Speculative Income
Income from transactions settled without delivery, which in Indian equity markets means intraday trading.
Formula
Test: the contract is settled otherwise than by actual delivery or transfer of the commodity or scrip
Unit
₹
In depth
Intraday equity trading is a speculative business under the Income Tax Act, so its profits are business income taxed at slab rates rather than capital gains, and its losses can be set off only against speculative income. Derivatives trading on a recognised exchange is specifically excluded from the speculative definition, so futures and options profits are non-speculative business income with far more generous set-off rules. This distinction surprises traders who assume all short-term trading is treated alike. Speculative losses carry forward for only four years against eight for other business losses, which makes them the least useful losses to accumulate.
Worked example
An intraday loss of ₹3,00,000 can be set off only against intraday profits, not against a ₹5,00,000 futures profit from the same year. The futures profit is non-speculative and the two do not meet.
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 “Speculative Income” 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.