Calculate absolute return, CAGR, STCG/LTCG tax (FY 2025-26 rates post Budget 2024), and net return after tax for any stock or mutual fund trade. Equity, debt, and gold supported.
Most retail investors track gross returns and skip the tax math. Then ITR season arrives with surprises. This calculator computes the full picture: absolute return, CAGR, applicable STCG or LTCG tax under current Indian rules, and the net amount that actually lands in your pocket.
Updated for Budget 2024 (effective 23 July 2024): equity STCG 20%, equity LTCG 12.5% above ₹1.25 lakh, debt/gold simplified to 12.5%/24-month rule.
India Capital Gains Tax — FY 2025-26 Quick Reference
Asset Type
STCG (Short Term)
LTCG (Long Term)
Long-Term Threshold
Listed Equity / Equity MF (≥65% Indian equity)
20% (under 12 months)
12.5% above ₹1.25L exemption
12 months
Hybrid 35-65% Equity
Slab rate (under 24 months)
12.5% without indexation
24 months
Debt MF / ≤35% Equity (Specified MF)
Slab rate (any period)
Slab rate (any period)
N/A — always slab
Gold (Physical, ETF, Gold MF)
Slab rate (under 24 months)
12.5% without indexation
24 months
Sovereign Gold Bonds (held to 8-yr maturity)
Slab rate (under 24 months)
NIL (at 8-yr maturity)
24 months / 8 years
International Equity FoF
Slab rate
Slab rate
N/A — Section 50AA
Rates per Budget 2024 (Finance (No. 2) Act, 2024), effective 23 July 2024. Cess and surcharge additional on slab rate.
Stock Returns & Tax Calculator
Enter trade details for absolute return, CAGR, applicable tax, and net return
Determines applicable STCG/LTCG rules
Marginal tax rate — used for STCG and debt tax
Price you paid per share/unit
Price at which you sold
Total number of shares or units
Total months from buy to sell
Sum of all dividends during holding period
Other equity LTCG used (affects ₹1.25L exemption)
The ₹1.25 Lakh LTCG Exemption Trick
Equity LTCG up to ₹1.25 lakh per financial year is tax-free. Most retail investors never use this exemption — they don't sell anything in a year, or sell too much in a single year.
The strategy: Sell profitable holdings each financial year up to the ₹1.25 lakh LTCG limit, then immediately re-buy the same stocks (after settlement). You realise tax-free gains and reset your cost basis higher — reducing future tax when you eventually sell larger amounts. This is the "LTCG harvesting" technique used by tax-conscious investors.
Annual Exemption Reset:
The ₹1.25 lakh exemption is per financial year (April 1 to March 31) and per individual PAN. It applies to total equity LTCG across all stocks, equity mutual funds, and equity hybrid funds. You cannot carry forward unused exemption. Use it every year if you have eligible holdings.
Read the Full Guide on Portfolio Tracking
Want to understand how to track your stock portfolio properly — using XIRR for SIP returns, benchmarking against Nifty 50, tax-loss harvesting, and quarterly review checklists?
Absolute return % = ((Sell value + Dividends − Buy value) ÷ Buy value) × 100. CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) % = ((Final value ÷ Initial value) ^ (1/years) − 1) × 100. CAGR is the standard for multi-year returns since it accounts for compounding. For example, a stock bought at ₹100 and sold at ₹200 after 5 years has 100% absolute return but only 14.87% CAGR. Always use CAGR for comparing investments across different time horizons.
Post Budget 2024 (effective from 23 July 2024): STCG (Short-Term Capital Gains, held under 12 months) on listed equity = 20% (raised from 15%). LTCG (Long-Term Capital Gains, held 12+ months) on listed equity = 12.5% on gains above ₹1.25 lakh annual exemption (raised from 10% above ₹1 lakh). Plus applicable cess and surcharge. The exemption of ₹1.25 lakh applies to total equity LTCG across all sources combined (stocks + equity mutual funds + equity hybrid funds with ≥65% equity).
Post Finance Act 2023 (effective 1 April 2023), Specified Mutual Funds (with ≤35% in Indian equity — primarily debt funds, international funds) are taxed at slab rate regardless of holding period. The previous LTCG benefit (20% with indexation after 3 years) was removed for new investments. For pre-April 2023 investments redeemed before July 23, 2024: old rules apply. For pre-April 2023 investments redeemed after July 23, 2024: 12.5% without indexation after 24 months (Budget 2024).
Per Budget 2024: Gold (physical, Gold ETFs, Gold mutual funds) held less than 24 months = STCG at slab rate. Held 24+ months = LTCG at 12.5% without indexation. Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) held to maturity (8 years) = zero capital gains tax. SGBs sold on secondary market before maturity follow the standard 24-month rule. The 2024 rules simplified what was previously a 3-year holding requirement with indexation.
Include all cash dividends received from the stock during your holding period — this represents the total cash returned to you (in addition to capital appreciation). Cumulative dividends from all dividend distributions you received over the holding period. Dividends in India are taxed at investor's slab rate (no longer DDT). The calculator's 'Dividends Received' input is sum of all dividends across your holding period — not the dividend per declaration.
Absolute return measures total percentage gain or loss regardless of time period. CAGR measures equivalent annual compounding rate. They diverge as holding period grows. Example: 100% absolute return over 5 years sounds great but is only 14.87% CAGR — and 100% over 10 years is just 7.18% CAGR. Use absolute return for understanding total gain; use CAGR for comparing investments fairly across different holding periods. For periods under 1 year, CAGR overstates the rate due to annualisation — use absolute return instead.
