Kotak Neo’s charge structure is among the most investor-friendly in the full-service broker segment — free intraday trading, ₹20 flat on F&O, a ₹600/year AMC, and free account opening for investors under 30. Understanding each charge component ensures you never miscalculate the total cost of your investing activity.
Account Opening Charges
Trade Free Plan (standard): ₹99 one-time account opening charge for investors above 30. Trade Free Youth Plan (under 30): ₹0 — completely free for young investors. Account Closure Charge: ₹0 — free. Account Reactivation Charge: ₹0 — free.
Annual Maintenance Charge (AMC)
Standard Demat AMC: ₹600 per year. This applies from the first year under the standard plan — slightly higher than Zerodha (₹300/year) and HDFC Sky (₹300/year) but lower than HDFC Securities (₹750/year).
BSDA AMC: Zero for holdings up to ₹50,000. ₹100/year for holdings between ₹50,001 and ₹2,00,000.
Trade Free Max Plan: ₹2,499/year subscription on top of standard AMC — includes same brokerage structure with MTF at 10.25% per annum.
Brokerage Charges
Equity Delivery: ₹0 brokerage — zero, permanently, under the Trade Free Plan. Equity Intraday: ₹0 brokerage — free under Trade Free Plan. Equity F&O (Futures and Options): ₹20 flat per executed order. Commodity: ₹20 flat per executed order. Currency: ₹0 — free under Trade Free Plan. Mutual Funds: ₹0 — free.
DP Charges (Depository Participant Charges on Selling)
Kotak Neo demat debit transaction fee is 0.04% + NSDL charges, with a minimum of ₹20 per debit transaction per ISIN. This percentage-based DP model means the charge scales with transaction value — advantageous for small sells (minimum ₹20 applies) but more expensive than flat-fee DP models on large value transactions.
Pledge Creation: 0.05% of value, minimum ₹30. Pledge Invocation: 0.04% of value, minimum ₹30.
Other Notable Charges
Call & Trade: ₹90 per trade for phone-executed orders — one of the highest call-and-trade charges in the segment.
Margin Trading Facility (MTF) Interest: 0.028% per day (Trade Free Plan) = approximately 10.22% per annum. Trade Free Max: 10.25% per annum (slightly lower interest despite higher stated rate — verify current rates at kotakneo.com).
Dematerialisation: ₹50 per certificate.
Overview: Kotak Neo — Complete Charges Reference
| Charge | Rate |
| Account Opening (Standard) | ₹99 |
| Account Opening (Under 30) | ₹0 |
| Demat AMC | ₹600/year |
| BSDA AMC (<₹50K) | ₹0 |
| BSDA AMC (₹50K–₹2L) | ₹100/year |
| Trade Free Max Subscription | ₹2,499/year |
| Equity Delivery Brokerage | ₹0 |
| Equity Intraday Brokerage | ₹0 |
| Equity F&O Brokerage | ₹20 per order |
| Commodity Brokerage | ₹20 per order |
| Currency Brokerage | ₹0 |
| DP Charge (Sell) | 0.04% + NSDL charges (min ₹20) |
| Pledge Creation | 0.05% (min ₹30) |
| MTF Interest | 0.028%/day (~10.22% p.a.) |
| Call & Trade | ₹90 per trade |
| Dematerialisation | ₹50 per certificate |
| STT (Delivery) | 0.1% (buy + sell) |
| GST | 18% on brokerage/charges |
| Stamp Duty (Buy) | 0.015% delivery |
| SEBI Charges | ₹10 per crore |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is intraday trading really free at Kotak Neo?
A: Yes — equity intraday and currency trading carry zero brokerage under the Trade Free Plan. Only F&O and commodity trades are charged at ₹20 per order.
Q2. What is the DP charge at Kotak Neo for selling shares?
A: 0.04% of transaction value plus NSDL charges, with a minimum of ₹20 per ISIN per debit. Percentage-based — more expensive than flat-fee DP models for large sells.
Q3. How does Kotak Neo’s AMC compare to Zerodha?
A: Kotak Neo: ₹600/year. Zerodha: ₹300 + GST/year. Kotak Neo’s AMC is ₹300 higher than Zerodha annually.
Q4. Is there a separate plan for investors under 30?
A: Yes — Trade Free Youth Plan offers zero account opening charge with the same zero delivery and zero intraday brokerage structure.
Q5. What is the Call & Trade charge at Kotak Neo?
A: ₹90 per trade for phone-executed orders — among the highest call-and-trade fees in the discount broker segment.
