If you are getting shares as a gift, do not grab them immediately?
If it is your birthday and you are getting shares as a gift, then do not consider it an opportunity to grab them immediately. Our advice is that you should know the tax liability on the shares received as a gift so that this gift does not cost you dearly. If you are getting shares as a gift from someone close to you, then know how much tax you will have to pay.
How is tax liability on shares received as a gift-
For tax liability on shares received as a gift, under the Income Tax Act 1961, there is a law that if you have gifted shares to your wife, husband or minor children, then the income generated through this will be added to your income. However, a relief rule with this is that if the monetary value of the gifted shares is less than Rs 50,000, then there will be no tax liability on you. If the fair market value of the shares you have gifted is more than Rs 50,000, then this amount will be considered taxable and you will have to pay tax.
If you are gifting shares to close relatives like parents, siblings, then these will be tax free for you. However, if your wife or husband is gifting shares, then it will be a liability on the basis of the value of the shares. If you have inherited shares, such as through a will, then your shares will be tax free and if you have received tax through marriage or donation, then also you will not have to pay tax, but whenever these gifted shares are sold, you will be liable to pay capital gains tax.
Gifting shares is a good option
If you want to gift shares to someone, then you should not hesitate provided you know that it will not become a burden on the person giving the gift. The tax liability will either be non-existent or it will be so low that it will actually be useful for the purpose for which you are gifting the shares.