Securities Transaction Tax (STT)

Key Takeaways

• New Securities Transaction Tax (STT) Rates for Futures and Options Effective Oct 1, 2024
• The STT on futures has increased from 0.0125% to 0.02%, while the rate for options has risen from 0.0625% to 0.1%.
• These changes increase transaction costs for traders. Additionally, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) have adopted a uniform fee structure.

The Securities Transaction Tax (STT) is a tax levied on buy and sell transactions involving securities such as equities and derivatives. The then Finance Minister P. Chidambaram introduced the STT in 2004 to mitigate tax evasion on the gains made through buying and selling securities. Since this tax can lower your initial investment and final payout, it is important to understand the tax. 

What is the Securities Transaction Tax?

The Securities Transaction Tax (STT) is a direct tax on the buying and selling of securities like stocks, mutual funds, and derivatives on recognised stock exchanges in India. It applies to both buyers and sellers and is calculated as a percentage of the transaction value. STT is governed by the Securities Transaction Tax Act and covers transactions involving equity shares, equity-oriented mutual funds, and derivatives, as well as unlisted shares sold through an offer for sale and later listed on stock exchanges. Introduced in 2004, this tax helps the government generate additional revenue.

Key points to understand

Here are some key points about the Securities Transaction Tax in India:

⦁ Tax Rates: The tax rates for STT in India vary depending on the type of securities and the nature of the transaction. For example, the STT rates are as follows:

a. Equity Delivery: 0.1% on the turnover for both the buyer and the seller.
b. Equity Intraday: 0.025% on the selling side (seller) of the transaction.
c. Equity Futures: 0.0125% on the sell side (seller) of the transaction.
d. Equity Options: 0.0625% on the sell side (seller) of the transaction.

⦁ Collection: The stock exchanges are responsible for collecting the STT from the buyers and sellers and passing it on to the government.

⦁ Exemptions: Certain transactions are exempt from STT, such as off-market transfers, transactions in government securities, and transactions by mutual funds when they sell units to investors.

The importance of Securities Transaction Tax

Revenue generation: One of the primary reasons for implementing the STT is to generate revenue for the government. The tax collected from securities transactions contributes to the overall tax revenue, which can be used to fund various public welfare initiatives, infrastructure development, and government expenditures.

Regulatory tool: The STT serves as a regulatory tool for monitoring and overseeing trading activities in the securities market. The tax helps authorities track transactions and identify any potential market manipulation or suspicious activities.

Despite these advantages, it's essential to consider potential drawbacks and limitations of the STT:

Impact on trading volumes: High STT rates may lead to reduced trading volumes as investors might be discouraged from frequent trading due to increased transaction costs.

Potential shift to other instruments: In some cases, the imposition of STT on certain securities might lead to investors shifting their focus to other investment instruments that are not subject to the tax, potentially distorting investment patterns.

How does Securities Transaction Tax work?

Securities Transaction Tax (STT) works by applying a tax on the transaction value whenever you buy or sell certain securities, like stocks, in the Indian stock markets. The STT is levied to ensure that the investors end up paying a tax for the services they use of the Indian stock end and to facilitate the government in earning more income through taxes. The Indian government replaced an earlier tax called ‘Stamp duty’ with Securities Transaction Tax (STT) in 2004 as they improved the taxation system.

The Indian government levies STT on both buyers and sellers, and the tax rate varies depending on the type of security and whether you're buying or selling. For example, when you buy or sell equity shares, an STT of 0.1% is applied to the transaction value. The tax is automatically deducted by the stock exchange and paid to the government, making it a straightforward process for the investor.

The stock exchanges from which an investor buys and sells securities deduct the STT from the buy-and-sell order. Once deducted, they are liable to deposit the STT with the Indian government within a specific time frame.

STT adds to the cost of trading, impacting the overall profitability, especially for frequent traders. Since STT is non-refundable, investors argue that it hurts market liquidity and reduces the overall returns. An example of STT is if you buy 200 shares of a company at Rs. 500 per share, the total transaction value is Rs. 1,00,000. With an STT rate of 0.1%, you would pay Rs. 100 as STT.

STT calculation

The STT calculation is done based on the type of transaction and the value of securities traded. STT is calculated as a percentage of the transaction value.

Here's an example for a better understanding of STT calculation:

If you buy 200 shares of ABC Bank at Rs. 1,200 per share for delivery and hold them in your Demat account, a STT charge of 0.1% (STT rate) x Rs. 1,200 (buying price) x 200 (shares) = Rs. 240 would be levied on the transaction. This STT is applied at the time of purchasing the shares.

Impact of Securities Transaction Tax on investors

Securities Transaction Tax is levied on the buy and sell orders placed by the investors and can impact their investments significantly as it lowers the initial investment amount and the final redemption amount. Here is the impact of STT on investors:

• Increased transaction cost: STT is levied on buy and sell orders when investors buy or sell securities. It can lower the initial investment amount at the time of buying and the final redemption amount at the time of selling, affecting the overall return potential.
• Reduced liquidity: STT reduces market liquidity as some investors choose to stay away from securities that come with a higher STT rate. Since fewer buyers and sellers are available, it becomes difficult for existing buyers and sellers to buy and sell their securities easily.
• Impact on investment strategy: The STT rate can greatly impact the investment strategy and force investors to change it based on the STT rate. Investors avoid securities that attract a high STT rate or only choose long-term investments, even when their goal is to earn quick short-term returns.
• Effect on profitability: Since STT is applied regardless of whether the trade is profitable or not, it directly reduces the gains from successful trades and increases the losses from unsuccessful ones. This can affect overall portfolio performance.
• Security pricing: If a security has a higher STT rate, investors can avoid investing, which can significantly reduce the demand and result in lowering the security’s price. This can end up forcing existing investors to potentially incur a loss on their investments.

What is the Security Transaction Tax rate?

The Indian Finance Minister made some changes in the STT rates during the announcement of the Union Budget 2024. The STT rates for selling futures and options contracts have been changed. Here is the updated table with the STT rates:

Levy of Securities Transaction Tax

The levy of Securities Transaction Tax (STT) is a tax imposed on transactions involving securities listed on recognised stock exchanges in India, such as equities, futures, options, etc. STT was introduced under Chapter VII of the Finance Act 2004. The tax was implemented to streamline the process of tax collection and reduce tax evasion in the securities market.

STT is mandatory and charged to both buyers and sellers, depending on the type of transaction. The stock exchanges collect the STT at the time of the investors' transactions. For example, when an investor buys or sells shares, the broker includes STT in the transaction costs.

The government defines and adjusts the STT rates regularly. They are different for equity delivery, intraday trades, futures, options, and mutual funds. The tax is not refundable and is mandatory when buying and selling securities.

Conclusion

The Securities Transaction Tax (STT) is a tax levied on the purchase and sale of securities, such as equities, futures, options, etc, by the stock exchanges. Stock exchanges are required to deposit taxes with the Indian government within a specific timeframe. The main idea behind charging STT is to facilitate tax collection on trading activities. The STT is automatically deducted during the buying and selling of securities and is included in the transaction cost. Now that you know what is STT, you can make better investment decisions.

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