14 March 2012
As per Section 40(A)(3) if any asset purchased by way of cash exceeding more than Rs. 20,000/- then depreciation on that is disallowed in that year. My Question is whether in subsequent year depreciation is allowable on that assets????
23 July 2025
This is a very important and practical question. Let’s clarify it with the current legal position and interpretations:
🔷 Issue: If a capital asset is purchased in cash exceeding ₹10,000 (earlier ₹20,000):
Is depreciation disallowed under Section 40A(3) in that year?
Is depreciation allowed in subsequent years?
🔶 Short Answer: 👉 Section 40A(3) does not apply to capital asset purchases directly, but depreciation can be disallowed under Section 43(1) if paid in cash.
🔷 Detailed Explanation: ✅ 1. Section 40A(3) – Scope Applies to revenue expenditure only — not capital expenditure like purchasing a machine, vehicle, etc.
So, Section 40A(3) itself does not disallow the capital expenditure, nor depreciation directly.
🔶 2. But Section 43(1) Comes into Play 👉 Section 43(1) defines the "actual cost" of an asset for depreciation purposes.
📌 Explanation 13 to Section 43(1) (inserted by Finance Act, 2017) says:
“Where an assessee incurs any expenditure for acquisition of an asset in respect of which a payment exceeding ₹10,000 is made otherwise than by account payee cheque/draft or ECS, such payment shall not be included in actual cost of the asset.”
🚫 So: If cash payment > ₹10,000 was made for buying the asset, that amount is excluded from actual cost, and thus no depreciation is allowed on that part.
🔶 3. 🔁 Depreciation in Subsequent Years? Since the cost itself is reduced permanently under Section 43(1), depreciation in subsequent years is also reduced.
❌ It is not a timing disallowance (like in some revenue items) — it's a permanent exclusion from depreciation base.
📌 Example: Asset bought for ₹1,00,000 in cash (not through account payee cheque/ECS)
Entire payment made in cash (>₹10,000)
Under Section 43(1), actual cost = ₹0
So, depreciation = ₹0 for all years — not just the first year.
✅ Final Answer: Section 40A(3) does not apply directly to capital asset purchases.
But under Section 43(1), depreciation is disallowed permanently for that portion of cost paid in cash over ₹10,000.
❌ Depreciation is not allowable in subsequent years either for that disallowed amount.