Rationalisation and Simplification of taxation of Capital Gains

Capital gains reform: simplified holding periods, unified long-term rate, higher short-term levy, and removal of indexation.

The Bill simplifies capital gains taxation by creating two holding periods-shorter for listed securities and longer for other assets-raising the specific short-term rate for securities subject to securities transaction tax while unifying long-term gains under a single lower rate with an increased exemption for specified securities; it removes indexation for long-term gains on property, gold and unlisted assets, brings unlisted debentures and bonds to tax at applicable rates, and aligns non-resident and withholding provisions to the new rates, effective from the operative date in the Bill.