Budget 2018: Govt introduces LTCG tax of 10% on capital gains over Rs1 lakh

For example, if the equity share is purchased 6 months before 31st January 2018 at Rs100 and the highest price quoted on 31st Jan is Rs120. There will be no tax on the sale, if the stock is sold after 1 year.

However, any gains in excess of Rs20 earned after 31st Jan 2018 will be taxed at 10 percent if this share is sold after 31st July 2018.

"The much-anticipated introduction of LTCG is now back with a new avatar. As we know in tax legislation, this could only get worse over a period of time with every successive budget diluting the original commitment of taxing long-term gains,” Milind Kothari, Managing Partner, BDO India.

Long-term capital gains were made tax exempt in 2004. The move to exempt capital gains tax on stock trading was aimed at aligning rules with major investment source destinations such as Mauritius.

The widened definition of long-term could, however, spark a major portfolio overhaul of domestic and foreign institutional investors who move around their portfolio many times in three years seeking higher returns. These investment decisions are backed by research that generally tracks a 52-week return history.

Here is how D-Street reacted.

Gaurav Dua, Head of Research, Sharekhan

He said that the proposal to levy long term capital gains tax on equities at the rate of 10% is a negative surprise but not the limited rate with grandfathering of purchases up to Jan 31, 2018 would mitigate the adverse impact to a large extent.

"Overall, we believe that the focus would revert to corporate earnings with little impact of Union Budget on bond yields and equity markets," he said.
In 2016, India signed amended double-tax avoidance agreements (DTAAs) with Mauritius, Singapore and Cyprus.

Jayant Manglik, President- Religare Broking Ltd

“A good last budget before the elections though the fiscal deficit at 3.5% was definitely higher than expected. The rural & farmer focus was expected and necessary. Other than a kneejerk reaction, equity market will not be impacted in the medium and the long term as it is still the only real investment opportunity available. FII investments may be affected in the short run as the issue of tax compliance come up which increases operational cost. Likewise mutual funds may see a brief impact but the grandfathering till the 31st January helps. The real disappointment was the continuation of STT along with Itcg, logically only one should be there.”

Nilesh Shetty, Associate Fund Manager-Equity Funds

From an equity market perspective the reintroduction of Long Term Capital Gains Tax (LTCG) is a big negative. Security Transaction tax (STT) was introduced for its simplicity of collection and assured revenues. With the reintroduction of LTCG and collection of STT equities are bearing the brunt of both taxes together. The fiscal deficit number at 3.3% looks marginally higher than estimates which could disappoint the bond markets.

Anil Rego, Founder and CEO, Right Horizons

LTCG introduction @10% on equity is a negative without removal of STT. Would have preferred increasing STT or increasing the tenure (to say 2 years), rather than change the tax rate; so as to reward long term investing.

Dhiraj Relli, MD & CEO at HDFC Securities

“LTCG exemption was an attraction for new investors into equity/equity mutual funds and brought funds from other low paying avenues. Rising interest rates domestically and tax on LTCG could result in minor reversal of this trend. Reaction of FPIs and the bond markets locally to the 3.3% fiscal deficit proposed in FY19 will be keenly watched in the background of rising rates abroad.”