The main charges
A demat account can carry a few clearly-disclosed charges.
- Account opening — free on ROAR.
- Annual Maintenance Charge (AMC) — a yearly fee to maintain the demat account (a BSDA can reduce this for small portfolios).
- DP charges — a small fee when you sell (debit) shares from demat.
- Brokerage — ₹0 on equity delivery and ₹20 flat on intraday & F&O on ROAR.
Statutory charges
On top of brokerage, every trade carries government levies — STT, stamp duty, exchange transaction charges, SEBI fees and GST on brokerage. These are the same across brokers and are shown in your contract note.
How to keep costs low
Prefer a broker with zero delivery brokerage and low flat fees, use direct plans for mutual funds (no commission), and avoid over-trading, which stacks up brokerage and taxes.
Frequently asked questions
What charges does a demat account have?
Typically account opening (free on ROAR), annual maintenance (AMC), DP charges on selling, brokerage on trades, and statutory levies like STT and stamp duty.
What are DP charges?
A small fee charged by the depository and broker when shares are debited (sold) from your demat account, usually per scrip on the sell day.
How can I reduce demat charges?
Choose a broker with ₹0 delivery brokerage and low flat fees, use direct mutual-fund plans, consider a BSDA for a small portfolio, and avoid unnecessary trading.