Capital Gains Tax Calculator – Calculate STCG & LTCG Tax 2026

Capital gains tax is levied on the profit made from selling capital assets like stocks, mutual funds, real estate, gold, and other investments. The tax rate depends on the holding period (short-term vs long-term) and the type of asset. Understanding these rules is crucial for effective tax planning and investment strategy.

Short-term capital gains are generally taxed at higher rates or added to your regular income, while long-term gains enjoy preferential tax treatment. For equity investments, long-term gains above ₹1 lakh are taxed at 10%, while short-term gains are taxed at 15%. For debt funds and real estate, indexation benefits can significantly reduce your tax liability on long-term gains.

Our calculator considers all these factors including indexation benefits for eligible assets, exemption limits, and different tax rates for various asset classes. Use it to plan your investment exits strategically and optimize your overall tax burden through proper timing and asset allocation.

Tax-loss harvesting is a powerful strategy where you sell loss-making investments to offset gains from profitable investments. This can significantly reduce your overall capital gains tax liability. Remember that you can carry forward unused capital losses for up to 8 years, providing flexibility in your tax planning.

For equity mutual funds, consider the ₹1 lakh annual exemption on long-term capital gains. If your gains are below this threshold, you pay no tax. For larger gains, consider spreading your redemptions across multiple financial years to utilize the exemption each year. This strategy works particularly well for STP (Systematic Transfer Plans).

When dealing with real estate, explore Section 54 exemptions which allow you to save tax by reinvesting capital gains in another residential property. For debt funds held for more than 3 years, indexation benefits can substantially reduce your taxable gains by accounting for inflation over the holding period.