New Delhi, Oct. 2 -- If you have invested money in gold, silver, debt, and equity ETFs, the tax payable when you sell them can differ significantly depending on the type of ETF and how long you held it.

The holding period, nature of the ETF, and amount of capital gain determine whether the gain is taxed at a specific rate or your applicable income-tax slab rate. Here's what you need to know about the capital gains tax rules for ETFs.

For listed ETF units, the key cut-off is 12 months. Mutual fund units held for 12 months or less are treated as short-term capital assets, while those held for more than 12 months qualify as long-term capital assets.

The distinction is important because the tax rate can change substantially after the holdi...