I sold shares or property — how do capital gains actually work?

Capital gains follow a simple skeleton with important details. How long you held the asset, and what kind of asset it is, decide whether the gain is short-term or long-term — and that classification drives the rate and the reliefs available.

For long-term gains, the law offers genuine opportunities: reinvestment routes (such as into a residential house or specified instruments, each with its own conditions and timelines) can reduce the taxable gain substantially when planned in time. These provisions have evolved meaningfully in recent years, so advice that was right a few years ago deserves a fresh look.

The single best habit: talk before you sell, not after. With the transaction still ahead of you, timing, reinvestment and documentation can all be arranged calmly — and the AIS reporting that follows the sale will match your return perfectly. We support residents and NRIs through exactly this, including the repatriation side for overseas sellers.