Preview of the Capital Markets
2020 was a roller coaster of a year. The year started with the biggest sell-off markets seen since the 2008 global financial meltdown due to the unfolding Covid crisis. Historically, volatility drives retail investors away from the markets. But work from home & Reddit threads drove flocks of investors to the capital markets. From Robinhood to Zerodha saw their fortune rise exponentially.
The market saw its lowest point on 23rd March. While the economy slumped, the Square Root Shaped Recovery Theory kicked in. One of the biggest markets rallies the Indian markets have witnessed. Which meant portfolio’s swelled and a lot of retail investors booked profits. One may ask, now what?
As the financial year draws to an end, it presents a unique opportunity to save taxes on Capital Gains, and rebalance the portfolio. We help thousands of investors file taxes at Quicko. Often, we get asked, what are other avenues to save taxes beyond Chapter VI-A deductions. Tax-loss harvesting is one of the open public secrets. Most investors have heard about it, but don’t know how to take advantage of the same. So we decided to decode tax-loss harvesting for you.
What is Tax Loss Harvesting?
Tax Loss Harvesting is a lesser-known way to save taxes for a trader or even a value investor. Currently, short-term capital gains (STCG) are taxed at 15% while long-term capital gains (LTCG) above Rs. 1 lakh are taxed at 10% without indexation. According to the Income Tax Department,
- Short Term Capital Loss (STCL) can be set off against both STCG and LTCG.
- Long Term Capital Loss (LTCL) can be set off against LTCG only.
Taking advantage of this, one can liquidate unrealized losses, to set off Realized Capital Gains, in the above order.
Let’s look at how Tax Loss Harvesting works
Let us say, you have realised gains STCG 50,000 and LTCG 1,80,000. Effectively you are paying taxes on 50,000 @ 15% and 80,000 @ 10%.
LTCG Tax – 80,000 X 10% = 8,000
STCG Tax – 50,000 X 15% = 7,500
Total = 15,500
You also have some unrealized losses for the financial year, which can be set off against Capital Gains (if the position is liquidated). Usually, we sell our shares on a FIFO basis (first-in-first-out).
This means that shares purchased first will be liquidated first.
As we can see, by selling the shares purchased on 12/12/2018, you would end up paying more taxes as you are selling the shares on a profit.
LTCG Tax = (940 – 540) x 20 = Rs. 8000
Total LTCG Tax is now 1,88,000
Which further increases your tax liability by 8,000
By liquidating shares bought on 10/12/2020, you will book a loss of 60,000
LTCG Tax = (940 – 1,000) x 1000 = Rs. (60,000)
This LTCL (Long Term Capital Loss) is set off against LTCG. LTCG is now 1,58,000
Which reduces your Capital Gains by 52,000
Further, by liquidating shares bought on 10/01/2021, you will book a loss of 1,000
STCL = (940 – 960) x 2000 = Rs. (40,000)
This STCL (Short Term Capital Loss) is first set off against STCG and if any losses remain, they will be set off against LTCG.
STCG is now 10,000 & LTCG Tax is now 1,28,000
So finally, your tax liability is
LTCG Tax – 28,000 X 10% = 2,800
STCG Tax – 10,000 X 15% = 1,500
Total = 4,300
You end up reducing your tax liability by 10,700 (15,000 – 4,300)
Rebalancing your Portfolio
A common question arises while practicing Tax Loss Harvesting. Why liquidate a position if I am bullish on that position? The answer is simply to book your losses and set it off against your realised gains. In American and European markets, A wash sale occurs when an investor sells or trades a security at a loss, and within 30 days before or after, regains that position or buys another one that is substantially similar, for the purpose of evading taxes. No such rule exists in India. However, one may look at this as an opportunity to rebalance their portfolio.
Tax loss harvesting may differ depending on your situation so if you are not sure, consult a tax professional.
You can also use a prototype Tax Loss Harvesting Simulator that we have built.
Tweet to us & let us know if you would like us to build this feature.
I want to opt for Tax Loss Harvesting to save tax but I still want to hold the stock. What should I do?
I have a Salary Income and I have an unrealized loss from Equity Trading Income. Will Tax Loss Harvesting help me save more on taxes?
Hey @Shweta_Saini
No, You can only set off long-term capital losses against long-term gains. However, you can set off short-term capital losses against both long-term and short-term capital gains.
Hey @riya_gupta
You can opt for Tax Loss Harvesting by selling the existing holdings on which there is an Unrealised Loss. Thus, the loss can be adjusted with realised profit to reduce the tax liability.
However, if you want to continue holding the stock to keep the portfolio unchanged, you can buy the shares again on the next trading day. However, you must ensure that the transaction cost of entering into buy and sell transaction is less than the amount of taxes saved from Tax Loss Harvesting.
Hope this helps!
Hey @TanyaChopra
The loss from equity trading cannot be adjusted with Salary Income. Thus, we would suggest not opting for Tax Loss Harvesting since it would not reduce your tax liability.