is taxable at the rate of 20% (in some cases 10%). The entire amount is taxable at these rates (no exemption limit).
However, in the case of a resident individual/HUF, the benefit of exemption limit is available, if taxable income (minus long-term capital gain) is less than exemption limit. In such a case, the following shall be deducted from the long-term capital gain –
| Exemption limit—(Net income or taxable income—Long-term capital gain) |
After deducting the aforesaid amount, the balance amount of long-term capital gain is chargeable to tax at the rate of 20% or 10% [+ SC + HEC].
10% Tax Rate [+ SC + HEC]
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Long-Term Capital Gain in the hands of Non-Residents under Section 115AB, 115AC, 115AD or 115E is Taxable at the Rate 10% [+SC+HEC]
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Long-term capital gain in the hands of a non-resident/foreign company is taxable at the rate of 10% [+ SC + HEC], if such gain arises on transfer of unlisted securities or unlisted shares in a company in which the public are not substantially interested.
However, this rule is applicable only if the indexation benefit is not claimed and capital gain is calculated without giving effect to the first proviso to section 48 (under this proviso capital gain is calculated in foreign currency if a few conditions are satisfied).
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Moreover, in the case of any taxpayer if listed securities (i.e., shares, bonds, debentures, Government securities) or zero coupon bonds are transferred and the taxpayer does not avail the benefit of indexation, he can pay tax at the rate of 10% [+ SC + HEC].
In other words, in the case of these securities, etc., the taxpayer has an option. He can pay tax at the rate of 20% [+ SC + HEC], if indexation benefit is claimed or at the rate of 10% [+ SC + HEC], if indexation benefit is not taken.
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In the case of debentures, indexation benefit is not otherwise available. Consequently, if debentures (long-term) are listed, one should opt for 10% Rate.
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In the case of transfer of bonus shares, cost of acquisition is generally zero. One should opt for 10% Rate if bonus shares are long-term capital assets and are listed.
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