Chapter IV - Computation of Total Income
Section 67
Section 67: capital gains
Section 67 is the core charging provision for the "Capital gains" head of income under the Income-tax Act, 2025 - the successor to Section 45 of the old Act. Beyond the basic rule that gains from transferring a capital asset are taxed in the year of transfer, it also contains a long series of specific deeming provisions that bring particular kinds of receipts - insurance payouts, ULIP proceeds, conversion to stock-in-trade, dematerialised-securities transfers, firm capital contributions, partner reconstitution receipts, enhanced compensation, and joint-development-agreement receipts - within the capital gains charge, each with its own timing rule.
On this page
Need advice on Section 67?
This article is for general information. Refer to the Income-tax Act, 2025 as amended by the Finance Act, 2026 and the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2026 for the official provisions. If you need professional advice for your situation, contact Bizeneed.
Statutory text
Bare law
(1) Any profits or gains arising from the transfer of a capital asset effected in a tax year shall, save as otherwise provided in sections 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 and 89, be chargeable to income-tax under the head “Capital gains” and shall be deemed to be the income of the tax year in which the transfer took place.
(2) Irrespective of anything contained in sub-section (1), if a person receives during any tax year any money or other assets under an insurance from an insurer on account of damage to, or destruction of, any capital asset, as a result of circumstances mentioned in sub-section (3), then,–– (a) any profits or gains arising from receipt of such money or other assets shall be chargeable to income-tax under the head “Capital gains” and shall be deemed to be the income of such person of the tax year in which such money or other asset was received; and (b) for the purposes of section 72, the value of any money or the fair market value of other assets on the date of such receipt shall be deemed to be the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of such capital asset.
(3) The following shall be the circumstances referred to in sub-section (2):–– (a) flood, typhoon, hurricane, cyclone, earthquake or any other convulsion of nature; or (b) riot or civil disturbance; or (c) accidental fire or explosion; or (d) action by an enemy or action taken in combating an enemy (whether with or without a declaration of war).
(4) In sub-section (2), “insurer” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in section 2(9) of the Insurance Act, 1938.
(5) Irrespective of anything contained in sub-section (1), if any profits or gains arises to a person from receipt of any amount, including a bonus, under a unit linked insurance policy to which the exemption specified at Schedule II (Table: Sl. No. 2) does not apply, then,–– (a) such profits and gains shall be chargeable to income-tax under the head “Capital gains” and shall be deemed to be the income of such person in the tax year in which such amount was received; and (b) the income taxable shall be calculated in such manner, as may be prescribed.
(6) Irrespective of anything contained in sub-section (1), if the profits or gains arising from the transfer by way of conversion of a capital asset into, or its treatment by the owner as, stock-in-trade of a business carried on by him, then,–– (a) such profits and gains shall be chargeable to income-tax as his income in the tax year in which such stock-in-trade is sold or otherwise transferred by him; and (b) for the purposes of section 72, the fair market value of the asset on the date of such conversion or treatment shall be deemed to be the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of such capital asset.
(7) If any person, at any time during the tax year, had any beneficial interest in any securities and any profits or gains arise from transfer made by the depository or participant of such beneficial interest in respect of securities, then,–– (a) such profits and gains shall be chargeable to income-tax as the income of the beneficial owner of the tax year in which such transfer took place; (b) such profits and gains shall not be regarded as income of the depository who is deemed to be the registered owner of securities by virtue of section 10(1) of the Depositories Act, 1996; and (c) for the purposes of section 72 and section 2(101)(b), the cost of acquisition and the period of holding of any securities shall be determined on the basis of the first-in-first-out method.
(8) In sub-section (7), “beneficial owner”, “depository” and “security” shall have the same meanings as respectively assigned to them in section 2(1)(a), (e) and (l) of the Depositories Act, 1996.
(9) If any profits or gains arise from the transfer of a capital asset by a person, to a firm or other association of persons or body of individuals (not being a company or co-operative society) in which he is or becomes a partner or member, by way of capital contribution or otherwise, then,–– (a) such profits and gains shall be chargeable to tax as his income of the tax year of such transfer; and (b) for the purposes of section 72 the amount recorded in the books of account of the firm, association or body as the value of the capital asset shall be deemed to be the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of such capital asset.
(10) Irrespective of anything contained in sub-section (1), if a specified person receives during the tax year, any money or capital asset, or both, from a specified entity in connection with the reconstitution of such specified entity, then,–– (a) any profits or gains arising from such receipt shall be deemed as income of the specified entity of the tax year of such receipt by the specified person and chargeable to income-tax under the head “Capital gains”; and (b) such profits or gains shall be determined irrespective of anything to the contrary contained in this Act as follows:— A = B + C – D, where, A = income chargeable to income-tax under this sub-section as income of the specified entity under the head “Capital gains”; B = value of any money received by the specified person from the specified entity on the date of such receipt; C = amount of fair market value of the capital asset received by the specified person from the specified entity on the date of such receipt; and D = amount of balance in the capital account (represented in any manner) of the specified person in the books of account of the specified entity at the time of its reconstitution; (c) for the purposes of clause (b),–– (i) if the value of “A” as computed is negative, such value shall be deemed to be zero; (ii) the balance in the capital account of the specified person in the books of account of the specified entity shall be calculated without considering any increase in the capital account of the specified person due to revaluation of any asset or due to self-generated goodwill or any other self-generated asset; and (d) the provisions of this sub-section shall operate in addition to the provisions of section 8 and the taxation under the said section shall be worked out independently, when a capital asset is received by a specified person from a specified entity in connection with the reconstitution of such specified entity.
(11) In sub-section (10),— (a) “reconstitution of the specified entity”, “specified entity” and “specified person” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in section 8; (b) “self-generated goodwill” and “self-generated asset” mean goodwill or asset, as the case may be, which has been acquired without incurring any cost for purchase or which has been generated during the course of the business or profession.
(12) Irrespective of anything contained in sub-section (1), if the capital gain arises from the transfer of a capital asset by way of compulsory acquisition under any law, or a transfer the consideration for which was determined or approved by the Central Government or the Reserve Bank of India, and the compensation or the consideration for such transfer is enhanced or further enhanced by any court, tribunal or other authority, the capital gain shall be dealt with in the following manner:–– (a) the capital gains computed with reference to the compensation awarded in the first instance or as the case may be, consideration determined or approved by the Central Government or the Reserve Bank of India in the first instance, shall be chargeable as income under the head “Capital gains” of the tax year in which such compensation or part thereof, or such consideration or part thereof, was first received; (b) the amount by which the compensation or consideration is enhanced or further enhanced by the court, tribunal or other authority shall be deemed to be income chargeable under the head “Capital gains” of the tax year in which such amount is received; (c) any compensation as referred to in clause (b) received in pursuance of an interim order of a court, tribunal or other authority shall be deemed as income chargeable under the head “Capital gains” of the tax year in which the final order of such court, tribunal or other authority is made; and (d) the capital gain assessed for any tax year under clause (a) or (b) shall be recomputed where the compensation or consideration referred to in clauses (a) to (c) is reduced by any court, tribunal or other authority, and such reduced value shall be taken to be the full value of the consideration.
(13) In relation to the amount referred to in sub-section (12)(b) and (c),— (a) the cost of acquisition and the cost of improvement shall be taken as nil; and (b) in a case, where the enhanced compensation or consideration is received by any other person due to the death of the person who made the transfer, or for any other reason, such amount shall be deemed as the income chargeable to tax under the head “Capital gains” in the hands of such other person.
(14) Irrespective of anything contained in sub-section (1), if the capital gains arises to a person (being an individual or a Hindu undivided family), from the transfer of a capital asset, being land or building or both, under a specified agreement, then,–– (a) such capital gains shall be chargeable to income-tax for the tax year in which the certificate of completion for the whole or part of the project is issued by the competent authority; and (b) for the purposes of section 72, the stamp duty value, on the date of issue of the said certificate, of the share of such person, being land or building or both, in the project, as increased by any consideration received in cash or by a cheque or draft or by any other mode shall be deemed to be the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of such capital asset.
(15) In sub-section (14),–– (a) “competent authority” means the authority empowered to approve the building plan under any law; (b) “specified agreement” means a registered agreement in which a person owning land or building, or both, agrees to allow another person to develop a real estate project on such land or building, or both, in consideration of a share, being land or building or both, in such project, whether with or without payment of part of the consideration in cash.
(16) The provisions of sub-section (14) shall not apply, if the person transfers his share in the project on or before the date of issue of the certificate of completion, and then,–– (a) the capital gains shall be deemed to be the income of the tax year of such transfer; and (b) the provisions of this Act, other than sub-section (14), shall apply for the purpose of determination of full value of consideration.
(17) Irrespective of anything contained in sub-section (1), the difference between the repurchase price of the units referred to in section 80CCB(2) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 and the capital value of such units shall be deemed to be the capital gains arising to the assessee in the tax year in which–– (a) such repurchase takes place; or (b) the plan referred to in that section is terminated.
(18) For the purposes of sub-section (17), “capital value of such units” means any amount invested by the assessee in the units referred to in section 80CCB(2) of the Income-tax Act, 1961.
Introduction
The capital-gains charge depends on a capital asset, a transfer and the tax year specified for that event. Section 67 also contains special timing and deemed-transfer cases, so the sale date is not always the whole answer.
Key takeaways
Ordinary transfer year
Capital gains on a transfer of a capital asset are generally taxed in the tax year of transfer, subject to the specified relief provisions.
Different timing for conversion
When an owner converts a capital asset into business stock-in-trade, the gain is taxed when that stock is sold or otherwise transferred, with fair market value at conversion used as deemed consideration.
The basic charge
Section 67(1) charges to income-tax, under the head "Capital gains," any profits or gains arising from the transfer of a capital asset effected in a tax year, treating them as income of the tax year in which the transfer took place - subject to the exceptions in Sections 82 to 89 (the reinvestment/rollover exemption provisions).
Insurance receipts for damaged or destroyed assets
Where a person receives money or other assets under an insurance policy because a capital asset was damaged or destroyed by flood, typhoon, hurricane, cyclone, earthquake or other natural convulsion; riot or civil disturbance; accidental fire or explosion; or enemy action (including action taken in combating an enemy), the resulting profits or gains are chargeable as capital gains of the year of receipt, with the money value or fair market value of the assets received on that date treated as the full value of consideration under Section 72 (Section 67(2)-(4)).
ULIP proceeds, conversion to stock-in-trade, and dematerialised securities
- Amounts (including bonus) received under a unit linked insurance policy that does not qualify for the Schedule II (Table Sl. No. 2) exemption are chargeable as capital gains in the year of receipt, computed in the prescribed manner (Section 67(5)).
- When a capital asset is converted into, or treated as, stock-in-trade of a business, the resulting profit is taxed in the year the stock-in-trade is actually sold or transferred, using the asset's fair market value on the date of conversion as the deemed consideration (Section 67(6)).
- Profits from a depository's transfer of a person's beneficial interest in dematerialised securities are taxed as the beneficial owner's income (not the depository's) in the year of transfer, with cost of acquisition and holding period determined on a first-in-first-out basis (Section 67(7)-(8)).
Contribution of a capital asset to a firm, AOP or BOI
If a person transfers a capital asset to a firm, AOP or BOI (not a company or co-operative society) in which they are or become a partner/member - whether by way of capital contribution or otherwise - the resulting profit or gain is taxed as the transferor's income in the year of transfer, with the amount recorded in the entity's books as the value of the asset deemed to be the full value of consideration (Section 67(9)).
Money or assets received on reconstitution of a firm/entity
Section 67(10)-(11) taxes a specified person who receives money or a capital asset (or both) from a specified entity on that entity's reconstitution, as capital gains income of the specified entity itself, computed by the formula A = B + C − D, where B is the money received, C is the fair market value of any asset received, and D is the balance in the specified person's capital account (excluding revaluation gains and self-generated goodwill/assets) at the time of reconstitution. If the computed value is negative, it is treated as zero.
Enhanced compensation on compulsory acquisition
Where compensation for a compulsory acquisition (or a Central Government/RBI-approved consideration) is later enhanced by a court, tribunal or authority, Section 67(12)-(13) taxes: the original compensation as capital gains of the year first received; the enhancement as capital gains of the year the additional amount is received; any interim-order compensation as income of the year the final order is made; and requires recomputation if the amount is later reduced. The cost of acquisition/improvement for the enhanced portion is taken as nil.
Joint development agreements (land/building)
For an individual or HUF that transfers land or building (or both) under a registered "specified agreement" with a developer, Section 67(14)-(16) taxes the resulting capital gains in the year the completion certificate for the project (or relevant part) is issued by the competent authority - not the year of the agreement - using the stamp duty value of the assessee's share on that date (plus any cash/cheque consideration received) as the full value of consideration. If the assessee transfers their share before the completion certificate is issued, this deferral does not apply and normal timing rules govern instead.
Old Section 80CCB unit repurchase
Section 67(17)-(18) treats the difference between the repurchase price of units under the old Section 80CCB(2) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 and the capital value invested in those units as capital gains, taxable in the year of repurchase or plan termination.
Step-by-step flow for applying Section 67
- 1
Was a capital asset transferred during the tax year?
- No: Check whether a special event in Section 67 (insurance receipt, ULIP proceeds, reconstitution payout and so on) applies instead.
- Yes: Go to the next step.
- 2
Is the gain exempt under Sections 82 to 89?
- Yes: Apply that provision.
- No: Go to the next step.
- 3
Does a special timing or valuation rule in Section 67 apply?
Examples: insurance money for damage or destruction by natural calamity, riot, accidental fire or enemy action is taxed in the year of receipt (Section 67(2)); ULIP proceeds without exemption; conversion into stock-in-trade; contribution of an asset to a firm, AOP or BOI; joint development agreements.
- 4
Default rule
The gain is the income of the tax year in which the transfer took place, and is computed under Section 72.
Practical checklist
Do
- Document the asset, transfer event and applicable tax year before computing gain.
- Check whether a special timing rule applies to compulsory acquisition, conversion, joint development or another listed event.
- Test Section 70's non-transfer list before finalising the charge.
Avoid
- Do not assume every asset movement creates a chargeable capital gain.
- Do not use a cash-receipt date as the gain year when a special statutory timing rule applies.
Illustrative example
Worked example: insurance payout after a factory fire
Hypothetical facts (illustration only, not a real taxpayer): An accidental fire destroys a company's warehouse building (a capital asset). The insurer pays ₹80 lakh in the following tax year.
Qualifying event
Accidental fire is one of the circumstances listed in Section 67(3)(c), and the money is received from an insurer.
Year of charge
Under Section 67(2)(a), any gain is chargeable in the tax year in which the insurance money is received, not the year of the fire.
Consideration
Under Section 67(2)(b), ₹80 lakh is deemed to be the full value of consideration for computing the gain under Section 72.
Outcome
- The gain (₹80 lakh minus the relevant cost) is taxed in the year of receipt.
- If the asset were part of a depreciable block, the block-of-assets rules would also need to be applied.
Glossary
- Capital asset
- Property within Section 2's definition, after its exclusions.
- Transfer
- A defined event involving a capital asset; the Act's specific inclusions and non-transfer exclusions control.
Frequently asked questions
When are capital gains taxed under Section 67?
As income of the tax year in which the transfer of the capital asset took place, under Section 67(1), subject to the reinvestment exemptions in Sections 82 to 89.
Are insurance payouts for a destroyed asset taxed as capital gains?
Yes - Section 67(2) taxes money or assets received from an insurer for damage or destruction of a capital asset due to natural disaster, riot/civil disturbance, accidental fire/explosion, or enemy action, as capital gains in the year received.
When is capital gains tax triggered for a joint development agreement (JDA)?
In the tax year in which the completion certificate for the whole or relevant part of the project is issued by the competent authority - not the year the JDA is signed - per Section 67(14), using the stamp duty value of the assessee's share on that date as the consideration.
How is enhanced compensation on compulsory land acquisition taxed?
The original compensation is taxed as capital gains in the year it is first received; if a court or tribunal later enhances it, the enhancement is taxed as capital gains in the year that additional amount is actually received, per Section 67(12).
Need help applying this provision to your situation?
Get expert help computing your capital gains taxLast updated 10 October 2026