How to Start Investing in the Nepal Share Market Online: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide
By Wilson Shrestha · Last updated: September 2026 (Ashwin 2083) · Covers the latest CGT, trading-day and TMS changes
When I first wrote this guide in 2021, selling a share still meant walking into a broker’s office with two passport photos. That is no longer true. In 2026 you can open every account you need, apply for IPOs, buy shares and sell them entirely from your phone — without visiting a bank or a broker even once.
But the rules have also changed a lot this year: NEPSE now trades Monday to Friday, capital gains tax went up, a National ID number is now required for new Demat accounts, and TMS finally accepts after-market orders. This guide walks you through the whole journey in the right order, with diagrams, the real costs and the mistakes that trip up first-time investors.
Quick answer
To invest in NEPSE online you need four things, in this order:
- A bank account with mobile banking and ConnectIPS
- A Demat account (you get a 16-digit BOID)
- MeroShare + CRN (to apply for IPOs and transfer shares when you sell)
- A broker (TMS) account (to buy and sell on the secondary market)
Cost to hold: about Rs. 150 a year (Rs. 100 Demat + Rs. 50 MeroShare). Time: usually 3–7 working days from start to your first trade.
In this guide
- What changed in 2026
- The 4-account roadmap
- Documents you need
- Step 1: Bank account
- Step 2: Demat account
- Step 3: MeroShare
- Step 4: CRN & C-ASBA
- How to apply for an IPO
- Step 5: TMS broker account
- How to buy shares online
- How to sell shares online
- Charges & capital gains tax
- Basic analysis before you buy
- Mistakes to avoid
- FAQ
What Changed in 2026 (Most Guides Are Out of Date)
If you are reading an older blog post or watching a 2024 YouTube tutorial, these are the six changes it is probably missing:
APRIL 2026
Trading is now Monday–Friday
NEPSE moved from Sunday–Thursday to Monday–Friday from 6 April 2026, after the government made Saturday and Sunday public holidays.
SHRAWAN 1, 2083
Capital gains tax increased
For individuals: 10% if held 365 days or less, 7.5% if held longer (was 7.5% / 5%). It is now a final tax.
ASAR 2083
National ID required for Demat
New Demat accounts now need your National Identity (NID) number. Existing account holders are being asked to link it.
13 AUGUST 2026
After-market orders on TMS
You can now place orders between 5 PM and 10 AM. They queue and go to the market at the next open.
SHRAWAN 16, 2083
Unrenewed Demats blocked
CDSC started blocking accounts whose annual fee was not paid. Your shares stay safe; paying the fee restores access.
AUGUST 2026
Stricter T+2 for brokers
SEBON directed brokers to strictly follow T+2 settlement and keep client money in separate bank accounts.
The Big Picture: 4 Accounts, 1 Journey
Most confusion comes from not knowing which account does what. Here is the complete path. Each account depends on the one before it, so do them in this order.
Your share market roadmap in Nepal (1 → 2 → 3 → 4)
Bank account
Holds your money
+ ConnectIPS
Demat account
Holds your shares
You get a BOID
MeroShare + CRN
Apply IPOs
Transfer shares (EDIS)
TMS (broker)
Buy & sell on
NEPSE daily
After step 4: you can trade any listed share
Bank account
From: Any commercial / development bank
You get: Account number, mobile banking, ConnectIPS
Used for: Paying for shares, receiving sale money and dividends
Demat
From: A Depository Participant (DP): bank capital arm or broker, under CDSC
You get: 16-digit BOID
Used for: Holding shares electronically
MeroShare
From: CDSC, activated through your DP
You get: Username (DP + BOID) and password
Used for: IPO / right share applications, portfolio, WACC, EDIS
CRN
From: Your bank (C-ASBA member)
You get: Customer Reference Number
Used for: Lets MeroShare block money in your bank for IPOs
TMS
From: Any licensed NEPSE stockbroker
You get: Client code + TMS login
Used for: Buying and selling on the secondary market
Documents to Keep Ready
Scan or photograph these clearly before you start. Online forms reject blurry uploads, and the name must match exactly across every document.
✔ Required
- Citizenship certificate (front and back)
- National Identity (NID) number
- Recent passport-size photo
- Signature on white paper
- Bank account in your own name
ⓘ Also useful
- Mobile number and email you actively use (OTPs go here)
- PAN number (asked by many brokers)
- Nominee details
- Location map of your address (some online KYC forms ask for it)
Step 1: Open a Bank Account With Mobile Banking and ConnectIPS
Any commercial bank works — Nabil, NIC Asia, Global IME, Siddhartha, NIMB, Himalayan, and so on. What matters more than the bank name is that it gives you three things:
- Mobile banking, so you can check blocked IPO amounts and incoming sale money.
- ConnectIPS access. TMS uses ConnectIPS to load money into your broker account, so register for it early.
- C-ASBA membership (all major banks are). This is what lets MeroShare apply for IPOs directly from your account.
Tip: use one bank for everything
If your bank’s capital company (for example, NIC Asia Capital or Global IME Capital) is also a DP, you can often open the Demat, MeroShare and CRN in one go. Fewer institutions means fewer name-mismatch problems later.
Step 2: Open a Demat Account (Online in About 20 Minutes)
Your Demat account is where your shares live. It is opened through a Depository Participant (DP) — usually a bank’s capital company or a broker — and registered with CDSC (CDS and Clearing Limited). When it is approved you receive a 16-digit BOID, which is your permanent identity in the share market.
The online process with most DPs looks like this:
- Open the DP’s online KYC / Demat form.
- Fill in personal, address, bank and nominee details, including your NID number.
- Upload citizenship, photo and signature.
- Tick the boxes for MeroShare and C-ASBA/CRN on the same form if they are offered — it saves a second application.
- Pay the fee online and complete the short video KYC call.
- Receive your BOID by SMS or email, usually within 1–3 working days.
No NID number? Start there
Since Asar 2083, DPs are refusing new Demat applications without a National ID number. If you have not registered for your NID yet, do that first, or your application will sit in “pending”.
I have covered every detail — choosing a DP, the branch route, special cases for minors and NRNs, and the seven mistakes that get applications rejected — in a separate guide: How to Open a Demat Account in Nepal: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide.
Step 3: Activate MeroShare
MeroShare is CDSC’s investor portal and app. You do not need a paper form anymore — if you ticked MeroShare while opening the Demat, your login details arrive by SMS or email. Otherwise, request it from your DP (online form or branch) and pay the Rs. 50 registration fee.
- Go to the official site only: meroshare.cdsc.com.np, or install the official MeroShare app.
- Choose your DP from the list, then enter your username and temporary password.
- Change your login password and set a separate transaction PIN.
- Open My Details and confirm your name, BOID and bank are correct.
What you can do in MeroShare: apply for IPOs, FPOs and right shares; see your holdings; check allotment results; update your purchase price (WACC); and transfer shares to your broker after selling (EDIS). You cannot buy or sell on the secondary market here — that happens in TMS.
Step 4: Get Your CRN and Link Your Bank (C-ASBA)
The CRN (Customer Reference Number) comes from your bank, not from CDSC. It tells the C-ASBA system that your bank account is allowed to be used for IPO applications. Request it through your bank’s C-ASBA form, online portal or branch.
Once you have the CRN, log in to MeroShare, go to My ASBA and you will be prompted to select your bank, account number and CRN the first time you apply. After that, MeroShare remembers it.
Milestone reached
With a bank account, Demat, MeroShare and CRN, you can now apply for IPOs online. You only need the next step (TMS) to buy and sell shares that are already listed.
How to Apply for an IPO on MeroShare
For most beginners in Nepal, the first investment is an IPO. Here is how an application moves from your phone to your Demat account:
1 · APPLY
My ASBA → Apply for Issue → choose the open issue → enter units → confirm with PIN
2 · BLOCKED
Your bank blocks the amount (units × price). It is not debited yet.
3 · ALLOTMENT
If oversubscribed, units are allotted by lottery. Check under My ASBA → Application Report.
4 · CREDIT / RELEASE
Allotted: shares land in your Demat. Not allotted: the blocked money is released.
- Fixed-price IPOs for the general public usually have a minimum of 10 units. Most retail investors apply for the minimum because allotment is by lottery.
- Apply only once per BOID per issue. Duplicate applications from the same person are rejected.
- Keep enough balance in your bank until the result is published — the amount stays blocked.
- Read the prospectus summary before applying. “IPO = guaranteed profit” is a myth; some listings trade below expectations.
Step 5: Open a Broker (TMS) Account Online
To buy or sell shares that are already listed on NEPSE, you need a client account with a licensed stockbroker. Every broker gives you a login to NEPSE’s Trade Management System (TMS). Each broker has its own TMS address in this format: tmsXX.nepsetms.com.np, where XX is the broker number.
How to open it online:
- Pick a broker (see tips below) and open its TMS site. Click Online Registration / Client Registration.
- Fill in general, address, bank and depository (BOID) details.
- Upload citizenship, photo and signature, and accept the user agreement.
- Complete any KYC verification the broker asks for (some do a video call).
- Receive your client code and TMS username/password by email, usually within a few working days.
How to choose a broker: all brokers charge the same SEBON-capped commission, so compare the things that actually affect you:
- How quickly they answer phone and email (you will need them during settlement problems).
- How fast they pay out sale proceeds to your bank.
- Whether they also offer Demat services, margin lending or a branch near you.
Good to know
Opening a TMS account is usually free. Your login works only with that one broker; to use another broker you open a separate account. You can hold accounts with more than one broker if you want.
How to Buy Shares Online Through TMS
- Load funds (collateral). In TMS, open the fund/collateral section and transfer money from your bank through ConnectIPS. Your buying limit is based on this balance.
- Find the stock. Search the symbol (for example NABIL, NTC, UPPER) and check the last traded price and market depth.
- Place the order. Choose Buy, enter quantity and a limit price, then submit. Beginners should avoid chasing the price — set the price you are willing to pay.
- Watch the order book. The order may fill fully, partly or not at all. Unfilled orders expire at the end of the day.
- Receive shares. After settlement, the shares appear in your Demat and in MeroShare’s My Portfolio.
When can you trade? Here is a typical NEPSE trading day since the 2026 changes:
NEPSE trading day (Monday–Friday, Nepal time)
Continuous 11:00–3:00 – live matching
After-market orders 5 PM–10 AM – queued for next open
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. After-market orders also queue across weekends. Timings can change by NEPSE notice, so check your TMS “Active Sessions” strip.
How to Sell Shares Online (No Broker Visit Needed)
Selling is where most beginners get fined, because it takes two systems: you sell in TMS, then you release the shares in MeroShare. Miss the second part and the trade goes into close-out.
Selling timeline: T = the day your sell order executes
T
Sell in TMS
Place a sell order. Once it executes, go straight to MeroShare the same day.
T or T+1
WACC + EDIS in MeroShare
Update purchase source (WACC), then transfer shares via My EDIS. Deadline: next day at the latest.
T+2
Settlement
Trade settles. Your broker pays the proceeds (after commission, fees and CGT) to your bank.
Step by step:
- TMS: choose Sell, enter the symbol, quantity and limit price, and submit. Shares must already be in your Demat.
- MeroShare → My Purchase Source: make sure each lot has a purchase price and date. For IPO or bonus shares this is filled automatically; for secondary-market buys, confirm it. This sets your WACC and holding period, which decides your tax.
- MeroShare → My EDIS → Transfer Shares: select the sold scrip and quantity, enter your PIN and submit.
- Check the status shows “transferred”, not “pending”. Then wait for T+2 settlement and the money in your bank.
The close-out fine is expensive
If the sold shares do not reach the clearing system in time, the trade is closed out and the seller is fined 20% of the close-out amount — a quarter goes to the government and the rest to the buyer. On a Rs. 1 lakh sale that could be Rs. 20,000. Do your EDIS the same day. Note that EDIS is not generated during a company’s book-closure period, so avoid selling a scrip right before its book closure if you are unsure.
What It Costs: Charges and Capital Gains Tax in 2026
1. Broker commission (charged on both buy and sell)
SEBON sets the maximum commission by transaction size. These rates have applied since Jestha 1, 2081 and are still current:
Broker commission by trade value (per transaction)
Rates are for equity shares. Government and corporate bonds have lower slabs. The commission includes NEPSE’s and SEBON’s share.
2. Other charges
| Charge | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| SEBON transaction fee | 0.015% of trade value | Every buy and sell |
| DP charge | Rs. 25 per company, per settlement day | Charged on selling (confirm with your broker whether it also applies to buys) |
| Demat annual fee (AMC) | Rs. 100 / year | Every fiscal year, due by end of Asar |
| MeroShare | Rs. 50 registration + Rs. 50 / year | Renews yearly from your registration date |
| TMS account | Usually free | — |
| Capital gains tax (CGT) | 7.5% or 10% of profit (individuals) | Only on profitable sales, deducted at settlement |
You can renew Demat and MeroShare together (Rs. 150) through eSewa, Khalti, ConnectIPS or your DP, and many DPs let you prepay several years at once.
3. Capital gains tax: before vs after Budget 2083/84
From Shrawan 1, 2083 (17 July 2026), CGT on listed shares for resident individuals went up by 2.5 percentage points and became a final tax (no further settlement in your annual return). Institutions pay 10%.
CGT rate for individuals (% of net profit)
Held 365 days or less (short-term)
Held more than 365 days (long-term)
Holding for more than a year still saves you a quarter of the tax on the same profit.
4. Worked example: buying and selling Rs. 1 lakh of shares
Say you buy 100 shares at Rs. 1,000 and later sell them at Rs. 1,200.
| Item | Buy (Rs.) | Sell (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|
| Trade value | 1,00,000 | 1,20,000 |
| Broker commission (0.33%) | + 330 | − 396 |
| SEBON fee (0.015%) | + 15 | − 18 |
| DP charge | — | − 25 |
| Total cost / proceeds before tax | 1,00,345 WACC ≈ Rs. 1,003.45/share | 1,19,561 |
| Taxable profit | 19,216 | |
| CGT if held ≤ 365 days (10%) | − 1,921.60 → net profit 17,294.40 | |
| CGT if held > 365 days (7.5%) | − 1,441.20 → net profit 17,774.80 | |
So a Rs. 20,000 price gain becomes about Rs. 17,300–17,800 in your pocket. Waiting past one year was worth about Rs. 480 here.
5. Why tiny trades are expensive
The Rs. 25 DP charge is flat, so on small sales it eats a big share. Here are the selling costs (commission + SEBON fee + DP charge, before tax) as a percentage of trade size:
Sell-side cost as % of trade value
Calculated from the SEBON commission slabs, 0.015% SEBON fee and Rs. 25 DP charge. Trading in and out with a few thousand rupees means you need a big move just to break even.
Basic Analysis Before You Buy Your First Share
Opening accounts is the easy part; picking what to buy is the real work. Start with these four numbers, which you can find in every company’s quarterly report:
EPS (Earnings per Share)
Net profit ÷ Number of shares
How much the company earned for each share in a year (annualise quarterly figures).
P/E Ratio
Market price ÷ EPS
How many years of earnings you are paying for. Compare only with companies in the same sector.
Book Value (Net Worth) per Share
(Total assets − Total liabilities) ÷ Total shares
What each share would be worth on paper. Useful for banks and insurers (P/B ratio).
Dividend Yield
(Annual dividend per share ÷ Price) × 100
Your cash return from dividends. Remember bonus shares are not cash.
A common rule of thumb is that a P/E below ~15 may be cheap and above ~25 may be expensive, but in NEPSE this varies a lot by sector (hydropower and microfinance often trade at very different multiples from commercial banks). Never buy on one number alone.
Go deeper with my fundamental analysis of NEPSE companies, plan position size with the NEPSE Risk Manager, and track holdings with GoldenEdge portfolio manager. If you prefer reading first, start with my Share Bata Karodpati book summary and A Beginner’s Guide to the Stock Market summary. Not ready to pick stocks yourself? Mutual fund SIPs are a simpler start — try the SIP Calculator Nepal.
8 Mistakes First-Time Investors Make
1. Forgetting EDIS after selling
The most expensive beginner mistake. Sell in TMS, then transfer in MeroShare the same day.
2. Letting the Demat or MeroShare renewal lapse
An expired account cannot apply for IPOs or transfer shares. Pay the Rs. 150 before Asar ends, or prepay several years.
3. Name mismatch between bank, citizenship and Demat
Causes rejected IPO applications and failed credits. Fix it at the bank first.
4. Not updating WACC / purchase source
Without it, EDIS can stall and tax may be calculated on the wrong cost or holding period.
5. Logging in through fake links
Only use meroshare.cdsc.com.np and your broker’s official tmsXX.nepsetms.com.np address. Never share OTPs, PINs or passwords — no bank, broker or CDSC staff will ask for them.
6. Buying on tips from Telegram, TikTok or Facebook groups
“Sure-shot” calls are how retail investors end up holding the bag. Check the numbers yourself.
7. Trading very small amounts often
As the chart above shows, fixed charges make tiny, frequent trades costly.
8. Investing money you will need soon
NEPSE can fall for months. Invest only money you can leave alone, and keep an emergency fund separately.
Your Start-to-First-Trade Checklist
☐ Bank account in your exact citizenship name, with mobile banking and ConnectIPS
☐ National ID (NID) number in hand
☐ Demat account opened — BOID noted down
☐ MeroShare activated, password and transaction PIN changed
☐ CRN received and bank linked in MeroShare
☐ First IPO applied (optional)
☐ TMS account opened with a broker, login received
☐ Funds loaded to TMS via ConnectIPS
☐ Know the sell routine: TMS sell → WACC → EDIS same day
☐ Renewal reminder set for Asar every year
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start investing in the Nepal share market completely online?
Yes. Most DPs offer online Demat opening with video KYC, MeroShare credentials arrive by SMS/email, CRN can be requested online at most banks, and every broker has an online TMS registration form. Selling is also fully online through TMS and MeroShare EDIS.
What is the minimum amount needed to start?
There is no official minimum investment. An IPO application for 10 units at Rs. 100 costs Rs. 1,000 plus the small account fees. In the secondary market you can buy a small number of shares, but remember the flat Rs. 25 DP charge makes very small trades costly.
What is the difference between MeroShare and TMS?
MeroShare (by CDSC) is for IPOs, right shares, viewing holdings, WACC and EDIS transfers. TMS (by NEPSE, through your broker) is where you actually buy and sell listed shares. You need both to trade.
On which days and at what time does NEPSE trade?
Since April 2026, Monday to Friday. Pre-open runs from 10:30 to 11:00 AM and continuous trading from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. You can place after-market orders on TMS from 5 PM to 10 AM; they are sent to the market at the next open.
How much capital gains tax do I pay on shares in 2026?
For resident individuals, 10% of profit if you held the shares for 365 days or less, and 7.5% if held longer, effective from Shrawan 1, 2083. It is deducted at settlement and treated as a final tax.
When do I get money after selling shares?
NEPSE settles on T+2 (two working days after the trade). Your broker then transfers the proceeds to your linked bank account, as long as you completed EDIS on time.
Can I use one Demat account with different brokers?
Yes. Your Demat (BOID) is independent of your broker. You can register the same BOID with more than one broker and sell through the broker you used, transferring shares via EDIS to that broker.
Can students or minors invest?
Anyone 18 or older with citizenship can open accounts in their own name. For minors, a parent or guardian can open and operate a minor’s Demat account; TMS trading is done by the guardian.
My Demat shows “expired”. Are my shares lost?
No. CDSC keeps your holdings and BOID. Pay the pending annual fee through eSewa, Khalti, ConnectIPS or your DP and access is usually restored within a day.
Final Word
Getting into NEPSE in 2026 is simpler than it has ever been: a bank account, a Demat, MeroShare with a CRN, and a TMS login — all online. The rules that trip people up are the new ones: the NID requirement, the higher capital gains tax, and the EDIS step after every sale. Get those right, start with IPOs or small, well-researched positions, and give your investments time.
For daily market moves, follow my NEPSE Update page, and see NEPSE online trading for broker TMS links.
Disclaimer: This guide is for education only and is not financial advice. Share prices can go down as well as up. Fees, tax rates and trading hours are as published by SEBON, NEPSE, CDSC and the Finance Act 2083 at the time of writing; always confirm current rates with your broker or DP before trading.
Sources: NEPSE Monday–Friday notice; CGT change in Budget 2083/84; SEBON broker commission rates; NEPSE after-market orders; NID mandatory for Demat; CDSC renewal notice; close-out fine rules; SEBON broker directives (T+2).