Gold jewellery in India is not just an ornament — it’s an heirloom, passed down through generations. While keeping inherited gold is tax-free, selling it can invite taxes. Under the Finance Act 2024 (still valid in 2025), inherited assets are exempt — but selling that gold will attract capital gains tax.
If you receive gold jewellery from your parents or relatives, you don’t have to pay tax on it. In India, inherited assets are not treated as income. They become part of your capital assets — like property or stocks. Tax applies only when you sell them.
When you sell inherited gold, the profit (sale price minus cost price) is treated as capital gains. The tax depends on how long the gold was held — both by you and by the previous owner. That total duration determines whether it’s short-term or long-term capital gains.
Short-Term vs Long-Term Tax: If the total holding period is up to 24 months, the profit is taxed as short-term gains — added to your income and taxed per your slab (5%–30% plus cess/surcharge). If it exceeds 24 months, it is long-term gains — taxed at a flat 12.5% without indexation. For example: Sell gold for Rs 60 lakh, cost Rs 40 lakh → profit Rs 20 lakh → tax Rs 2.5 lakh + cess.
In most cases, knowing the original cost of inherited gold is tricky. Tax rules require details of the first owner — including when and for how much the gold was bought. So, if your parents inherited it from their parents, the first owner’s purchase details are what count for taxation.
If the gold was bought before April 1, 2001, you can choose between the actual purchase price or its fair market value (FMV) as of that date — whichever is higher. If old bills are missing, you can estimate the FMV using certified jewellers or industry price data.
Want to save tax? You can reduce or avoid tax on long-term capital gains by reinvesting the sale proceeds under Section 54F of the Income Tax Act. Buy or construct a residential house in India; Reinvest the entire sale amount (not just profit); Buy within 2 years or build within 3 years; park the money in a Capital Gains Account (CGAS) if not investing immediately; you must not own more than one other house. Meet these rules, and your tax on gold profits could be zero.
Keep these documents ready: To avoid any trouble with the Income Tax Department, maintain proper documentation. Proof of inheritance: Will, death certificate, or legal heir certificate; cost details: Original purchase bills or payment proofs
