Question: I recently sold listed equity shares on an Indian stock exchange after holding them for more than one year. What tax rate will apply to the long-term capital gains on this sale?
Answer: Since you held the listed equity shares for more than one year, the gain qualifies as a long-term capital gain (LTCG) under Section 112A, and here's how it's taxed for the current financial year:
Rate: 12.5%, plus applicable surcharge and cess, on gains above ₹1.25 lakh in the financial year. The first ₹1.25 lakh of your aggregate LTCG from listed equity shares, equity mutual funds, and business trust units in a financial year is exempt from tax — for gains beyond that threshold, only the excess is taxed.

Supporting evidence:
title: incometaxindia.gov.in/income_tax_act_2025_as_amended_by_fa_act_2026-pdf
quote: the capital gains arise from the transfer of a long-term capital asset being an equity share in a company or a unit of an equity oriented fund or a unit of a business trust; income-tax calculated on such long-term capital gains exceeding ` 125000 at the rate of 12.5%;
context: - ( c ) 'unlisted securities' means securities other than listed securities;
- ( d ) 'indexed cost of acquisition' and 'indexed cost of improvement' shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in section 72.

Tax on long-term capital gains in certain cases.

198. (1) Irrespective of anything contained in section 197, the tax payable by an assessee on his total income shall be determined as per the provisions of sub-section (2), if-
- ( a ) the total income includes any income chargeable under the head 'Capital gains';
- ( b ) the capital gains arise from the transfer of a long-term capital asset being an equity share in a company or a unit of an equity oriented fund or a unit of a business trust;
- ( c ) securities transaction tax under Chapter VII of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2004 (23 of 2004) has-
- (i) in a case where the long-term capital asset is in the nature of an equity share in a company, been paid on acquisition and transfer of such capital asset; or
- (ii) in a case where the long-term capital asset is in the nature of a unit of an equity oriented fund or a unit of a business trust, been paid on transfer of such capital asset.
(2) The tax payable by the assessee on the total income referred to in sub-section (1) shall be the aggregate of-
- ( a ) income-tax calculated on such long-term capital gains exceeding ` 125000 at the rate of 12.5%; and
- ( b ) income-tax payable on the total income as reduced by long-term capital gains referred to in sub-section (1) as if the total income so reduced were the total income of the assessee.
(3) In the case of an individual or a Hindu undivided family, being a resident, where the total income as reduced by long-term capital gains computed under sub-section (1) is below the maximum amount which is not chargeable to income-tax, then,-

Tax on long-term capital gains in certain cases.

- ( a ) such long-term capital gains shall be reduced by the amount by which the total income as so reduced falls short of the maximum amount which is not chargeable to income-tax; and
- ( b ) the tax on the balance of such long-term capital gains shall be computed at the rate as referred to in sub-section (2).
(4) The condition specified in sub-section (1)( c ) shall not apply to a transfer undertaken on a recognised stock exchange located in any International Financial Services Centre and where the consideration for such transfer is received or receivable in foreign currency.