50 interview questions with answers on Income from Capital Gains
Here are 50 interview questions with answers on Income from Capital Gains under the Indian Income-tax Act, 1961.
๐น Section 1: Basic Concepts (Q1–Q10)
1. Q:
What is "Capital Gain" under the Income-tax Act?
A: Profit or gain arising from the transfer of a capital asset
is called capital gain and is taxable under Section 45.
2. Q:
What are the types of capital gains?
A: (i) Short-Term Capital Gain (STCG), (ii) Long-Term
Capital Gain (LTCG).
3. Q:
What is a capital asset?
A: Property of any kind held by a person, whether or not
connected with business or profession, excluding stock-in-trade, personal
effects, etc.
4. Q:
What is the holding period for short-term capital asset?
A: Less than 36 months (12 months or 24 months for specified
assets like shares, securities, and immovable property).
5. Q:
What is the holding period for long-term capital asset?
A: More than 36/24/12 months depending on the nature of the
asset.
6. Q:
What are examples of capital assets?
A: Land, building, shares, mutual funds, jewellery,
trademarks, goodwill.
7. Q:
What is indexed cost of acquisition?
A: Adjusted purchase cost based on inflation using Cost
Inflation Index (CII), used in computing LTCG.
8. Q:
Are gains from agricultural land taxable?
A: Urban agricultural land is taxable; rural agricultural land
is not a capital asset.
9. Q:
What is the tax rate for STCG?
A: 15% under Section 111A for equity-oriented assets; normal
slab rates for other assets.
10. Q:
What is the tax rate for LTCG?
A: 20% with indexation or 10% without indexation on listed
equity above ₹1 lakh.
๐น Section 2: Transfer & Exemptions (Q11–Q25)
11. Q:
What constitutes a 'transfer' of capital asset?
A: Sale, exchange, relinquishment, extinguishment of rights,
or compulsory acquisition.
12. Q:
Is conversion of capital asset into stock-in-trade a transfer?
A: Yes, it is treated as a transfer under Section 2(47)(iv).
13. Q:
What is Section 54 exemption?
A: LTCG on sale of residential house is exempt if reinvested
in another residential property.
14. Q:
What is Section 54F exemption?
A: LTCG from sale of non-residential asset invested in
residential house within 1 year before or 2 years after transfer.
15. Q:
What is Section 54EC?
A: Exemption of LTCG from land/building if invested in
REC/NHAI bonds within 6 months (up to ₹50 lakh).
16. Q:
Can exemption under 54 and 54EC be claimed together?
A: Yes, if conditions are satisfied.
17. Q:
What is the time limit to invest under Section 54?
A: 1 year before or 2 years after purchase or 3 years if
constructing a new house.
18. Q:
What is the Capital Gains Account Scheme?
A: Unutilized capital gain can be deposited in CGAS before due
date of return to claim exemption.
19. Q:
Is self-occupied residential house eligible under Section 54?
A: Yes, exemption applies regardless of whether the property
is self-occupied or let out.
20. Q:
Is demolition of property a transfer?
A: No, demolition itself does not constitute a transfer.
21. Q:
Are bonus shares taxable on sale?
A: Yes, entire sale value is capital gain since acquisition
cost is NIL.
22. Q:
Is inheritance considered a transfer?
A: No, transfer through gift, will, or inheritance is not
taxable.
23. Q:
Can losses under capital gains be set off?
A: STCL can be set off against STCG and LTCG; LTCL only
against LTCG.
24. Q:
What is the carry-forward period for capital loss?
A: 8 assessment years, subject to return being filed in time.
25. Q:
What happens to exemption under 54 if new house is sold within 3 years?
A: Exemption claimed earlier becomes taxable as LTCG in year
of sale.
๐น Section 3: Computation & Taxability (Q26–Q40)
26. Q:
What is full value of consideration?
A: The total amount received or receivable by the seller on
transfer of capital asset.
27. Q:
What are deductible expenses from full value?
A: Expenses wholly and exclusively in connection with the
transfer (e.g., brokerage, legal fee).
28. Q:
What is Cost of Improvement?
A: Capital expenditure incurred to make additions/improvements
to the asset.
29. Q:
Can indexation be applied to STCG?
A: No, only LTCG qualifies for indexation.
30. Q:
Can depreciable assets result in LTCG?
A: No, gain on depreciable assets is always STCG as per
Section 50.
31. Q:
What is the base year for indexation?
A: FY 2001–02. CII of 2001–02 is taken as base (100).
32. Q:
What is the treatment of goodwill on sale?
A: Taxable as capital gain; no indexation for self-generated
goodwill.
33. Q:
What is the cost of acquisition for inherited property?
A: Cost to previous owner; indexation available from date of
acquisition by previous owner.
34. Q:
What is the treatment of compensation on compulsory acquisition?
A: Taxable as capital gain in the year of receipt under
Section 45(5).
35. Q:
What is Section 50C?
A: If sale value is less than stamp duty value, the stamp duty
value is deemed consideration.
36. Q:
What is Section 112A?
A: Tax on LTCG on sale of listed equity shares/unit of
equity-oriented fund @ 10% exceeding ₹1 lakh.
37. Q:
Is exemption available under new regime for LTCG?
A: Most exemptions like 54, 54F continue under new regime.
38. Q:
Is gift of capital asset taxable?
A: Not taxable in hands of donor; recipient may be taxed under
section 56(2)(x) if not relative.
39. Q:
Is capital gain on sale of jewellery taxable?
A: Yes, taxed as capital gain; jewellery is a capital asset.
40. Q:
How is capital gain computed on sale of mutual funds?
A: Depends on type (equity vs. debt) and holding period (12
months/36 months).
Section 4: Miscellaneous & Practical Questions (Q41–Q50)
41. Q:
Are ESOPs taxable under capital gains?
A: On sale of shares, capital gains arise. Cost = FMV at
exercise date (perquisite taxed earlier).
42. Q:
What is the holding period for rights shares?
A: From date of allotment.
43. Q:
What is the cost of acquisition for bonus shares?
A: NIL.
44. Q:
What is the cost of rights shares?
A: Amount paid to acquire the rights.
45. Q:
Are digital assets (like crypto) taxed under capital gains?
A: No, they are taxed under special provisions (Section
115BBH) @ 30%.
46. Q:
Are gains on sale of rural agricultural land taxable?
A: No, rural agricultural land is not a capital asset.
47. Q:
What is the treatment of capital gain on slump sale?
A: Entire undertaking sold without assigning individual value;
gains are LTCG/STCG u/s 50B.
48. Q:
Is capital gain on buy-back of shares taxable?
A: Yes, company pays tax u/s 115QA; exempt in hands of
shareholder.
49. Q:
Can reinvestment be made in two properties under Section 54?
A: Yes, only once in lifetime for LTCG up to ₹2 crore.
50. Q:
Are capital gains included in total income?
A: Yes, after computing capital gain, tax is calculated and
added to gross total income for final tax liability.
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