How do I get my money back from delisted shares?

Asked by: Tremaine Hand MD  |  Last update: May 23, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (14 votes)

To get money back from delisted shares, you can sell them on the Over-the-Counter (OTC) market (pink sheets) via your broker, participate in a company-initiated buyback/tender offer, or claim a capital loss for tax purposes if the shares are deemed worthless. Delisting means the stock is removed from a major exchange, but ownership remains, and it may still have, albeit lower, value.

Do I get my money back if a stock is delisted?

Delisting is generally not a redemption; if the company was not liquidated, it is fairly unlikely that there would be any cash payment; it just means you cannot trade the stock anymore.

How do you get money from delisted shares?

Though delisting does not affect your ownership, shares may not hold any value post-delisting. Thus, if any of the stocks that you own get delisted, it is better to sell your shares. You can either exit the market or sell it to the company when it announces buyback.

Do stocks ever come back after being delisted?

Yes, a delisted stock can come back and be relisted on a major exchange like the NYSE or Nasdaq, but it's often a difficult, lengthy process requiring the company to resolve the issues that caused the delisting (like low share price or financial non-compliance) and meet all exchange requirements again, though many don't successfully relist and end up trading on the less liquid over-the-counter (OTC) market or become worthless. 

What happens if I don't sell delisted shares?

If you miss the chance to sell during the delisting process, you can sell your shares to the promoter for at least one year after delisting at the same price. If you still don't sell, you can try selling your shares on the over-the-counter (OTC) market.

What Happens When a Stock Gets Delisted?

32 related questions found

Are delisted shares worth anything?

In case of Involuntary Delisting, your ownership of the shares is not affected, however, the value of your shares might get devalued after delisting. Thus, traders or investors generally sell their shares when the company announces buyback.

How do I sell my delisted shares?

When a stock is delisted, it can no longer be bought or sold on the exchange. However, it may still be possible to trade the shares over-the-counter (OTC) or through private transactions, depending on the circumstances.

Is it possible to profit from a delisted stock?

Traders can potentially profit from voluntary and involuntary delistings. If a company delists voluntarily, its share price can increase depending on the reasons for the privatisation. In this case, a trader can open a position to 'buy' (go long) if they think the share price will increase.

How to transfer delisted shares?

If the exit offer is unavailable or has expired, investors can transfer their delisted shares off-market to another buyer. How It Works: Fill out a Delivery Instruction Slip (DIS) from your depository participant (linked to NSDL or CDSL). Enter the recipient's demat account details accurately.

Should I keep delisted stocks?

You should also know that delisting doesn't impact the number of shares you hold or whether you still have a stake in the company, it just impacts where those shares trade. Delisted shares may continue to trade over-the-counter, which could reduce liquidity and lead to less transparency from the company.

How to claim loss on delisted shares?

Under the Income-tax Act, 1961, capital gains or losses arise only when a “transfer” of a capital asset occurs. If delisted shares continue to appear in your demat account, you can transfer them at a nominal value to realise and claim the loss.

How do I sell shares that have been delisted?

Alternatively, they may be kicked out of the exchange for failing to meet its listing requirements or because they ran out of money and went bankrupt. Investors holding shares after a delisting will only be able to sell them OTC.

How long does the delisting process take?

If it fails in its appeal to Nasdaq, the company can move its case to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and then on to the federal courts. On Nasdaq the delisting procedure for various violations of the exchange's standards can take anywhere from 30 days to seven months.

How do you get your money from a delisted stock?

Usually, once the stocks are delisted, you receive either cash payment, or stocks of the new company, or both, or none in exchange for the shares you previously held.

Who buys delisted shares?

The remaining investors will be able to sell their shares to the promoters. The promoters must accept all of the shares at the same final price. This is allowed for a period of one year from the date of delisting. 2.

What happens if you own shares in a company that delists?

When a company delists, investors still own their shares. However, they'll no longer be able to sell them on the exchange.

Do delisted stocks ever come back?

Yes, a delisted stock can come back and be relisted on a major exchange like the NYSE or Nasdaq, but it's often a difficult, lengthy process requiring the company to resolve the issues that caused the delisting (like low share price or financial non-compliance) and meet all exchange requirements again, though many don't successfully relist and end up trading on the less liquid over-the-counter (OTC) market or become worthless. 

Can you sell a stock if it is delisted?

Delisting occurs when a stock fails to meet exchange requirements, often signalling financial distress. Investors should consider selling delisted stocks to avoid potential total investment loss. Once delisted, stocks might trade OTC but often face bankruptcy, erasing shareholder value.

How to sell shares that are not listed?

The first and foremost step is to choose a reliable and trustworthy dealer or broker that deals in unlisted shares. There are various platforms that help you in the selling of unlisted shares such as Sharescart.com.

What is the 7% sell rule?

The 7% sell rule is a stock trading guideline to cut losses quickly, advising you to sell a stock if it drops 7-8% below your purchase price to protect capital, remove emotion, and prevent small losses from becoming catastrophic, a strategy popularized by William O'Neil's CAN SLIM method for growth investing. It assumes that truly strong stocks typically don't fall much below their buy point, so a dip signals something is wrong, requiring you to exit the trade to preserve funds for better opportunities.
 

How to claim a loss on worthless stock?

You must determine the holding period to determine if the capital loss is short term (one year or less) or long term (more than one year). Report losses due to worthless securities on Part I or Part II of Form 8949.

How to claim delisted shares?

If the same are still showing in your demat account, though the same have been delisted as the same shares very much exist, and you cannot claim any loss in respect of shares of such delisted companies unless and until you actually transfer these shares.

Do I have to use Equiniti to sell my shares?

You can use any of Equiniti's dealing services to sell your shares. If you hold a share certificate you are not limited to Equiniti's services, you have the option of using any UK stockbroker.