Can We Have Two Demat Accounts and What Are the Rules

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You can have two demat accounts, but there are some rules to consider.

In India, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) allows an individual to open multiple demat accounts, but they must be linked to different bank accounts.

Having two demat accounts can be useful if you want to separate your investments from your trading activities or if you need to maintain a separate account for a family member or business.

However, you'll need to ensure that each account meets the Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti Money Laundering (AML) requirements.

Legality and Basics

In India, you can only open one Demat Account with one stockbroker or Depository Participant (DP). This is a key fact to keep in mind when considering multiple Demat Accounts.

You'll be liable to pay Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC) on your Demat Accounts, regardless of whether you use them or not. These charges can add up, so it's essential to be aware of this requirement.

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Having two Demat Accounts is generally advisable, as you can designate one for everyday trading and the other for long-term investments. This strategy helps you monitor and manage your shares more effectively.

If you don't use your Demat Account for a prolonged period, the stockbroker may freeze it as a security measure. This can be frustrating, so it's crucial to keep all your Demat Accounts operational.

You can link multiple Demat Accounts to a single Trading Account, making it easier to manage your trades and capitalize on opportunities.

Here are some key points to consider when it comes to multiple Demat Accounts:

  • You can only open one Demat Account with one stockbroker or Depository Participant (DP).
  • You'll be liable to pay Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC) on your Demat Accounts.
  • Having two Demat Accounts is generally advisable for everyday trading and long-term investments.
  • Freezing of accounts can occur if not used for a prolonged period.
  • You can link multiple Demat Accounts to a single Trading Account.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Having multiple demat accounts can be beneficial as it allows you to reap the best of different stockbrokers' services. You can have different trading accounts linked to your demat accounts, giving you more flexibility in your trading and investing practices.

Different stockbrokers offer distinct services and strengths, so having two demat accounts can be a good idea. Some traders also use multiple demat accounts to segregate their trading and investing practices, allowing them to focus on their investment goals.

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However, having multiple demat accounts also comes with some drawbacks. You'll have to pay multiple annual maintenance charges (AMC), which can add up quickly. For example, if you have a demat account with ICICI direct (AMC= Rs 600) and another with Share Khan (AMC= Rs 441), you'll have to pay a total of Rs 1,041 per year.

Advantages of Having

Having two Demat Accounts can be beneficial for traders who want to take advantage of different services offered by various stockbrokers. Each stockbroker has its unique strengths and weaknesses, allowing for a more diverse trading experience.

You can trade in various products through different Demat Accounts, giving you more flexibility in your investments. This is especially useful if you have different investment goals or strategies.

Some traders prefer to segregate their trading and investing practices, and having two Demat Accounts allows them to do so. This helps them stay focused on their investment goals.

Additional reading: Ubs Trading Desk

Disadvantages of Duality

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Having multiple Demat accounts can be a hassle, especially when it comes to managing them. You'll have to pay separate annual maintenance charges for each account, which can add up quickly.

For example, if you have a Demat account with ICICI direct (AMC = Rs 600) and another with Share Khan (AMC = Rs 441), you'll have to pay a total of Rs 1,041 per year in maintenance charges.

Managing multiple accounts can be time-consuming and tedious, making it easy to forget about one or more of them. You might even forget the login credentials for an account you don't use frequently.

Here are some of the cons of having multiple Demat accounts:

It's essential to be aware of these disadvantages to make an informed decision about whether having multiple Demat accounts is right for you.

Management and Considerations

You can have multiple demat accounts, but be aware that each individual account will levy its own charges, such as opening and annual maintenance charges.

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It's perfectly legal to have two or more demat accounts, as long as they're not with the same Depository Participant or Broker.

Having multiple demat accounts can be useful if you're an active trader or investor, as it helps in segregating your investment portfolio.

Unused demat accounts can be frozen and require you to redo your KYC details to reactivate them, so don't leave them idle.

Keep a close eye on the monetary balance and transactions in your demat accounts.

How to Open and Convert

You can open multiple Demat accounts, but there's a catch - you can only have one Demat account with one stockbroker or Depository Participant (DP). This means if you want to have multiple accounts, you'll need to open them with different brokers.

To open multiple Demat accounts, you can follow these steps: first, link your PAN number to each account, as it serves as a unique identifier. You can have multiple Demat accounts across different investment platforms with your PAN number, just like having multiple bank accounts with different banks.

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Here are some key things to keep in mind when opening multiple Demat accounts:

  • Make sure you keep all your Demat Accounts operational, as freezing an account can lead to issues with accessing it.
  • You can link multiple Demat Accounts to a single Trading Account, making it easier to manage your trades.
  • Transferring shares between Demat Accounts is a hassle-free process, requiring only a Delivery Instruction Slip (DIS) and submission to your stockbroker.

Open

You can open multiple Demat accounts, but there's a catch - you can only have one Demat account with one stockbroker or Depository Participant (DP). This means you'll need to choose a broker and open a single account with them.

Having multiple Demat accounts can be beneficial, especially if you're an active trader. You can designate one account for everyday trading and another for long-term investments, making it easier to monitor and manage your shares.

However, be aware that you'll need to pay Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC) on each Demat account, regardless of whether you use it or not. This can add up, so it's essential to weigh the benefits against the costs.

You can link multiple Demat accounts to a single Trading Account, making it easier to act quickly on trade opportunities. This feature allows you to manage multiple accounts from a single dashboard.

For another approach, see: Can I Have Two Internets in One House?

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If you want to transfer shares from one Demat account to another, you can do so by filling in a Delivery Instruction Slip (DIS) and submitting it to your stockbroker. The stockbroker will then forward it to the depository, and the shares will be transferred to the new account.

Here are some key points to keep in mind when opening multiple Demat accounts:

  • You can open multiple Demat accounts with different brokers.
  • Each Demat account must be linked to a unique PAN Card.
  • You can link multiple Demat accounts to a single Trading Account.
  • You can transfer shares from one Demat account to another using a Delivery Instruction Slip (DIS).

How to Convert Physical Shares

Converting physical shares to demat is a relatively straightforward process that can be completed in just a few steps. You'll need to gather the necessary documents, which may include your PAN card, Aadhaar card, and cancelled cheques.

The first step is to open a demat account with a depository participant (DP). You can do this by filling out an account opening form and submitting the required documents.

Once your demat account is open, you can start the conversion process by submitting a request to your DP to convert your physical shares to demat.

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To do this, you'll need to provide your DP with the necessary details, including the number and type of shares you want to convert.

Here are the steps to convert physical shares to demat:

  1. Submit a request to your DP to convert your physical shares to demat.
  2. Provide your DP with the necessary details, including the number and type of shares you want to convert.
  3. Pay the necessary conversion charges, which may vary depending on the DP and the type of shares being converted.
  4. Wait for the conversion to be processed, which may take a few days.
  5. Verify that your shares have been successfully converted to demat by checking your account statement.

After the conversion is complete, you can start trading your demat shares online or through a broker.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the disadvantages of having multiple demat accounts?

Having multiple demat accounts can lead to higher costs and increased administrative burdens due to additional fees and account maintenance. Managing multiple accounts also requires more time and effort, which can be a significant drawback.

Teri Little

Writer

Teri Little is a seasoned writer with a passion for delivering insightful and engaging content to readers worldwide. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, Teri has established herself as a trusted voice in the realm of financial markets news. Her articles have been featured in various publications, offering readers a unique perspective on market trends, economic analysis, and industry insights.

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