LTCG vs STCG Calculator
Compare long-term and short-term capital gains tax on investments
Investment Details
Held 24 months → long-term. Long-term after 12 months. The purchase date matters in its own right: it decides whether the pre-Budget-2024 rules still apply.
Rates as per Union Budget 2026 (no change to rates) · Income-tax Act, 2025 · verified 2026-08-13. Figures apply to tax year 2026-27. The Income-tax Act, 2025 replaced the 1961 Act on 1 April 2026 and renumbers sections; rates are unchanged. This tool is an estimate, not tax advice.
Listed equity held over 12 months is taxed at 12.5% on gains above ₹1,25,000 a year. No indexation.
LTCG Tax Payable
Tax Calculation Breakdown
LTCG vs STCG Comparison
| Category | LTCG | STCG |
|---|---|---|
| Holding Period | >12 months | ≤12 months |
| Tax Rate | 12.5% | Slab Rate |
| Tax Amount | ₹0 | ₹15,000 |
| Net Gain | ₹50,000 | ₹35,000 |
✓ You save ₹15,000 in tax with LTCG!
Understanding LTCG vs STCG
Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG): Profits from assets held beyond a specified period
- • Listed equity / equity MF: >12 months → 12.5% above a ₹1,25,000 yearly exemption
- • Gold, unlisted shares, other assets: >24 months → 12.5%, no indexation
- • Land and buildings: >24 months → 12.5%; if bought before 23 Jul 2024, a resident individual may instead pay 20% with indexation, whichever is lower
- • Debt mutual funds: units bought on or after 1 Apr 2023 are never long-term
Short-Term Capital Gains (STCG): Profits from quick sales
- • Listed equity: 20% flat (Section 111A)
- • Other assets: As per income tax slab
- • Crypto / VDAs: 30% flat, whatever the holding period
Budget 2024 rewrote these rules with effect from 23 July 2024: it removed indexation, raised equity rates, and abolished the old 36-month category. Gains on transfers before that date still follow the previous rules, which is why this calculator asks for both dates.
Tax Optimization Tips
- •Hold equity for >1 year to benefit from lower LTCG tax
- •Property bought before 23 July 2024? Work out both options — indexation can still be the cheaper one
- •First ₹1.25 lakh of equity LTCG is tax-free every year
- •Consider timing your sales to maximize tax benefits
- •Offset gains with losses (tax loss harvesting)
- •Consult a CA for reinvestment options under 54/54EC/54F
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