Financial Products  Taxation in India: FY 2026–27 Guide for Investors

Tax affects the return investors ultimately retain from shares, mutual funds, deposits, bonds, gold and retirement products. Two investments producing the same pre-tax return may deliver different post-tax outcomes because their income, holding periods and tax rates differ.

The Income-tax Act, 2025 came into effect on 1 April 2026. Therefore, income earned from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 falls under Tax Year 2026–27, commonly described as Financial Year 2026–27.

The following guide summarizes key rules applicable to resident individual investors. Surcharge and 4% Health and Education may apply in addition to the rates mentioned.

Listed Equity Shares

For listed equity shares where the applicable Securities Transaction Tax conditions are satisfied, the holding period determines the type of capital gain.

Shares held for up to 12 months generally produce short-term capital gains. These qualifying gains are taxed at 20%.

Shares held for more than 12 months generally produce long-term capital gains. Qualifying LTCG is taxed at 12.5% on aggregate gains exceeding ₹1.25 lakh during the tax year.

For example, if an investor has qualifying equity LTCG of ₹1.75 lakh, tax is generally calculated on ₹50,000 after applying the ₹1.25 lakh threshold. The threshold is shared across qualifying gains covered by the relevant provision; it is not separately available for every stock.

Loss set-off and carry-forward rules require separate consideration. Filing the income-tax return by the applicable deadline is generally important for carrying forward eligible capital losses.

Equity-Oriented Mutual Funds

Equity-oriented mutual funds generally follow similar holding-period and capital-gains rules when they satisfy the statutory equity-exposure and transaction-tax conditions.

Units sold within 12 months ordinarily generate short-term capital gains taxable at 20%. Units sold after more than 12 months ordinarily generate long-term capital gains taxable at 12.5%, with the shared ₹1.25 lakh annual threshold for qualifying gains.

Exit load is a scheme charge and should not be confused with tax. A redemption can create a taxable event even when the proceeds are immediately reinvested in another scheme.

Debt and Other Mutual Funds

Not every mutual fund qualifies as equity oriented. Taxation depends on the scheme’s underlying portfolio and statutory classification.

Certain specified mutual funds, particularly schemes investing predominantly in debt and money-market instruments, can have their gains treated as short-term regardless of the holding period. Such gains are generally taxed at the investor’s applicable slab rate.

Other non-equity funds may receive long-term treatment after the prescribed holding period. Because hybrid, international, gold and fund-of-funds schemes can fall into different categories, investors should check the scheme’s latest tax disclosure rather than relying solely on its marketing name.

Dividends

Dividends received from Indian companies and mutual funds are generally taxable in the investor’s hands at the applicable slab rate.

Tax may be deducted at source when payments cross the prescribed threshold, but TDS is not necessarily the final tax. The investor must report the full taxable dividend and claim credit for eligible TDS while filing the return.

From Tax Year 2026–27, the Finance Act 2026 provides that expenditure deductions are not allowed against dividend income and income from mutual-fund units. Investors should confirm the treatment applicable to their circumstances.

Fixed Deposits and Savings Interest

Interest from bank fixed deposits, recurring deposits and most corporate deposits is generally taxed at the  investor’s slab rate under income from other sources.

Banks may deduct TDS after interest crosses the applicable limit. Absence of TDS does not make the interest tax-free.

Eligible individuals may claim the permitted deduction for savings-account interest. Resident senior citizens may have a separate deduction for qualifying interest income, subject to current conditions and limits.

Bonds and Government Securities

Interest from taxable bonds and government securities is generally added to taxable income unless a specific exemption applies.

Capital-gains treatment depends on whether the security is listed, its holding period and whether special provisions apply. Listed securities can qualify as long-term after the prescribed period, while unlisted instruments commonly require a longer holding period.

Market-linked debentures and certain specified securities may receive special treatment.  Investors should check the instrument terms before assuming that ordinary bond-tax rules apply.

Gold and Sovereign Gold Bonds

Physical gold held for more than the prescribed 24-month period generally qualifies as a long-term capital asset. Applicable LTCG is ordinarily taxed at 12.5% without indexation. Short-term gains are generally taxed at the investor’s slab rate.

Gold ETFs and gold  mutual funds may follow different rules because their tax classification depends on whether they qualify as listed securities, mutual-fund units or specified mutual funds.

Interest from Sovereign Gold Bonds is generally taxable at the investor’s slab rate. From Tax Year 2026–27, the maturity-redemption exemption applies when an individual subscribed at original issue and continuously held the eligible SGB until redemption at maturity, subject to the law’s conditions. A sale on an exchange does not automatically receive the same exemption.

Virtual Digital Assets

Gains from qualifying virtual digital assets, including many crypto assets, are generally taxed at 30%, plus applicable surcharge.

Except for the permitted cost of acquisition, other deductions are heavily restricted. Losses from virtual digital assets generally cannot be set off against other income or carried forward. A 1% TDS mechanism may apply to qualifying transfers, subject to thresholds and conditions.

REITs and InvITs

Distributions from Real Estate Investment Trusts and Infrastructure Investment Trusts may contain interest, dividends, repayment components or other income. Each component can have different tax treatment.

Investors should use the distribution statement issued by the trust instead of treating the entire payment as a tax-free dividend. Selling listed units can also create short-term or long-term capital gains based on the applicable holding period.

Buybacks From April 2026

Budget 2026 changed the treatment of company buybacks. From 1 April 2026, proceeds for shareholders are taxed under the applicable capital-gains framework rather than the earlier dividend-style treatment introduced in 2024. Special additional tax rules can apply to promoters.

Investors participating in a buyback should calculate the gain using the applicable acquisition cost and current provisions.

Tax should be considered before investing, but it should not be the only reason for selecting a product. Risk, liquidity, costs, diversification and suitability remain equally important. Maintain transaction statements, contract notes, acquisition costs, dividend records and TDS certificates. These records make capital-gain calculations and income-tax filing more reliable.

Disclaimer: This article is for general education and does not constitute tax, legal or investment advice. Tax rules, interpretations and rates may change. Consult a qualified tax professional for guidance based on your income, residential status and investments.