Editorial: Budget 2027 – Review of LTCG Tax is Imperative to Protect the Lifeline of Capital Markets

India has a grand goal of becoming the world's third-largest economy and a 'Developed India' (Viksit Bharat) by 2047. To translate this economic ambition of the Amrit Kaal into reality, government budgetary expenditures or public investments alone are not enough; along with the corporate sector, the small savings of crores of common people must flow into the manufacturing sector through the capital markets. However, the stringent tax policies introduced in recent years—especially the heavy burden of Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG) Tax and Securities Transaction Taxes (STT)—have dampened the enthusiasm of the country's investors. As we approach Budget 2027, policymakers revisiting this tax structure is not just in the interest of the market, but an urgent and indispensable step for the nation's long-term economic interest.

The Mounting Tax Burden on Small and Retail Investors In today's era of severe inflation, traditional bank Fixed Deposit (FD) interest rates and small savings schemes have failed to beat inflation. Therefore, crores of middle-class people are reliably turning to mutual funds and the stock market for their children's higher education, retirement life, and emergency needs. In such a scenario, imposing a 12.5% LTCG tax on profits exceeding ₹1.25 lakh acts like breaking the backbone of ordinary people who save diligently and take financial risks in the market. If retail investor participation declines, it will directly have an adverse impact on market depth and long-term stability.

Risk of India Falling Behind in Global Competition (FPI Outflows) Today, global investors have massive opportunities in open markets to invest capital. Singapore, Dubai, Vietnam, and other emerging Asian nations have implemented attractive tax exemptions and simplified tax rules to attract investment. In contrast, imposing excessive taxes on Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) and foreign capital in India has led to capital flight where global capital flows elsewhere. If foreign capital entering the market shrinks, the corporate sector's expansion, start-up growth, and national-level job creation will be severely affected.

The Contradiction Between 'Nominal Profit' and 'Real Inflation' The removal of 'indexation' benefits on investments in recent budgets has dealt a major shock to investors. The primary reason for the increase in the value of money invested 3-5 years ago today is not real wealth creation, but rather inflation. Taxing the real value of money eroded by inflation appears to investors as an unfair measure, creating economic dissatisfaction among them.

The Misconception That "Tax Cancellation = Government Revenue Loss" While there is an argument that abolishing the LTCG tax would result in revenue loss for the government, the indirect economic benefits of doing so must be taken into account. If taxes are lower or non-existent, trading and investment volumes in the market increase manifold. As market trading volumes grow, the revenue flowing into the government through Securities Transaction Taxes (STT), corporate tax, and GST becomes several times higher than the direct revenue generated from LTCG. Instead of following the principle of "higher tax = more revenue," the government should adopt the philosophy of "favorable environment = higher volume = more revenue."

Our Key Recommendations for Budget 2027:

• Complete Abolition or High Exemption of LTCG Tax: To protect retail investors, the LTCG tax exemption limit should be significantly raised, or the government should take the bold decision in Budget 2027 to make long-term investments completely tax-free.

• Review of Holding Period: The practice of considering just a 1-year period as 'long-term' should be changed, and it should be extended to a minimum of 2 to 3 years. This will curb speculative trading and encourage stable, long-term investment.

• Inflation Adjustment (Indexation): If completely removing the tax is not immediately feasible, the previous system of factoring in inflation when calculating profits should be restored.

Conclusion If the government's dream of "transforming India into a global economic superpower" is to be realized, the capital markets—the bloodline of the country's economy—must breathe freely. By abolishing the LTCG tax or revising it to be more investor-friendly in Budget 2027, the government needs to take a bold step for India to continue being a favored destination for global investors. This will pave a new path for every citizen of the country to become a true partner in economic growth.

✍️ Shivakumar Saya