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₹100 Profit but Only ₹35 in Your Pocket? The Hidden Charges of the Indian Stock Market

By Kuldeep Singh May 25, 2026 5 min read
Hidden charges in Indian stock market like DP charges and STT exposed

Everyone enters the stock market in India to make money. We see our portfolio turn green, get excited, and immediately book our profits. But did you know that if you sell your shares the wrong way, your hard-earned profit doesn’t go into your pocket—it goes straight to your broker and the government?

They charge you explicitly, but they don’t always show it clearly on the dashboard. Let’s decode the hidden math behind share market delivery trading charges.

The ₹100 Profit Illusion

"Let’s say you invest ₹10,000 in a stock for delivery. A few days later, you see a ₹100 profit on your screen, and you decide to exit. You probably expect that ₹100 to land in your bank account, right? Wrong! In reality, you will be left with barely ₹30 to ₹35."

Let’s look at where the remaining ₹65 disappears:

Charge Type Estimated Cost Details
Brokerage (Zerodha & Angel One) ₹0 These brokers charge ₹0 for equity delivery trades.
Brokerage (Groww) Minimum ₹5 groww brokerage is the lower of 0.1% or ₹20 per trade, but they enforce a strict minimum floor of ₹5 per executed order.
STT (Securities Transaction Tax) ~ ₹20 Levied by the government on both buying and selling.
Exchange & SEBI Charges ₹1 to ₹1.5 Mandatory regulatory fees.
Stamp Duty ₹1.5 Charged only during buying.
DP Charges (The Biggest Culprit) ~ ₹18 to ₹20 Depository Participant charges are applied by CDSL/NSDL every time you sell a stock from your demat account.

Total Fixed Charges: Roughly ₹50 to ₹51. Keep in mind, these hidden charges in the share market will be deducted regardless of whether you booked a profit or a loss.

pie title The ₹100 Profit Breakdown
    "In Your Pocket" : 35
    "DP Charges (CDSL/NSDL)" : 20
    "STCG Tax (Government)" : 20
    "STT (Securities Transaction Tax)" : 15
    "Brokerage & Exchange" : 10

The STCG Tax Hit

So, ₹50 is already gone to fixed demat account brokerage charges and fees. But here is the real catch: under Section 48 of the Income Tax Act, Securities Transaction Tax (STT) is strictly non-deductible when calculating your capital gains. This means the 20% Short-Term Capital Gains (STCG) tax is applied to your profit before STT is factored in, artificially inflating your taxable base.

The Final Result: After the higher tax hit (calculated on that inflated base) and the separate STT loss, an investor is left holding roughly ₹30 to ₹35 out of a ₹100 micro-profit.

How Indian Investors Can Minimize This "Hidden Math"

While you cannot escape taxes and mandatory SEBI charges completely, you can use smart trading strategies to minimize their impact on your net profit.

1

Never Sell in Chunks

DP charges are levied per scrip, per day. If you sell shares of one company in three batches on different days, you pay the ₹15+GST DP charge three times. Sell it all on the same day to pay only once.

2

Stop Chasing Micro-Profits

Booking a ₹50 or ₹100 profit hurts you more than it helps. Always aim for a minimum profit target of at least ₹500. Even after ₹80 is wiped out by fees and taxes, you still keep a solid ₹400+ net profit.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the DP charges in Groww?
The dp charges in groww are ₹20 + 18% GST (totaling ₹23.60) per company, per day, whenever you sell shares from your demat account. In comparison, Zerodha's DP charge is slightly lower at ₹13.50 + 18% GST (totaling ₹15.93).
How can I calculate my exact profit after all charges?
You can use a groww charges calculator or a Zerodha brokerage calculator to input your buy/sell price and quantity. This will give you a clear breakdown of brokerage, STT, exchange transaction charges, and GST before you place the trade.
How can I backtest my SIP investments?
Instead of relying on estimates, you can use our free Historical SIP Backtester. It uses real historical market data to show you exactly how your mutual fund or stock SIP would have performed over any past period.
Is there a calculator for future mutual fund returns?
Yes, we provide a complete suite of Financial Calculators including SIP, Step-up SIP, Lumpsum, Expense Ratio, and Inflation calculators to help you plan your future financial goals accurately.
Which is the lowest brokerage charges app in India?
Most discount brokers in India have similar pricing models (Flat ₹20 per trade or a small percentage). Instead of just looking for the lowest brokerage charges app in india, look for platforms with zero account maintenance charges (AMC) and reliable server uptime, as bad execution will cost you more than brokerage.

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Kuldeep Singh - Finance blogger and consumer investigator

About Kuldeep Singh

I believe that knowledge is the ultimate currency. Through Deep Money Minds, I bridge the gap between complex financial concepts and everyday practical technology to help you succeed.