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Demat Account is almost like a bank account. Just like you hold funds in your bank account, you hold shares and other securities in the Demat Account. Having a Demat Account is mandatory for trading in equities as per SEBI regulations.
How to open Demat Account?
Demat Account can be opened online or offline. It is normally opened along with trading account (TCD) by the broker. Demat Account can be opened with any authorised depository participant (DP); which could be a bank or a broker. Here is how to open a Demat Account.
For offline Demat Account, you need to fill up the demat form and sign the demat agreement and submit to your DP. Basic documents like PAN Card, Proof of identity, Proof of residence and cancelled cheque are required. Copies of self-attested documents must be submitted to the DP along with the signed DP agreement. Carry the originals for verification by the officer. Demat account opening can take up to 4-5 days, if all the documents are in place.
Online Demat Accounts can be opened by filling up the online form on the DP website. You must authenticate your identify and address with your Aadhar Card and verify the same with OTP sent to mobile. An in-person-verification (IPV) has to be done before fully activating the demat account. Only Aadhar address will be considered for online demat.
Check: Procedure to open a Demat account
How to use the Demat Account?
With a demat account, your purchase, sale and holding of securities are in electronic mode. You must issue a signed Debit Instruction Slip (DIS) to sell shares or you can give a power of attorney (POA) to the broker. When you sell shares, the demat account gets debited and when you buy shares the demat account gets credited. All corporate actions like bonuses and splits are automatically credited to your demat account. Dividends are directly credited to the mapped bank account.
Documents Required for Demat Account
As stated earlier, demat account opening requires proof of identity and proof of address. Proof of identity can be any statutorily issued photo identity like passport, Aadhar, driving license, voter card etc. Proof of address can be any of the above with complete and latest address or electricity or land line bill. In case of online demat account opening, the Aadhar address will be considered. In addition, submission of PAN card and cancelled cheque are mandatory for opening demat account.
Importance of having a Demat account
Here are some of the key uses of having a demat account.
It facilitates non-physical holding of securities
Demat account can hold equities, bonds, ETFs, gold bonds and other securities
Corporate actions are automatically executed in demat account
One point intimation of change in address, email, mobile to all companies
Eliminates risk of physical holdings like bad delivery, mutilation of certificates, loss in transit, forgery, fake certificates etc.
Trading shares, holding in demat and bank transfers become one seamless chain if you opt for online trading
Demat is also cost effective compared to dealing in physical certificates
