Hi, my name is Abbas Ahmad. I entered into sale agreement of my property inherited from my mother on 9.2.22 with a deadline for the buyers to get registered on their name as 9.9.2022. I received advance amount of 10 lacs and 22 lac 50 k in two time via RTGS. With that total 32 lac 50 k, I purchased 6 open plots in ventures( 3 on my wife’s name & 3 on my name) @280000/- each. The remaining part payment is yet to receive from them. Technically the said agreement has become null and void as per the conditions in the agreement since they failed to get registered within the deadline. My questions is that the plots which are on my wife’s name are considered for Long Term asset tax exemption. Please clarify.-Regards

Ans: Hi Kedarji
Based on your question, apparently on property records, your mother-in-law is the owner of the land. I do not wish to get into the legal heirship aspect of the land post your father-in-law's demise and hence i would restrict my answer within the perspective of your query.

As your MIL is the legal owner and she is the person selling the land, she will be the person liable to tax for the capital gain arising on sale of the NA land.

The distribution of the net sale proceeds to the 3 daughters could be treated as gift backed up with the relevant paper work such as executing the gift deed etc., to ensure that there is no further taxability to the 3 daughters

Ans: No, to claim exemption, amount should be invested by a person who have transferred and amount should be invested in residential HOUSE property.

Ans: To determine your tax liability for the sale of the plot, let’s break down the situation:

Important Details from Your Case
Date of Allotment: 25-May-2016.
Date of Registration: 17-Jun-2024.
Date of Possession: 18-Nov-2024.
Total Cost of Acquisition: Rs. 23,64,631 (including stamp duty).
Sale Price: Rs. 33,00,000.
Circle Rate: Rs. 25,900 per square metre (revised from Rs. 15,620 per square metre).
The total holding period and your choice of taxation method will determine whether you incur LTCG (Long-Term Capital Gains) or STCG (Short-Term Capital Gains) and the corresponding tax liabilities.

Is the Gain Long-Term or Short-Term?
The date of allotment (25-May-2016) is generally considered the purchase date for real estate. Since you are selling the plot after holding it for more than 36 months (over 8 years in your case), your gain qualifies as Long-Term Capital Gain (LTCG).

Calculating the Capital Gains
Sale Price: Rs. 33,00,000.

Cost of Acquisition: Rs. 23,64,631.

Capital Gain: Rs. 33,00,000 – Rs. 23,64,631 = Rs. 9,35,369.

Taxation Options for LTCG (as per the updated rules for sales after 23-Jul-2024):

Option 1: Tax at 12.5% without indexation.

Tax = 12.5% of Rs. 9,35,369 = Rs. 1,16,921 (plus applicable cess and surcharges).
Option 2: Tax at 20% with indexation.
Indexed Capital Gain = Rs. 33,00,000 – Rs. 31,15,434 = Rs. 1,84,566.
Tax = 20% of Rs. 1,84,566 = Rs. 36,913 (plus applicable cess and surcharges).
Choosing the Better Taxation Option
Option 2 (with indexation) is clearly more tax-efficient in this case.
You will pay a lower tax of Rs. 36,913 instead of Rs. 1,16,921 under Option 1.
Suggestions for LTCG Exemption
To further reduce or eliminate your LTCG tax, you can explore the following exemptions under the Income Tax Act, 1961:

1. Section 54F: Invest in a Residential Property
If you use the sale proceeds to purchase or construct a residential property, you can claim exemption under Section 54F.
Conditions:
You must not own more than one house property on the date of transfer.
The new property must be purchased within one year before or two years after the sale, or constructed within three years.
The entire sale consideration should be utilised to claim full exemption.
2. Section 54EC: Invest in Specified Bonds
Invest up to Rs. 50 lakhs in NHAI or REC Capital Gain Bonds within six months of the sale.
The investment is locked in for five years and offers a safe, tax-saving option.
3. Capital Gains Account Scheme (CGAS)
If you cannot immediately utilise the sale proceeds, deposit them in a CGAS account before the filing deadline.
This allows you to keep the exemption intact while planning future investments.
Final Insights
Your plot sale qualifies for LTCG tax. The 20% with indexation option significantly reduces your tax burden.
To minimise tax, consider reinvesting under Section 54F or 54EC.
Consult a Certified Financial Planner or tax expert for tailored advice on reinvestment options and compliance with timelines.
Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

Ans: The amount paid within stipulated period under agreement, through banking channels with receipts, shall be available for exemption u/s 54, even if possession is delayed.
Most welcome for any further clarifications. Thanks.