Without doubt, buying a property is the most popular investment bet Indians make. But paying tax on profit from sale of property can shave off a large part of the appreciation in its value. However, the Budget is going to lower taxes on property sale, especially if your property was acquired before 2001.
Gains are simply put sale price of an asset less cost of its acquisition. When a property is sold within three years of holding it, gains are taxed like any other income. These gains are called short term gains. Gains from sale made after 3 years are taxed at a lower rate of 20%. These are called long term gains. While calculating long term gains, cost is allowed to be ‘indexed’. Indexation adjusts costs for inflation. Which means if an asset was bought in 1991 and sold in 2016, its cost will be adjusted (increased) by applying CII (cost inflation index). As a result indexed cost will be higher and gains will be lower.
From FY 2017-18, the period of holding to qualify for long term gains has been reduced to 2 years and the base year for calculating indexed cost has been changed from 1981 to 2001. The base year currently being used is 1981. For calculating gains on sale of a property acquired before 1981, taxpayers have a choice of either considering its actual cost or Fair Market Value (FMV) as on 1st April 1981.
Gains are simply put sale price of an asset less cost of its acquisition. When a property is sold within three years of holding it, gains are taxed like any other income. These gains are called short term gains. Gains from sale made after 3 years are taxed at a lower rate of 20%. These are called long term gains. While calculating long term gains, cost is allowed to be ‘indexed’. Indexation adjusts costs for inflation. Which means if an asset was bought in 1991 and sold in 2016, its cost will be adjusted (increased) by applying CII (cost inflation index). As a result indexed cost will be higher and gains will be lower.
From FY 2017-18, the period of holding to qualify for long term gains has been reduced to 2 years and the base year for calculating indexed cost has been changed from 1981 to 2001. The base year currently being used is 1981. For calculating gains on sale of a property acquired before 1981, taxpayers have a choice of either considering its actual cost or Fair Market Value (FMV) as on 1st April 1981.
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