We 3 brothers have sold in June 23 a property built by our father in 1953 in a town in East Bardhaman. My share is say Rs 6 lacs. What best can be done to avoid capital gain tax. I am submitting ITR every year.

Ans: Assuming it is Income from long term capital gain; to save tax, you can acquire house property and get exemption u/s 54F. As per section 54F, if you want to buy a residential house property from long term capital gain from sale of shares then you must buy the residential house property 1 year before or 2 years from date of such transfer of shares or construct the house property within 3 years from date of transfer of such shares. If amount can not be utilised before filing return then amount should be kept in CGAS.

To get the benefit of Sec 54F, person should not own more than one house property on the date of transfer of asset and not on the date of acquiring new residential property.

Ans: 01. As described in your question, you might have received Rs.16.00 lakhs (1/6 shares of Rs.96.00 lakhs), in your account.
02. Keeping in view the cost details which have mentioned, LTCG would just be negligible (may be less than Rs.1.00 lakh in your case). You may pay tax on the same & go ahead, instead of involving in any sort of litigations.
Most welcome for any further clarifications. Thanks.

Ans: You sold a property in June 2024 for Rs 30 lakh. It was bought for Rs 1,15,000 in 1994. Let's evaluate if there's a capital gain.

Indexed Cost of Acquisition

The property purchase cost will be adjusted for inflation. This is called the Indexed Cost of Acquisition (ICA). The ICA is calculated using the Cost Inflation Index (CII) provided by the Income Tax Department.

Calculating Indexed Cost

Calculate the ICA to understand your capital gain. Since we won't use specific formulas here, you can consult a Certified Financial Planner to get the precise ICA value. This helps in determining the exact capital gain.

Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG)

Since you held the property for more than 24 months, it is classified as a long-term asset. The profit from the sale, after adjusting for the ICA, is your Long-Term Capital Gain (LTCG).

Tax on LTCG

LTCG is taxed at 20% with indexation benefits. However, there are ways to save on this tax.

Investing in Another Property

You can save on capital gains tax by investing in another residential property. This is covered under Section 54 of the Income Tax Act. If you buy a residential house within two years or construct one within three years, you can claim exemption.

Investing in Capital Gains Bonds

Another option is to invest in Capital Gains Bonds under Section 54EC. These bonds have a lock-in period of five years and provide tax exemption on the gains. The maximum investment limit in these bonds is Rs 50 lakh.

Purchasing a Shop

Buying a shop will not provide capital gains tax exemption under Section 54. The exemption is only for residential properties. If you sell a residential property, you must reinvest in a residential property to save on capital gains tax.

Other Options to Save Tax

Residential Property: Invest in another residential property within two years.

Construction: Construct a new house within three years.

Capital Gains Bonds: Invest in these bonds within six months of the sale.

Final Insights

To save on capital gains tax, reinvest in a residential property or Capital Gains Bonds. Purchasing a shop will not help in saving tax on capital gains. Consulting a Certified Financial Planner can help you navigate these options efficiently.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in