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Demat Account Charges in India and Account Types
Author
Shoonya Team
Opening a Demat account is often marketed as “free” today, but many investors only understand the actual charges after they start investing. From Annual Maintenance Charges to DP charges during selling, different fees can apply depending on the broker and account type. In this article, check out the major charges for a Demat account in India.
Types of Demat Account Charges in India
Demat account charges in India usually include account opening fees, Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC), and transaction charges applied while selling shares.
While many brokers now offer zero account opening charges, other costs like AMC and DP charges can still apply, depending on the broker and account type.
Demat Account Opening Charges
This is the one-time fee charged for opening a Demat account. Many discount brokers now offer zero account opening charges, while some full-service brokers may still charge a fee.
The cost generally ranges between ₹0 and ₹900, depending on the broker.
With Shoonya, know how to open a free demat account!
Demat Account Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC)
AMC is the yearly fee charged to maintain your Demat account. This is one of the most common Demat account charges in India.
The demat account maintenance charges usually range from ₹300 to ₹900 annually, although some brokers offer zero AMC plans for the first year or lifetime.
Demat Account Transaction or DP Charges
DP charges are applied when you sell shares from your Demat account. These charges are usually deducted per transaction or per ISIN.
Most brokers charge around ₹10 to ₹25 per sell transaction.
Demat Account Pledge and Unpledge Charges
If you pledge shares to get trading margin or collateral benefits, brokers may charge pledge and unpledge fees.
These charges vary from broker to broker.
Demat Account Charges for Physical Statements or Other Services
Some brokers may charge additional fees for:
- Physical account statements
- DIS booklet requests
- Rejected instructions
- Courier services
- Modification requests
These are not always applicable, but can appear depending on account usage.
Depository Charges
Depository Participant (DP) charges are flat fees levied on sell transactions to maintain and securely hold securities in electronic (demat) form, usually amounting to ₹12.5–₹13.5 + GST per stock per day. These mandatory fees are paid to CDSL/NSDL through your broker for services like transaction processing and dematerialisation
Shoonya Demat Account and Brokerage Charges
Shoonya offers ₹0 account opening charges, ₹0 AMC for retail investors, ₹0 brokerage on equity delivery, bonds and mutual funds, along with low-cost brokerage for intraday, futures, and options trading.
| Shoonya Brokerage and Demat Account Charges | Shoonya Charges |
| Shoonya Demat Account Opening Charges | ₹0 |
| Shoonya Trading Account Opening Charges | ₹0 |
| Shoonya Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC) | ₹0 |
| Shoonya AMC Charges for Corporate / Trust / LLP | Rs. 900+GST annually |
| Shoonya Brokerage Charges (Equity Delivery) | ₹0 |
| Shoonya Brokerage Charges (Equity Intraday) | 0.03% or ₹5 per executed order, whichever is lower |
| Shoonya Brokerage Charges (Futures ) | 0.03% or ₹5 per executed order, whichever is lower |
| Shoonya Brokerage Charges (Options) | Flat ₹5 + GST per executed order |
| Shoonya Currency Futures Brokerage Charges | 0.03% or ₹5 per executed order, whichever is lower |
| Shoonya Currency Options Brokerage Charges | Flat ₹5 + GST per executed order |
| Shoonya Call & Trade Charges | ₹0 |
| Shoonya Platform Charges | ₹0 |
| Shoonya Clearing Charges | ₹0 |
| Shoonya DP Charges | ₹9 + GST per scrip on sell transactions |
| Shoonya Pledge Charges | ₹20 per instruction |
| Shoonya Unpledge Charges | ₹20 per instruction |
| Shoonya DP or Depository charges? | Rs. 9/- (Female demat account holders, as the first holder, will receive a discount of ₹0.25 per transaction on the CDSL fee. An additional discount of Rs. 0.25 will be applied to debit transactions of mutual fund and bond ISINs.) |
Choosing a broker with transparent pricing and low charges can make long-term investing more cost-efficient. Make your first trade with Shoonya – free Demat account, transparent pricing, AI-powered insights, and much more.
Demat Account Charges in India – FAQs
Yes, most Demat accounts come with charges such as Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC), transaction fees, and DP charges. Some brokers offer zero AMC plans, but other charges may still apply.
No, a Demat account is not tax-free. Any profit earned from shares or securities held in the account may be subject to capital gains tax as per Indian tax laws.
Some brokers offer lifetime free Demat accounts with zero AMC, but terms and conditions may apply. It is important to check all account and transaction charges before opening one.
The four common types of Demat accounts are Regular Demat Account, BSDA (Basic Services Demat Account), Repatriable Demat Account, and Non-Repatriable Demat Account.
Yes, you can invest in products like fixed deposits, PPF, and some mutual funds without a Demat account. However, a Demat account is usually required for investing in shares listed on stock exchanges.
Yes, Demat accounts are considered safe because they store securities electronically and are regulated by SEBI through depositories like NSDL and CDSL.
Disclaimer: This content is for education and awareness purposes only and should not be considered investment advice or a recommendation. Investments in securities markets are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing
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