The cost of acquisition of a capital asset is determined as per Section 55 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. It varies depending on whether the asset was purchased, inherited, gifted, or acquired before a specific date.

Section 55(2) – Cost of Acquisition of a Capital Asset:
“For the purposes of sections 48 and 49,—
(a) in relation to any capital asset,—
(i) where the capital asset became the property of the assessee before 1st day of April, 2001, the cost of acquisition shall be either—
(A) the actual cost of acquisition of the asset; or
(B) the fair market value (FMV) of the asset as on 1st April, 2001,
whichever is higher.”

Explanation in Simple Terms:

1. If You Purchased the Asset:

   • The cost of acquisition is the actual purchase price paid, including any registration fees, brokerage, or legal expenses.

2. If the Asset was Inherited or Gifted:

   • The original cost of acquisition of the previous owner is considered.

   • The holding period of the previous owner is also taken into account to determine whether the gain is short-term or long-term.

3. If the Asset was Acquired before 1st April 2001:

   • The taxpayer has an option to take either the actual purchase price or the Fair Market Value (FMV) as of 1st April 2001, whichever is higher.

4. For Assets Declared under the Income Declaration Scheme, 2016:

   • The cost of acquisition is deemed to be the FMV as of 1st June 2016 (as per Section 49(5)).

5. Indexed Cost of Acquisition (Applicable to Long-Term Capital Assets):

   • If the asset qualifies for indexation benefit (available for immovable property, unlisted shares, debt funds, etc.), the cost is adjusted for inflation using the Cost Inflation Index (CII).

   • Formula:

     Indexed Cost of Acquisition=Original Cost×CII of Year of SaleCII of Year of Purchase\text{Indexed Cost of Acquisition} = \frac{\text{Original Cost} \times \text{CII of Year of Sale}}{\text{CII of Year of Purchase}}Indexed Cost of Acquisition=CII of Year of PurchaseOriginal Cost×CII of Year of Sale​

Practical Example:

• Suppose you bought a house in 1995 for ₹10 lakhs, and you are selling it in 2025.

• Instead of ₹10 lakhs, you can take the FMV as of 1st April 2001 (say ₹25 lakhs).

• If the CII for 2001-02 was 100 and the CII for 2025-26 is 400, then:

  Indexed Cost=₹25,00,000×400100=₹1crore\text{Indexed Cost} = \frac{₹25,00,000 \times 400}{100} = ₹1 croreIndexed Cost=100₹25,00,000×400​=₹1crore

• If the house is sold for ₹1.5 crore, then:

  Capital Gain=Sale Price−Indexed Cost=₹1.5crore−₹1crore=₹50lakhs.\text{Capital Gain} = \text{Sale Price} – \text{Indexed Cost} = ₹1.5 crore – ₹1 crore = ₹50 lakhs.Capital Gain=Sale Price−Indexed Cost=₹1.5crore−₹1crore=₹50lakhs.

• Tax at 12.5% (as per Budget 2025 changes) would be ₹6.25 lakhs.

This method ensures fair tax computation by adjusting for inflation over the years.

“’Transfer’ means—
(a) the sale, exchange, relinquishment, or extinguishment of any rights in a capital asset;
(b) the gift of any such asset; and
(c) any other mode of transferring such asset or any interest therein.”

Explanation:
This provision establishes a very broad definition of “transfer” for the purposes of computing capital gains. It is not limited to a simple sale for money. Instead, any transaction that results in a change of the beneficial ownership of an asset is considered a transfer. This includes:

• Sale or Exchange: When you sell or exchange your asset for money or another asset.

• Relinquishment/Extinguishment: When you give up or lose your rights in the asset.

• Gift: When you transfer the asset without receiving any consideration, such as gifting it to a family member or through a will.

• Other Modes: Any other method by which the ownership or the right to enjoy the benefits of the asset is passed on to someone else.

Since you held the house for 5 years, it qualifies as a long-term capital asset. This means any profit (capital gain) from the sale will be taxed as long-term capital gains. Under the current provisions effective from Budget 2025, the applicable tax rate for long-term capital gains on residential property is 12.5%.

However, if you choose to reinvest the gains into another residential property within the prescribed period (typically one year before or two years after the sale, or within three years in case of construction), you may be eligible for an exemption under Section 54. If you don’t reinvest, then you will be liable to pay tax at 12.5% on the net gain—calculated as the sale proceeds minus the adjusted purchase cost and any allowable expenses.

In the Indian context—with the recent Budget 2025 changes in mind—capital gains tax is structured primarily by the asset type and the duration for which you hold the asset. Here’s a handmade breakdown:

For Listed Equity Shares & Equity Mutual Funds:
• Short-Term Gains: If these are held for less than 12 months, the gains are now taxed at 20%.
• Long-Term Gains: When held for 12 months or more, gains attract a rate of 12.5%, with an exemption threshold that has been increased modestly (now around ₹1.25 lakh).

For Immovable Property (Real Estate):
• Short-Term Gains: If the property is sold within 24 months, the gains are taxed as per your applicable income tax slab rates.
• Long-Term Gains: For properties held longer than 24 months, the tax rate has been set at 12.5%. (Note that the traditional indexation benefit has been removed in recent changes, which simplifies the calculation.)

For Debt Mutual Funds & Gold:
• Short-Term Gains: When these assets are held for less than 36 months, the gains are added to your income and taxed according to your individual slab rates.
• Long-Term Gains: For holding periods of 36 months or more, the gains are generally taxed at 20%, but you still benefit from the indexation adjustment to account for inflation.