Sir I have sold a 1bhk house after keeping it with me for about 20 years After deducting my expenses on its improvement like re wiring, floor replacing, compound wall Erection et.sold that house on 20 feb2021. I have parked my cap gain 1069000 in SBI cap gain savings account on 19 Jul2021. I declared ?1069000 in my return on 31 Jul 2021.But neither I could purchase a house nor I constructed a house. Iam a senior citizen retired from IAF. Drawing pension. I do get vehicle insurance commission and MF distributor commission.How to avoid cap gain Tax. As my Capgain ac completes 3 years my amount will be transferred to cap gain scheme A ( savings ac) Am I to pay advance tax for this amount. My pension and commission amount comes yearly around 4.40 lakh. Will this amount also be added to cap gain and tax will be assessed as regular income and my liability to pay advanvance tax. Or I have to pay advance tax only for the amount 10.69 lakh. Will my regular income other than Capgain be liable for 30% with Edu cess and with liability pay advance tax

Ans: Hello,

I understand your situation and I'm here to help. Based on the details you've provided and the current tax laws in India, here's what you need to know:

1) The amount you've spent on acquiring the housing plot can indeed be considered for the utilization of your capital gain. As per the Income Tax Act, if you reinvest the capital gains from the sale of a property in buying a new property or constructing a new house, you can claim tax exemption on the capital gains.

2) The amount you need to keep in the Capital Gain Account Scheme (CGAS) would be the remaining amount after deducting the cost of the plot from the capital gain. In your case, if you've already spent Rs. 11.00 Lakh on the plot, you would need to keep Rs. 4.00 Lakh (Rs. 15.00 Lakh - Rs. 11.00 Lakh) in the CGAS. This amount should be utilized for the construction of the house within the specified time period, which is 3 years from the date of sale of the original property.

Ans: Unutilised amount of gain is required to be deposited in Capital Gain Account scheme

Ans: Unfortunately, the capital gains will need to be paid.

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