Gold Tax Guide: Understand Tax Rules for Physical Gold, ETFs, SGBs, and Inherited Gold

• Different forms of gold (physical, ETFs, SGBs, inherited) have varying tax implications in India.
• Physical gold incurs 3% GST on value and 5% GST on making charges; capital gains tax applies upon sale.
• Gold ETFs have no initial GST, but capital gains tax applies upon sale, similar to physical gold.
• Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) offer significant tax benefits: no GST on purchase, and capital gains are tax-exempt if held until 8-year maturity.
• Inherited gold is tax-free upon receipt; tax only applies when sold, with the original owner's holding period considered for capital gains.