Overview

The account maintenance charge on a demat account is often quoted at about ₹300 to ₹900 a year, billed annually or quarterly depending on the provider. Many providers charge it whether or not you trade. Transaction (debit) charges are the cost that grows with activity, and they vary by provider and plan. Under SEBI’s Basic Services Demat Account (BSDA) framework, eligible individuals pay nil AMC when holdings are up to ₹4 lakh and at most ₹100 a year from ₹4 lakh to ₹10 lakh. Jainam charges ₹0 AMC and ₹0 for online account opening.

Key Takeaways

• Demat account AMC: Often quoted at ₹300 to ₹900 a year. These ranges are indicative and vary by provider.
• Legal way to cut it: A BSDA, if you are an eligible individual with holdings within the limit.
• Active traders: Transaction charges can matter more than AMC.
• Jainam: ₹0 AMC and ₹0 online account opening. Transaction charges depend on the plan, as shown below.

What Are Demat Account Charges?

Demat account charges are fees a Depository Participant (DP) collects for holding your shares in electronic form. A DP is a registered intermediary that links you to a depository, either CDSL or NSDL. The main fees are account opening, annual maintenance, transaction (debit) charges and other service charges such as pledging.

Each security in your account carries an ISIN, a 12-character code that identifies it. Fees are set by the DP, so the same shares can cost different amounts to hold at different providers. Annual maintenance charges demat providers levy are the most visible of these, but not the only ones.

Demat Account Charges at a Glance: Industry vs Jainam

Fee category	Indicative industry range	Jainam DIY plan	Jainam Premium plan	Billing frequency	Impact on returns
Account opening	₹0 to ₹200	Online ₹0. Offline ₹500 + GST (individual, minor, HUF) or ₹1,000 + GST (NRI, NRO, corporate)	Online ₹0. Offline ₹0 as shown	One-time	Low
Annual maintenance charge (AMC)	₹300 to ₹900	₹0	₹0	Annual or quarterly	Moderate
On-market demat charge	₹10 to ₹20 per debit	₹18 per scrip (GST not stated)	₹25 per request + GST	Per transaction	High for active traders
Off-market transfer	Varies	₹30 or 0.03% of transfer value, whichever is higher	₹25 per scrip + GST	Per transaction	Low to moderate
Margin pledge/unpledge	Varies	₹15 per scrip + GST	₹5 per scrip + GST	Per request	Low

*Industry ranges are indicative, commonly quoted figures and not a regulated or averaged rate, so compare each provider’s current published tariff. Jainam’s figures are from its pricing page, shown as applicable from 1 April 2026, and its AMC figure is from its demat account page. The billing units differ: DIY charges per scrip and Premium charges per request. 

Do You Have to Pay AMC on Inactive Demat Accounts?

Often, yes. The demat AMC pays for keeping the account open, issuing statements and meeting compliance duties, not for trading. Many providers charge it on an account with no trades for a year, unless they waive it or the account is a BSDA with holdings up to ₹4 lakh.

Check your own provider’s tariff, since it decides. Some, Jainam included, charge no AMC at all. If you no longer use an old account, consider closing it or moving the holdings, because dues can keep building.

Custodian Fees vs. Maintenance Charges: What’s the Difference?

Account maintenance charges are a yearly fee for the account. Custodian or safekeeping charges, where a provider has them, relate to the securities you hold or the services you use, and the name and amount depend on the DP’s tariff. They are not a universal fee.

Ask any provider for its full charge schedule, including security-specific or service charges. Jainam’s pricing page lists none of these, but confirms with support how your holdings are treated.

Single vs. Joint/3-in-1 Account AMC Structures

AMC is generally charged for the demat account, but the applicable tariff depends on the DP and the account type. A joint account has more than one holder, and its charges are whatever the DP’s tariff says.

A 2-in-1 account links trading and demat with a broker. A 3-in-1 account adds a bank savings account, and banking, trading and demat fees may follow separate terms. Check the bank’s and broker’s charges, minimum-balance conditions and package terms.

Why Do Demat Account Charges Vary?

• Each DP sets its own tariff, so demat account maintenance charges differ by provider, plan and account type. 
• The AMC charges demat account holders pay can range from zero to several hundred rupees.
• Banks, full-service brokers and discount brokers price differently, and plan trade fees against each other. Jainam’s DIY and Premium plans are an example.

How Are Demat Account Charges Calculated?

Your annual demat account cost depends on maintenance fees, transaction charges and any other DP fees. Demat AMC charges are a fixed cost, while debit charges depend on the transactions you make.

For illustration, assume a provider charges ₹500 in annual maintenance fees and ₹15 for each chargeable debit. 

With 30 such debits in a year, the cost is ₹500 + (30 × ₹15) = ₹950 before any applicable taxes.

Under Jainam’s published DIY tariff, the on-market demat charge is ₹18 per scrip and the AMC is ₹0. If 30 chargeable scrips attract that fee, the total is ₹540, with GST not stated on the page. This counts chargeable scrips, not orders or trades, since an order, a debit instruction and a chargeable scrip are not always the same thing. It is not a full estimate of trading costs, so check the current tariff and taxes before comparing plans.

Check Your Eligibility for a Basic Services Demat Account

A Basic Services Demat Account (BSDA) is designed to reduce maintenance costs for eligible individual investors. Under SEBI’s June 2024 circular, the annual maintenance charge is nil when the value of holdings is up to ₹4 lakh and capped at ₹100 when holdings exceed ₹4 lakh but stay within ₹10 lakh.

Eligibility also depends on the account and the holder. An individual can have only one BSDA across depositories, and must be the sole or first holder of the account. 

SEBI’s circular of 24 December 2025 added further changes, which published summaries describe as quarterly reassessment of eligibility and the exclusion of delisted securities and zero-coupon zero-principal bonds when the threshold is calculated, effective 31 March 2026. A DP needs the holder’s consent, through a verifiable channel, for a regular account instead of a BSDA.

Check with your DP to confirm eligibility, the valuation method and the latest requirements before you opt for a BSDA. Holdings above the limit may lead to regular-account charges under the applicable rules.

How Can You Save on Demat Account Charges?

• Choose zero to minimum AMC: Pick a provider with no maintenance charge, and read what the demat AMC charges cover.
• Check BSDA eligibility: It can keep annual maintenance charges demat holders pay at nil or ₹100, within the limits above.
• Cut down on debits: Plan your sales instead of selling often.
• Consider two accounts: Some investors keep one account for trading and another for long-term holdings. Make sure the savings outweigh a second AMC.
• Close dormant accounts: An unused account may still be charged, depending on the provider.

What Are the Consequences of Not Paying Demat Account Charges?

Unpaid charges can result in outstanding dues and may lead to restrictions under the DP’s terms and applicable rules. Check your account agreement and contact the DP promptly if a charge remains unpaid.

Final Key Takeaways

• Demat account AMC is often quoted at ₹300 to ₹900 a year, but check each provider’s tariff.
• Demat account maintenance charges are only part of the bill, as transaction and service charges come on top.
• A BSDA gives eligible individuals nil AMC up to ₹4 lakh and at most ₹100 up to ₹10 lakh.
• Active traders should compare transaction charges per plan and per billing unit first.
• Jainam charges ₹0 AMC. Check the pricing page for current rates.