Capital Gains on Gold, Debt Funds & Other Assets
Work out the tax on selling gold, debt mutual funds, gold ETFs, bonds, unlisted shares and other assets that the equity calculator does not cover. Choose the asset and it applies the right holding period and rate. Crypto has its own rules and is not covered here. Runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Understanding the rules
- Two holding periods
- More than 12 months for listed securities, and more than 24 months for every other asset. Below that, the gain is short-term and taxed at your slab rate.
- One long-term rate
- 12.5% without indexation for sales on or after 23 July 2024, plus 4% cess. The Rs 1.25 lakh exemption applies only to listed equity and equity funds, not to these assets.
- Deemed short-term assets
- Specified mutual funds (more than 65% in debt) bought on or after 1 April 2023, and unlisted bonds and debentures, are treated as short-term whatever the holding period.
- What is not included
- Surcharge, whether a specific fund or bond falls in the category you chose (check the fund's portfolio), and whether an exemption you enter is actually available.
Common questions
How are gains on gold, debt funds and other assets taxed now?
For sales on or after 23 July 2024, a long-term gain on most of these assets is taxed at 12.5% without indexation, and a short-term gain is added to your income and taxed at your slab rate. Some assets, such as debt mutual funds bought on or after 1 April 2023 and unlisted bonds, are always treated as short-term whatever the holding period.
What are the holding periods for long-term treatment?
Listed securities need to be held for more than 12 months to be long-term. Every other asset, including unlisted shares, physical gold, jewellery and most unlisted fund units, needs more than 24 months. Below that, the gain is short-term.
Why are some debt mutual funds always taxed at my slab rate?
Gains on a specified mutual fund, meaning one that invests more than 65% of its money in debt and money-market instruments, bought on or after 1 April 2023, are treated as short-term capital gains however long you hold them. Funds bought before that date follow the ordinary rules, with a 24-month holding period.
How are unlisted bonds and debentures taxed?
For transfers, redemptions or maturities on or after 23 July 2024, gains on unlisted bonds and debentures, including market-linked debentures, are treated as short-term capital gains irrespective of how long you held them, and taxed at your slab rate.
What about gold ETFs and Sovereign Gold Bonds?
Gold ETFs are listed, so held more than 12 months the gain is long-term at 12.5%. A Sovereign Gold Bond sold on an exchange before maturity follows the same 12-month rule. Redemption of an SGB at maturity is exempt for an individual. Check the fund or bond's terms, since exemptions have specific conditions.
Is indexation still available?
Not for these assets on sales from 23 July 2024. The only remaining indexation option is for land and buildings bought before that date, which the Property Capital Gains calculator handles.
Does this cover crypto?
No. Crypto and other virtual digital assets are taxed separately at a flat 30% under Section 115BBH, with no deduction for costs other than the purchase price and no set-off of losses. Use the Crypto Tax Calculator for those.
Where do shares and equity mutual funds go?
Listed shares and equity-oriented mutual funds where STT is paid are taxed under Sections 111A and 112A with a Rs 1.25 lakh exemption, which is a different calculation. Use the Equity and Mutual Fund Capital Gains calculator for those.