<h1>ICDS VIII: Guidelines for Securities as Stock-in-Trade under Mercantile Accounting; Excludes Interest, Dividends, and Specific Institutions.</h1> The Income Computation Disclosure Standards (ICDS) VIII issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) pertains to the treatment of securities held as stock-in-trade under the mercantile accounting system, effective from April 1, 2015. It excludes recognition of interest or dividends on securities, securities held by insurance companies, mutual funds, venture capital funds, banks, and public financial institutions. Securities are initially measured at actual cost, including all acquisition costs. Subsequent measurement is at actual cost or net realizable value, whichever is lower, using the FIFO method for listed securities, while unlisted securities are valued at actual cost.