NEPSE Online Trading in Nepal: How to Buy and Sell Shares on TMS (2026 Guide)
Last updated: October 22, 2026 – checked against the latest NEPSE, SEBON and Finance Act 2083 changes.
NEPSE online trading means you buy and sell listed shares yourself through your broker's Trade Management System (TMS), the web platform connected to the Nepal Stock Exchange trading engine. There are no calls to a dealer and no waiting at a broker's counter. You log in, enter the stock, quantity and price, and the order reaches NEPSE within seconds.
The rules around it have moved fast in 2026. A stock can now move 15% in a day, After Market Orders went live on TMS in August, and capital gains tax on listed shares went up to 7.5% (long-term) and 10% (short-term) in mid-July. Many older guides still show the old numbers, so this guide is built around what applies today.
- What is NEPSE online trading?
- Online vs offline trading
- What you need before you start
- How to start NEPSE online trading, step by step
- How to buy shares on TMS
- How to sell shares and complete EDIS
- Trading hours, price limits and After Market Orders
- Fees and capital gains tax, with a worked example
- What changed in 2026
- How to choose a broker
- Common mistakes and safety tips
- TMS problems and quick fixes
- FAQ
What is NEPSE online trading?
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) is the only stock exchange in Nepal. Trading runs on an automated, order-driven system: buy and sell orders are matched by price and time, and nobody negotiates a price over the phone. Investors reach that system through a broker, who gives them a TMS login. In technical papers you will also see it called the NEPSE Online Trading System (NOTS).
How one order travels from your screen to your Demat account
Key terms in plain English
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| NEPSE | Nepal Stock Exchange, where listed shares are traded. |
| SEBON | Securities Board of Nepal, the regulator that sets rules and fee limits. |
| TMS | Trade Management System. The broker-specific website where you place orders. |
| Demat account | The electronic account that holds your shares. It is compulsory for the secondary market. |
| MeroShare | The CDSC platform where you see holdings, apply for IPOs, calculate WACC and send EDIS. |
| CDSC | CDS and Clearing Ltd, which runs depository and settlement services. |
| WACC | Weighted average cost of your shares, including buying costs. Needed to work out profit and tax. |
| EDIS | Electronic Delivery Instruction Slip. The MeroShare step that moves sold shares to your broker. |
| T+2 | Trades settle two working days after the trade day. |
If you are unsure how Demat and MeroShare fit together, read our explainer on MeroShare vs Demat account first.
The gap matters. SEBON says Nepal has crossed 8.09 million Demat accounts, about 5.12 million active MeroShare accounts, and more than 3.56 million investors with trading accounts at the end of the last fiscal year. In other words, fewer than half of Demat holders have a trading account. Many people only apply for IPOs and never learn to trade the secondary market. This guide is for the ones who want to.
Online vs offline trading: which should you use?
| Factor | Online (your own TMS login) | Offline (through a broker's dealer) |
|---|---|---|
| Order entry | You type the order yourself and see it instantly. | You phone or visit, and a dealer enters it. |
| Speed | Orders reach NEPSE in seconds, which matters on volatile days. | Depends on the dealer's queue. |
| Control | You choose price and quantity and can cancel unmatched orders yourself. | You depend on the dealer to act on your instruction. |
| After-hours | After Market Orders can be queued for the next session. | Not possible outside office and trading hours. |
| Records | Order book and trade book are always on screen. | You rely on contract notes and messages. |
| Best for | Most retail investors with internet access. | Investors who cannot use the internet comfortably. |
What you need before you start
- A Demat account and MeroShare login. If you do not have one, follow our guide to open a Demat account in Nepal.
- An updated KYC. Brokers will not activate online trading until your KYC details are complete.
- A bank account linked to your Demat (BOID). Sale proceeds are paid to it.
- Identity documents. Brokers usually ask for your citizenship certificate, a photo, your PAN if you have one, and your Demat details. The exact list differs by broker.
- A mobile number and email. TMS credentials and alerts arrive there.
- A connectIPS account (recommended). It lets you load collateral from your bank straight inside TMS.
How to start NEPSE online trading, step by step
Here is the full route from zero to your first trade. For the wider picture of investing in Nepal, our step-by-step guide to online investing in the Nepal share market covers the basics behind each step.
How to buy shares on TMS
Menu names differ slightly between broker TMS versions, but the flow is the same everywhere.
- Log in at your broker's TMS address with your username and password.
- Go to Order Management and open Buy/Sell.
- Select Buy and search for the stock by its symbol.
- Enter the quantity. Regular lots trade in units of 10, and fewer than 10 shares is an odd lot.
- Enter your price. It must sit inside the day's allowed range (see the 15% rule below), otherwise the order is not accepted.
- Check the total, including commission, and make sure your collateral covers it.
- Submit the order and watch its status. An unmatched order stays pending until it is matched, cancelled, or the day ends. You can edit or cancel it while it is unmatched.
- After it executes, confirm the trade in your trade book and later in MeroShare.
How to sell shares and complete EDIS
Selling has two parts: the sell order itself, and the delivery of your shares to the broker through MeroShare. The second part is where beginners get caught.
- In TMS, open Order Management and Buy/Sell, then choose Sell, enter the stock, quantity and price, and submit.
- When the order executes, log in to MeroShare.
- Open My Purchase Source and complete the WACC calculation for the shares you sold. This also records your holding period, which decides your tax rate.
- Go to My EDIS and choose Transfer Shares to send the sold shares to your broker.
- After settlement, the broker credits the sale proceeds to your linked bank account.
Trading hours, price limits and After Market Orders
NEPSE trading hours
NEPSE trades Sunday to Thursday and stays closed on Friday, Saturday and public holidays. A normal day has three parts.
The exact After Market Order window is set in each broker's TMS. One broker publishes it as 5:00 PM to 10:00 AM, so check yours.
The 15% daily price limit
From April 20, 2026, NEPSE widened the daily price band for individual stocks from 10% to 15% under the revised Securities Trading Operation Regulations. A stock that closed at Rs 500 yesterday can now trade anywhere between Rs 425 and Rs 575 today. Under the old band the range was Rs 450 to Rs 550.
Illustration using a Rs 500 closing price. Source: ShareSansar report on the NEPSE rule change, April 2026.
A wider band gives prices more room to settle at their true level, but it also means bigger swings in both directions. A stock you buy can fall further in one session than it could before.
Circuit breakers on the NEPSE index
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| Pre-open session | Prices can move ±5% from the previous close. |
| NEPSE index moves 5% within the first two hours | Trading is suspended for 15 minutes. |
| NEPSE index moves 8% in the day | All trading stops for the rest of the day. |
After Market Orders (AMO)
NEPSE launched After Market Orders on TMS on Thursday, August 13, 2026. You no longer have to be online between 11 AM and 3 PM to trade.
- You can place buy and sell orders outside market hours, for example at night or before work.
- The price must stay within 15% of the previous day's closing price.
- Before an order is forwarded, TMS checks that a buyer has enough balance and that a seller actually holds the shares in Demat.
- Orders that fall within 3% of the opening price are forwarded into live trading when the market opens.
- An AMO is valid for one trading day. If it does not execute, it is cancelled automatically.
- Editing or cancelling an AMO can be awkward, so check the price before you submit.
Fees and capital gains tax, with a worked example
Broker commission and other charges
SEBON sets the commission slabs for share trades. The current slabs have applied since May 14, 2024, when commissions were cut by about 10%.
| Transaction value | Commission on shares |
|---|---|
| Up to Rs 50,000 | 0.36% |
| Rs 50,001 to Rs 5,00,000 | 0.33% |
| Rs 5,00,001 to Rs 20,00,000 | 0.31% |
| Rs 20,00,001 to Rs 1,00,00,000 | 0.27% |
| Above Rs 1,00,00,000 | 0.24% |
- SEBON transaction fee: 0.015% of the transaction amount on share trades.
- DP charge: Rs 25 per stock per transfer day, paid to the depository participant.
- Minimum commission: brokers apply a small flat minimum (Rs 10 on one published schedule) on very small trades.
Capital gains tax (CGT) on shares in 2026
The Finance Act 2083 raised CGT on listed shares for sales made on or after Shrawan 1, 2083 (July 17, 2026) and made it a final tax. That means the amount withheld at sale settles your tax on that gain, and you do not add it to your annual return.
| Seller | Holding period | Earlier rate | Rate now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | More than 365 days | 5% | 7.5% |
| Individual | 365 days or less | 7.5% | 10% |
| Institution | Any | 10% | 10% |
The tax applies only to profit, calculated after your weighted average cost and selling charges. A loss means no CGT. The holding period counts every calendar day from the purchase date, not only trading days.
Worked example: buy at Rs 500, sell at Rs 600
Suppose you buy 200 shares at Rs 500 (Rs 1,00,000) and later sell all 200 at Rs 600 (Rs 1,20,000). Both trades fall in the 0.33% commission slab. The table assumes the DP charge is paid once, on the sale. Figures are rounded and your contract note is final.
| Item | Sold within 365 days | Sold after 365 days |
|---|---|---|
| Sale value | Rs 1,20,000 | Rs 1,20,000 |
| Broker commission on sale (0.33%) | Rs 396 | Rs 396 |
| SEBON fee on sale (0.015%) | Rs 18 | Rs 18 |
| DP charge | Rs 25 | Rs 25 |
| Cost of shares including buying fees | Rs 1,00,345 | Rs 1,00,345 |
| Taxable gain | Rs 19,216 | Rs 19,216 |
| Capital gains tax | Rs 1,922 (10%) | Rs 1,441 (7.5%) |
| Cash you receive from the sale | Rs 1,17,639 | Rs 1,18,120 |
| Net profit | Rs 17,294 | Rs 17,775 |
What changed in 2026: where older guides go wrong
If you read an older article on NEPSE trading, several numbers will no longer match what you see on screen. Here is a quick correction table.
| Topic | Older guides say | Current rule |
|---|---|---|
| Daily price limit | 10% up or down | 15% from April 20, 2026 |
| Pre-open price band | ±2% | ±5% |
| Index circuit breaker | Several stages, with a full-day halt at 6% | 15-minute halt at 5% in the first two hours, full-day close at 8% |
| After-hours orders | Not available | After Market Orders live on TMS since August 13, 2026 |
| Broker commission | 0.27% to 0.40% | 0.24% to 0.36% since May 14, 2024 |
| CGT for individuals | 5% long-term, 7.5% short-term | 7.5% long-term, 10% short-term, final tax, from July 17, 2026 |
| Settlement | T+3 | T+2 |
How to choose a broker
Because SEBON sets commission slabs, most of the difference between brokers comes from service, not price. Compare these points before you register:
- TMS reliability. Ask active traders whether the broker's TMS stays stable on busy days.
- Online registration. A clean online form saves you a trip to the office.
- Collateral policy. Find out if full collateral is needed before a buy order.
- Payment options. connectIPS in TMS makes loading funds quick.
- Withdrawal speed. See how quickly unused collateral and sale proceeds reach your bank.
- Support. A working helpline or email matters when an order or EDIS fails.
- Location. A branch near you helps if you ever need paperwork changes.
Common mistakes and safety tips
Mistakes new traders make
- Forgetting WACC and EDIS after a sale, which can trigger a shortage and a closeout penalty.
- Selling on day 364 instead of day 366, which raises the CGT rate on the whole gain from 7.5% to 10%.
- Confusing the TMS login with the MeroShare login. They are different systems with different passwords.
- Entering a price outside the allowed range, so the order is rejected.
- Chasing rumours in social media groups instead of reading a company's financial reports.
- Putting everything in one stock because it moved 15% yesterday.
Keep your account safe
- Never share your TMS password or OTP, even with someone claiming to be from the broker.
- Open TMS only from your own bookmark, and check that the address matches your broker's number.
- Use a strong, unique password and log out on shared devices.
- Review your order book and trade book after every session.
TMS problems and quick fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Cannot log in | Wrong broker TMS address, expired password or typing error | Use your broker's own link and the password reset option. If it still fails, contact the broker. |
| Order rejected | Price outside the daily range, quantity not valid, or collateral too low | Check the allowed price range, then your balance, then resubmit. |
| Shares missing from the sell list | Purchase not yet settled, or shares are not in the Demat account | Wait for T+2 settlement and verify holdings in MeroShare. |
| EDIS will not go through | WACC not completed or purchase source missing | Finish WACC in My Purchase Source first. See our MeroShare fixes guide. |
| Collateral not showing | Payment still processing or not yet confirmed by the broker | Check your payment status, then message the broker with the transaction details. |
| Sale proceeds not received | Settlement has not completed, or bank details are not updated | Confirm the settlement date, then check your linked bank account with the broker. |
MeroShare errors are covered in detail in our guide to MeroShare problems and their fixes.
Frequently asked questions
What is NEPSE online trading?
NEPSE online trading is buying and selling listed shares yourself through your broker's Trade Management System (TMS), which connects to the Nepal Stock Exchange trading engine. You enter the stock, quantity and price, and the order is matched automatically.
What are NEPSE trading hours?
NEPSE trades Sunday to Thursday. The pre-open session runs from 10:30 AM to 10:45 AM and regular trading runs from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The market is closed on Friday, Saturday and public holidays.
What is the daily price limit on NEPSE now?
Since April 20, 2026, an individual stock can move up or down by 15% of the previous close in one day. It was 10% before that.
How much does it cost to trade shares online in Nepal?
Broker commission on shares is 0.36% up to Rs 50,000 and falls to 0.24% above Rs 1 crore. You also pay a 0.015% SEBON fee and a Rs 25 DP charge, and capital gains tax on profit.
What is the capital gains tax on shares in Nepal in 2026?
For sales on or after July 17, 2026, resident individuals pay 7.5% on gains from shares held more than 365 days and 10% on shares held 365 days or less. It is a final tax withheld at settlement.
What is an After Market Order on NEPSE?
An After Market Order lets you place a buy or sell order outside trading hours. It must be within 15% of the previous close, is checked for balance or holdings, is forwarded when the market opens if it fits the opening price range, and is valid for one trading day.
How long does share settlement take in Nepal?
Trades settle on T+2, two working days after the trade date. After selling, you must complete WACC and EDIS in MeroShare so the shares reach your broker on time.
Do I need a Demat account before opening a TMS account?
Yes. A Demat account is compulsory for secondary market trading, and brokers use your Demat and MeroShare details to register you for TMS.
Final thoughts
NEPSE online trading is simple once you have the pieces in place: a Demat account, a broker TMS login, funded collateral and a clear understanding of the rules. The part that trips most people up is not placing the order. It is the cost, tax and delivery details after it. Learn the 15% daily range, the After Market Order option, the new 7.5% and 10% tax rates, and the WACC and EDIS routine, and you will already be ahead of most beginners.
Start with a small trade, keep notes, and build from there. If you have not set up your accounts yet, begin with how to open a Demat account in Nepal, then follow our online investing guide.
Sources and further reading
- ShareSansar: NEPSE stock limit raised to 15% and index circuit breaker revised
- ShareSansar: NEPSE launches After Market Orders on TMS
- ShareSansar: SEBON revised broker commission rates
- ShareSansar: Demat accounts cross 8 million
- connectIPS: paying brokers through TMS
- Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON)
- MeroShare (CDSC)