Following are some of the tax implications that an investor should be aware of before starting investments in US stocks.
Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG):If you hold U.S. stocks for more than 24 months, the gains are classified as LTCG and are taxed at a lower rate in India. You'll pay a flat 20% tax on the LTCG amount, plus any applicable surcharge and cess. However, note that India does not allow indexation benefits for LTCG on U.S. stocks, meaning you can't adjust the purchase price for inflation.
Short-Term Capital Gains (STCG):If you hold U.S. stocks for less than 24 months, the profits are considered STCG and are taxed based on your income tax slab in India. Consequently, depending on your overall income, the tax rate for STCG could be higher than that for LTCG.