Contract Note
The legally binding document a broker must issue after each trading day, itemising every trade executed and every charge levied.
Formula
Net Amount = Trade Value +/- Brokerage + STT + Exchange Charges + SEBI Fees + Stamp Duty + GST
Unit
₹
In depth
The contract note is the primary evidence of a trade and the document a tax officer will ask for, so it is worth reading rather than filing unread. It shows the actual executed price and quantity for each trade, which may differ from what you intended if a large order filled in pieces. It is also the only place where the full cost stack appears line by line, making it the honest answer to 'what did that trade really cost me?'. Brokers must issue it within 24 hours of the trade, in a prescribed format.
Worked example
A ₹1,00,000 delivery buy shows brokerage ₹20, STT ₹100, exchange charges around ₹3, stamp duty ₹15 and GST on brokerage and charges of about ₹4. Total charges are roughly ₹142, so the effective cost basis is about ₹1,00,142, not ₹1,00,000.
Illustrative figures, chosen so the arithmetic is easy to follow. Not a live price and not a valuation of any company.
Educational reference only
This entry explains what “Contract Note” means. It is not investment advice and not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Any numbers above are illustrative, not live prices, and nothing here predicts price direction or rates a stock. Consider your own circumstances and consult a SEBI-registered investment adviser before acting.