In this article
You buy 100 shares at ₹1,000 and sell them at ₹1,010. That’s ₹1,000 profit — or is it? Once charges are counted, the real number is lower. Understanding each charge helps you choose the right broker, avoid overtrading, and set realistic profit targets.
Rates below are those in effect from October 2024 for NSE. Governments and exchanges revise them, so always compare with your broker's latest charges and contract notes.
The charges, one by one
1. Brokerage
The broker’s fee for executing your order. Discount brokers commonly charge ₹0 for equity delivery and ₹20 or 0.03% per executed order, whichever is lower, for intraday and F&O. Full-service brokers may charge a percentage of turnover instead.
2. Securities Transaction Tax (STT)
A tax collected by the government on securities trades:
| Segment | STT |
|---|---|
| Equity delivery | 0.1% on both buy and sell value |
| Equity intraday | 0.025% on sell value |
| Futures | 0.02% on sell value |
| Options | 0.1% on sell premium |
3. Exchange transaction charges
Charged by NSE/BSE on turnover — about 0.00297% for equity on NSE, 0.00173% for futures and 0.03503% on options premium.
4. SEBI turnover fee
₹10 per crore of turnover — tiny on retail trades.
5. GST
18% on brokerage + exchange transaction charges + SEBI fee. (Not on STT or stamp duty.)
6. Stamp duty
Collected on the buy side only: 0.015% for delivery, 0.003% for intraday and options, 0.002% for futures.
7. DP charges
A flat fee charged by the depository participant (your broker) when you sell shares from your demat account — per scrip, per day, regardless of quantity. Around ₹13–16 plus GST at many discount brokers.
Worked example: the same trade, two ways
Buy 100 shares at ₹1,000 and sell at ₹1,010. Turnover = ₹1,00,000 + ₹1,01,000 = ₹2,01,000.
| Charge | Delivery | Intraday |
|---|---|---|
| Brokerage | ₹0 | ₹40 |
| STT | ₹201 | ₹25 |
| Exchange charges | ₹5.97 | ₹5.97 |
| SEBI fee | ₹0.20 | ₹0.20 |
| GST | ₹1.11 | ₹8.31 |
| Stamp duty | ₹15 | ₹3 |
| DP charges | ₹15.93 | — |
| Total charges | ₹239.21 | ₹82.48 |
| Net profit | ₹760.79 | ₹917.52 |
Delivery costs more here because STT applies to both sides at a higher rate — even with zero brokerage.
Why small intraday trades struggle
Charges are partly fixed (₹20 brokerage per order, DP fees) and partly proportional. On small trades, the fixed part dominates.
Buy 10 shares at ₹500, sell at ₹505 intraday — gross profit ₹50. Brokerage is ₹1.50 + ₹1.52 (0.03% each side), plus STT, exchange charges, GST and stamp duty of a few rupees. Profit survives — but if you trade 20 times a day for ₹10–20 moves, charges can consume a large share of the gains, and losses still cost the full amount.
Breakeven: how far must the price move?
Divide total charges by quantity to find how many points the stock must move just to break even:
- Delivery example: ₹239.21 ÷ 100 = ₹2.39 per share
- Intraday example: ₹82.48 ÷ 100 = ₹0.82 per share
Knowing your breakeven helps you set stop-losses and targets that make sense after costs.
Tips to keep charges low
- Avoid overtrading — fewer, better-planned trades.
- Compare brokers on the charges you actually pay, including DP and account fees.
- Batch your selling of the same stock on the same day to pay DP charges once.
- Watch options costs — STT and exchange charges on premium can be significant for frequent traders.
See every charge before you trade
Our Brokerage & Charges Calculator works out brokerage, STT, exchange fees, SEBI fee, GST, stamp duty and DP charges for delivery, intraday, futures and options — with net profit and breakeven points. If rates change, you can update them under “Advanced: edit rates”.
This article is for education only and is not investment or tax advice.
Free toolTry the Brokerage & Charges CalculatorSee every charge on a trade and your true profit after costs.Frequently asked questions
Is brokerage really zero for delivery trades?
Many discount brokers charge zero brokerage on equity delivery, but STT, exchange charges, stamp duty, GST and DP charges still apply.
Can I claim these charges against tax?
For traders, brokerage and exchange-related charges are generally treated as expenses, while the treatment of STT depends on how your income is classified. Consult a tax professional for your situation.
Why is my contract note slightly different from a calculator?
Brokers round charges per order, BSE and NSE rates differ slightly, and some brokers add their own fees. Calculators give a close estimate.
For education only — not investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Trading involves risk of loss. Verify charges and prices with your broker. Written by the Toolsopedia team. Spotted an error? Tell us and we’ll fix it.