Austria NRIs · Capital Gains Tax
Capital gains tax on Indian shares and mutual funds for NRIs in Austria
Selling Indian equity or mutual funds from Austria triggers Indian capital-gains tax — here's the rate, the AMC withholding, and how to reclaim the excess.
India-Austria key facts: capital gains tax
| Default Section 195 rate | 12.5% |
| India-Austria DTAA treaty rate | 12.5% |
| Your saving via the treaty | No rate reduction — see note below |
| Treaty article / basis | Article 13(5): India taxes gains on shares of an Indian company |
| Your TRC issuing authority | Wohnsitzfinanzamt (local tax office, under the Federal Ministry of Finance) |
Rates reflect India's domestic Section 195 withholding and the India-Austria treaty. Surcharge and cess apply on top where relevant.
How it works on the India side
Indian capital-gains tax on equity and equity mutual funds follows Sections 111A and 112A: long-term gains (held over a year) are taxed at 12.5% above a ₹1.25 lakh annual exemption, and short-term gains at 20%, after the Budget 2024 changes. For an NRI, the AMC or broker deducts TDS on the gain at redemption — and because they apply a flat slab without your personal exemption or full holding-period detail, the deduction is frequently more than your real liability.
The correction happens on your return. You compute the gain properly across all your folios and brokers, apply the exemption and the right rate per holding period, and set the TDS already deducted against it. Where the TDS exceeded the actual tax — which is common once the exemption is applied — the excess is refunded. Getting the cost basis right across multiple brokers is the part that most often goes wrong.
What changes because you live in Austria
Austrian residents are taxed on worldwide income, with investment income taxed at a flat 27.5% KESt and a credit for the Indian tax paid against it. The credit is limited to the Austrian tax on the same income, so a high Indian withholding above the KESt rate may not be fully recovered, which is why claiming the 10% treaty rate up front matters. Other income not covered by a specific article is taxable only in Austria, so India cannot reach it.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions from Austrian NRIs
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Capital Gains Tax sorted, by an Indian CA who works with Austrian NRIs
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