Can I claim exemption or pay less capital gains tax on HDFC stock?

Ans: I understand that navigating tax implications can be tricky. Since you acquired HDFC Bank shares on a rights basis in 1995 and have experienced stock splits in 2011 and 2019, the merger with HDFC Ltd adds another layer of complexity.

To determine the tax you'll need to pay upon selling your shares, you'll need to consider the following:

Cost Basis: Calculate the original cost basis of your shares, including any additional shares received from the stock splits.

Current Market Value: Determine the current market value of your shares at the time of sale.

Capital Gains: Subtract the cost basis from the current market value to find the capital gains.

Holding Period: Since you've held the shares for over 20 years, they qualify as long-term investments, which typically have a lower tax rate compared to short-term investments.

Tax Rate: The long-term capital gains tax rate for equities in India is 10% if the gain exceeds ?1 lakh in a financial year.