§ 72
Chapter IV — Computation Of Total Income
Mode of computation of capital gains
Income-tax Act, 2025
Capital gains are computed by deducting certain amounts from the full value of consideration received from the transfer of a capital asset. These amounts include expenditure related to the transfer and the cost of acquiring and improving the asset.
- Some deductions, like interest and securities transaction tax, are not allowed.
📜 Official text of the section +
72. (1) Income chargeable under the head “Capital gains” shall be computed, by
deducting from the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a
result of the transfer of the capital asset, the following amounts:—
( a) expenditure incurred wholly and exclusively in connection with such
transfer; and
( b) the cost of acquisition of the asset and the cost of any improvement
thereto.
(2) For the purposes of item B of the formula in section 197(3), the provisions of
sub-section (1) shall have effect as if for the words “cost of acquisition” and “cost
of any improvement”, the words “indexed cost of acquisition” and “indexed cost of
any improvement” had respectively been substituted.
(3) In computing the income chargeable under the head “Capital gains”, the following
amounts shall not be allowed as a deduction:—
( a) the interest claimed as deduction under section 22(1)( b) or under
Chapter VIII;
( b) any sum paid as securities transaction tax under Chapter VII of the
Finance (No. 2) Act, 2004 (23 of 2004).
(4) If a unit holder receives any amount from a business trust with respect to a unit
that is not in the nature of income under Schedule V (Table: Sl. No. 3 or 4) and is
not chargeable to tax under section 92(2)(k) or 223(2), then,—
( a) such amount shall be reduced from the cost of acquisition of such unit;
and
( b) if the transaction of transfer of a unit is not considered as transfer
under section 70 and cost of acquisition of such unit is determined under
section 73, the amount received with respect to such unit before as well
as after such transaction, shall be reduced from the cost of acquisition.
(5) In case of value of any money or capital asset received by a specified person from
a specified entity, as referred to in section 67(10), the specified entity, in addition
to deductions under sub-section (1), shall also be entitled to a deduction calculated
in such manner, as may be prescribed for computing the amount chargeable to
income-tax in its hands under that sub-section which is attributable to the transfer
of such capital asset.
(6) In the case of an assessee, who is a non-resident, capital gains arising from the
transfer of a capital asset being shares in, or debentures of, an Indian company
(other than equity shares referred to in section 198) shall be computed—
( a) by converting the cost of acquisition, expenditure incurred wholly and
exclusively in connection with such transfer and the full value of the
consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of the
capital asset into the same foreign currency as was initially utilised in
the purchase of the shares or debentures; and
( b) the capital gains so computed in such foreign currency shall be reconverted
into Indian currency, so, however, that the said manner of computation
of capital gains shall be applicable in respect of capital gains accruing
or arising from every re-investment thereafter in, and sale of, shares in,
or debentures of, an Indian company.
(7) In the case of an assessee who is a non-resident, any gains arising on account of
appreciation of rupee against a foreign currency at the time of redemption of rupee
denominated bond of an Indian company held by the assessee, shall be ignored for
computing the full value of consideration under this section.
(8) For the purposes of this section,—
( a) “Cost Inflation Index”, in relation to a tax year, means such Index as the
Central Government may, having regard to 75% of average rise in the
Consumer Price Index (urban) for the immediately preceding tax year
to such tax year, by notification, specify, in this behalf;
( b) “indexed cost of acquisition” means an amount which bears to the cost
of acquisition, the same proportion as Cost Inflation Index for the year
in which the asset is transferred bears to the Cost Inflation Index for
the first year in which the asset was held by the assessee or for the year
beginning on 1st April, 2001, whichever is later;
( c) “indexed cost of any improvement” means an amount which bears to
the cost of improvement, the same proportion as Cost Inflation Index
for the year in which the asset is transferred bears to the Cost Inflation
Index for the year in which the improvement to the asset took place;
and
( d) the conversion of Indian currency into foreign currency and the recon-
version of foreign currency into Indian currency shall be at such rate of
exchange as may be prescribed in this behalf.
Cost with reference to certain modes of acquisition.
Plain-language summary — not the official text. Refer to the bare Act and confirm with a professional for your specific case.