Demat account: From opening to transactions, here are demat account charges you must know

You need to pay a one-time fee to your depository participant (DP), typically a brokerage firm or bank, to open your demat account. The depository participant usually charges a nominal fee to open demat accounts online.

Some depository participants offer free accounts for the first year, with charges kicking in later.

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Depository participants levy an annual fee to maintain your demat Account. These charges are usually nominal, ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 800, and can vary depending on the depository participant and your transaction value.

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Depository participants charge a fee for every transaction you make, essentially a service fee for buying or selling securities. Some depository participants may charge a monthly fee, while others might structure it differently, like charging only when you sell. Keep in mind that buying or selling can incur different transaction charges.

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Depository participants hold your securities electronically. To ensure their safety, they charge a nominal monthly fee based on the number of securities you hold (typically Rs 0.5-Rs 1 per ISIN).

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If you are a small investor, you can waive the annual maintenance charge of the demat account. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has defined a particular demat account for small investors with a balance of Rs.50,000 or less. It is called the Basic Services Demat Account (BSDA). If you have a BSDA, you can waive the annual maintenance charge.

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