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Unlisted Shares FAQ: 17+ Common Questions Answered

Every question investors most commonly ask about buying and selling unlisted and pre-IPO shares in India, grouped by topic.

Getting Started

What are unlisted shares?

Shares of a company not traded on a public stock exchange like NSE or BSE. Ownership transfers directly between demat accounts instead of through exchange order-matching.

Who can buy unlisted shares in India?

Any resident Indian citizen or NRI aged 18+, with a valid PAN card, Aadhaar, and an active CDSL/NSDL-linked demat account.

Can I buy just 1 share of an unlisted company?

On PreStocks.in, yes — retail investors can buy as little as 1 share on eligible seller inventory, unlike traditional dealers who often enforce 500–1,000 share minimum lots.

How much money do I need to start?

There is no platform-mandated minimum investment beyond the price of the shares you choose to buy — since lots can start from 1 share, entry cost depends entirely on that company’s per-share price.

Pricing & Valuation

How is the price of unlisted shares determined?

Indicative prices reflect recent secondary-market transaction data and the company’s most recent funding-round valuation — not a live exchange quote, since the company is not listed.

Why do unlisted share prices vary between platforms?

Different platforms source inventory from different sellers at different times, so quoted prices can vary. Prices also move as new transaction and funding data comes in.

Can unlisted share prices go down?

Yes. Valuations can fall if a company’s fundamentals weaken, funding rounds reprice lower, or broader market sentiment shifts — the same risks that affect any equity investment.

Process & Settlement

How long does delivery take after I pay?

Standard settlement is T+1 to T+2 working days after payment confirmation, once shares are transferred via DIS/e-DIS into your demat account.

What happens if the seller does not deliver shares?

If shares are not credited within the settlement window, the buyer’s escrowed payment is fully refunded with zero cancellation charges.

Do I need a specific broker for unlisted shares?

No — unlisted shares can be held in a demat account with any depository participant, including Zerodha, Groww, Angel One, Upstox, or ICICI Direct.

Can unlisted shares be held in a regular demat account?

Yes. Under SEBI’s depository framework, unlisted shares are issued and held electronically in the same CDSL/NSDL demat accounts used for listed shares.

Tax & Regulation

Is PreStocks a SEBI-registered exchange?

No. PreStocks.in is a technology marketplace facilitating secondary transactions in unlisted equity — not a registered stock exchange, and not an investment advisor.

What tax applies when selling unlisted shares?

Gains are taxed as Short-Term or Long-Term Capital Gains under the Income Tax Act, 1961, depending on the holding period. Consult a tax advisor for your specific situation.

Is GST charged on unlisted share transactions?

Platform convenience fees, where applicable, may attract GST at the prevailing rate — the share transaction itself is a securities transfer, not a supply of goods or services.

IPO Timing

When will a specific unlisted company IPO?

IPO timelines depend on regulatory approvals (SEBI, RoC) and market conditions, and can shift. No platform, including PreStocks, can guarantee a listing date.

Does buying unlisted shares guarantee IPO allotment?

No. Buying unlisted (pre-IPO) shares gives you direct equity ownership acquired before listing — it is unrelated to the separate IPO application/allotment process open to the public at listing time.

What is a DRHP and why does it matter?

A Draft Red Herring Prospectus is the document a company files with SEBI ahead of an IPO. A filed DRHP is often the first public signal that a listing is approaching.

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