Does a ₹30,000 STCG trigger tax if salary is below ₹3 lakh?

If you're earning ₹2.58 lakh annually and made ₹30,000 in STCG from stocks in FY25, the answer depends on your tax regime and residential status.

- Parizad Sirwalla

Assuming you're an Indian tax resident under 60 and have no other income, you are eligible for basic exemption limit under your chosen tax regime.

Under the old tax regime, you can claim standard deduction of ₹50,000 from ₹2.58 lakh salary, leaving a net salary income of ₹2.08 lakh. Add the ₹30,000 STCG, and your total income is ₹2.38 lakh—below the basic exemption threshold of ₹2.5 lakh. So, no tax is payable.

Under the new tax regime, you are eligible for a higher ₹75,000 standard deduction. It reduces your salary income to ₹1.83 lakh. Adding ₹30,000 STCG, your total income is ₹2.13 lakh, which is below the ₹3 lakh basic exemption limit under the new regime. Again, no tax would be payable.