Charges explained
Stock Market Charges Explained (2026): STT, Stamp Duty, GST, Exchange & DP Charges
Even with zero brokerage, a trade is never free. Here is every charge the government and exchanges add, what it's for, and what it costs.
Rates by segment
| Charge | Delivery equity | Intraday equity | F&O — Futures | F&O — Options |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Securities Transaction Tax (STT) | Buy 0.1% · Sell 0.1% | Buy 0 · Sell 0.025% | Buy 0 · Sell 0.05% | Buy 0 · Sell 0.15% |
| Exchange transaction charges | NSE 0.0031% · BSE 0.0037% | NSE 0.0031% · BSE 0.0037% | NSE 0.0018% · BSE 0 | NSE 0.0355% · BSE 0.0325% |
| Stamp duty | 0.015% on buy | 0.003% on buy | 0.002% on buy | 0.003% on buy |
| SEBI turnover fee | ₹10 per crore | ₹10 per crore | ₹10 per crore | ₹10 per crore |
| GST | 18% on brokerage + exchange + SEBI | 18% on brokerage + exchange + SEBI | 18% on brokerage + exchange + SEBI | 18% on brokerage + exchange + SEBI |
| DP charges | ≈ ₹13 + GST per scrip (typical) | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Rates from exchange circulars and government notifications as used in our calculators. They change by circular, so verify before trading.
Securities Transaction Tax (STT)
Who collects it: Central government. A tax on the value of shares and derivatives you trade. It is usually the biggest statutory cost for F&O traders.
Exchange transaction charges
Who collects it: NSE / BSE. What the exchange charges for matching your order. Options are charged on premium turnover.
Stamp duty
Who collects it: State governments (collected centrally). Charged on the buy side only, at a uniform national rate.
SEBI turnover fee
Who collects it: SEBI. A tiny regulatory fee on all turnover.
GST
Who collects it: Central & state governments. Charged on brokerage, exchange charges and SEBI fee, not on STT or stamp duty.
DP charges
Who collects it: Depository + your broker. Charged once per stock per day when you sell delivery shares from your demat account.
Worked example: ₹1 lakh intraday round trip
Buy 200 shares at ₹500, sell at ₹505, with brokerage left out so you see the statutory part alone:
| STT | ₹25.25 |
|---|---|
| Exchange transaction charges | ₹6.17 |
| SEBI fee | ₹0.2 |
| Stamp duty | ₹3 |
| GST | ₹1.15 |
| Total | ₹35.77 |
Add brokerage on top: see the full bill at every broker. Open the compare-all calculator
Frequently asked questions
What charges apply when I buy and sell shares in India?
Brokerage (set by your broker) plus statutory charges: STT, exchange transaction charges, SEBI turnover fee, GST and stamp duty. Delivery sells also attract DP charges.
Are statutory charges the same at every broker?
Yes. They are set by the government, SEBI and the exchanges, so switching brokers doesn’t change them. Only brokerage and account fees differ.
Which charge is the largest?
It depends on the segment. On a ₹1 lakh intraday round trip, excluding brokerage, total statutory charges come to about ₹35.77, with STT at ₹25.25. For options, STT on the sell side and exchange charges on premium usually dominate.
Is GST charged on STT?
No. GST applies to brokerage, exchange transaction charges and the SEBI fee. STT and stamp duty are not part of the GST base.
Where can I see these charges on my trades?
Every contract note lists them line by line. Read our guide on how to read a contract note, or reproduce one with our brokerage calculator.