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GIFT City costs

GIFT City Charges: Brokerage, Remittance and Other Costs

Brokerage is only one line. Currency conversion, bank transfers, regulatory pass-through, platform fees and tax collected at source all change what you actually pay. Margin on derivatives is a risk deposit, not a fee.

By BrokerBazaar Editorial · Published · Sources checked · General information, not advice

The eight cost components

Ask every provider for each of these in writing, for your exact onboarding route.

  1. 1. Brokerage

    Commission per order or a percentage of trade value, often with a minimum. Plans can trade a lower per-order fee for a yearly subscription.

  2. 2. Account, platform or subscription fees

    Opening, maintenance, inactivity, data or plan fees. Some are zero, some apply only below a balance.

  3. 3. Exchange, clearing and regulatory pass-through

    Charges set by exchanges, clearing houses and regulators, passed to you on top of brokerage. Rates change, so read them on the provider's current schedule.

  4. 4. Currency conversion (FX)

    The spread or markup when rupees become dollars and back. Often the largest cost and easy to miss.

  5. 5. Bank transfer fees

    Your bank's outward remittance charge, plus any intermediary or receiving bank deductions.

  6. 6. Deposits and withdrawals

    Some providers charge for withdrawals or for bringing money back to India.

  7. 7. Custody, maintenance and corporate actions

    Fees for holding assets, dividend processing, ADR fees or other corporate actions.

  8. 8. Taxes and TCS

    GST on brokerage, foreign withholding on dividends and TCS on LRS remittances above the threshold. TCS is tax collected in advance, not a broker fee.

Zero brokerage is not zero cost

A free-brokerage plan can still carry a yearly subscription, FX markup, bank charges and regulatory fees. Margin for derivatives is money held against risk; it is not brokerage, and leveraged losses can exceed it. There is no single leverage level that applies to every product or provider.

Dated example: US stocks through Groww

Groww IFSC Private Limited published schedule, checked 15 Nov 2026. Shown only to illustrate how the pieces add up. It is not an India INX tariff and not a recommendation.

  • Brokerage: 0.1% of trade value or US$1 per executed order, whichever is higher.
  • Account opening and maintenance: US$0.
  • GST: 18% on brokerage.
  • Plus: bank FX rates on deposits and withdrawals, and US regulatory charges on the provider's current schedule.

  • US$500.00

    Brokerage
    US$1.00
    GST on brokerage
    US$0.18
    Brokerage + GST
    US$1.18

  • US$2000.00

    Brokerage
    US$2.00
    GST on brokerage
    US$0.36
    Brokerage + GST
    US$2.36

Excludes regulatory pass-through fees, FX and bank charges. Model the full round trip with the US stocks cost calculator; its fee defaults are illustrative and editable.

India INX Global Access pricing needs confirming

India INX Global Access shows a percentage schedule on its pricing page and different resident plans in its account-opening window. Clients introduced through another broker or adviser can pay extra. Ask for the written schedule that applies to your executing broker and route before you fund.

TCS on an investment remittance

From 1 April 2026, banks collect TCS at 20% on investment remittances under LRS above ₹10 lakh in a financial year. The ₹10 lakh threshold is combined per PAN across all LRS purposes and all banks.

  • No previous LRS remittances in that financial year

    Remittance
    ₹15,00,000
    Amount above threshold
    ₹5,00,000
    TCS at 20%
    ₹1,00,000
    Total leaving your account
    ₹16,00,000

  • ₹4 lakh already sent under LRS earlier that year

    Remittance
    ₹15,00,000
    Amount above threshold
    ₹9,00,000
    TCS at 20%
    ₹1,80,000
    Total leaving your account
    ₹16,80,000

Totals are before bank fees and FX markup. TCS is tax collected in advance: you claim it against your income tax, or as a refund, when you file your return. It is not brokerage and not automatically your final tax. There is no blanket tax exemption for residents investing through GIFT City. Work out your own figure with the LRS and TCS calculator.

Before you fund

  • Get the provider's fee schedule and current funding instructions from its official channel.
  • Check trading hours: extended sessions can cost more.
  • Compare providers side by side with the GIFT City comparison.

Charges questions

Does zero brokerage mean zero cost?

No. Currency conversion, bank transfer fees, regulatory pass-through charges, subscription or platform fees and taxes can still apply. Compare the total cost of a round trip, not just brokerage.

How much TCS applies to an investment remittance?

From 1 April 2026, TCS on an investment remittance under LRS is 20% of the amount above ₹10 lakh in the financial year. The ₹10 lakh threshold is combined per PAN across all LRS purposes and all banks. With no previous LRS remittances in that financial year, sending ₹15 lakh means ₹1 lakh TCS and ₹16 lakh leaving your account before other fees.

Is TCS an extra tax?

TCS is tax collected in advance. You can claim it against your income tax liability, or as a refund, when you file your return. It is not a brokerage fee and is not automatically your final tax.

Is margin a fee?

No. Margin is a risk deposit held against a derivatives position. It is not brokerage, but you can lose more than the margin on a leveraged position.

Which India INX Global Access price plan applies to me?

India INX Global Access shows different pricing on different pages, and clients introduced by another broker can pay extra. Ask for the written schedule that applies to your executing broker and onboarding route before you fund.

Primary sources (checked 15 Nov 2026)

Rules, timings and fees change. Re-check the official page before you act.

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