Free calculator for RSU perquisite tax at vesting and capital gains tax at sale — built for NRIs and Indian employees holding US-company stock. Updated for FY 2026-27.
If you work for a US-listed company from India, or you're an NRI holding RSUs from a US employer, your Restricted Stock Units are taxed twice in India — once when they vest, and again when you sell them. This NRI / USA RSU Tax Calculator works out both tax events in one shot, using the current Income-tax Act, 1961 rules.
This free calculator works out your Indian tax on Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) from a US or other foreign employer. It covers two tax events — the perquisite tax you owe when your shares vest, and the capital gains tax you owe when you sell them. Salaried employees at Indian offices of US tech and MNC companies use it, along with NRIs who still hold unsold RSU grants from a previous India posting, and CAs and tax consultants preparing client returns.
RSU taxation in India happens in two stages. Nothing is taxed at grant — only at vesting and at sale.
Stage 1 — At vesting (Perquisite / Salary income)
Perquisite Value = Number of RSUs Vested × FMV per Share on Vesting Date (in ₹)
Perquisite Tax = Perquisite Value × Your Income Tax Slab RateSection 17(2)(vi) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 treats the fair market value of shares your employer allots to you — with no purchase price paid — as a taxable perquisite under the head "Salary." Your employer converts the FMV to INR using the SBI TT Buying Rate (Rule 115 of the Income-tax Rules, 1962, governs this conversion; Rule 26 separately fixes the rate the employer uses for the TDS deduction itself) and deducts TDS under Section 192.
Stage 2 — At sale (Capital gains)
Capital Gain = Number of RSUs Sold × (Sale Price per Share − FMV per Share at Vesting)Since foreign-company shares carry no Securities Transaction Tax in India, they're treated as unlisted securities for Indian tax purposes and fall under Section 112, not Section 112A. Section 2(42A) treats an unlisted share as short-term if you've held it for "not more than 24 months" — so you need to hold it for more than 24 months from the vesting date for the gain to count as long-term, taxed at a flat 12.5% with no indexation benefit. This rate applies to transfers made on or after 23 July 2024, per the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2024. Hold for 24 months or less, and the gain is short-term, taxed at your regular income tax slab rate.
The FMV already taxed as a perquisite at vesting becomes your cost of acquisition for this calculation, under Section 49(2AA) — so the same rupee of value is never taxed twice.
Priya works at the Bengaluru office of a US-listed company. On 15 January 2024, 100 RSUs vest when the stock trades at $180. The SBI TTBR that day is ₹83/USD.
Step 1 — Perquisite value at vesting FMV per share in ₹ = $180 × ₹83 = ₹14,940 Perquisite Value = 100 × ₹14,940 = ₹14,94,000
Step 2 — Perquisite tax Priya falls in the 30% slab. Perquisite Tax = ₹14,94,000 × 30% = ₹4,48,200 This amount is added to her salary income for FY 2023-24 and taxed accordingly; her employer withholds TDS on it.
Step 3 — Sale On 20 February 2026, Priya sells all 100 shares at $220. TTBR that day is ₹86/USD. Sale Price per share in ₹ = $220 × ₹86 = ₹18,920 Capital Gain = 100 × (₹18,920 − ₹14,940) = ₹3,98,000
Step 4 — Holding period check From 15 January 2024 to 20 February 2026 = 25 months → Long-term.
Step 5 — Capital gains tax LTCG Tax = ₹3,98,000 × 12.5% = ₹49,750
Total tax across both events = ₹4,48,200 + ₹49,750 = ₹4,97,950
The Union Budget 2024 raised the long-term capital gains rate on unlisted shares (including foreign RSU shares) from 10% to 12.5% and removed the indexation benefit, effective for any transfer on or after 23 July 2024. The 24-month holding period threshold for unlisted shares was left unchanged. If a resident Indian holds foreign RSU shares at any point during the year, they must also disclose them under Schedule FA in their ITR — this applies even if no shares were sold and runs on the calendar year, not the Indian financial year. Use the Foreign Dividend Tax Calculator if your RSU shares also paid you a dividend during the year, since that's taxed separately under "Income from Other Sources."
Yes, but not on the same rupee twice. The FMV at vesting is taxed once as salary. Only the gain above that FMV — the appreciation after vesting — is taxed again as capital gains at sale.
Use the SBI TT Buying Rate (TTBR) on the vesting date for perquisite value, and the TTBR on the sale date for sale proceeds. Rule 115 of the Income-tax Rules, 1962, governs this income conversion; Rule 26 separately sets the rate your employer uses when deducting TDS.
If the RSUs vested while you were working in India, the perquisite is taxable in India regardless of your current NRI status. Capital gains on sale are generally taxed only for residents; check your residential status for the sale year specifically.
No. That exemption applies only under Section 112A to shares where Securities Transaction Tax was paid — foreign company shares don't meet that condition and fall under Section 112 instead.
The gain is short-term and taxed at your regular income tax slab rate, not at the flat 12.5% long-term rate.
Yes, if you're a resident. Schedule FA requires disclosure of all foreign assets held at any point in the calendar year, whether or not you sold anything.
Calculations verified by our team including CA Anita Patil. View our full accuracy policy and meet the team →
For informational purposes only. Results are estimates based on the inputs you provide and the rules in effect for the period shown, and are not tax, legal or financial advice. Verify figures against the relevant official source and consult a qualified professional before acting on them. Accuracy & limitations
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