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Depreciation and Related Issues
10.1 Section 32: Depreciation allowance
Portion of that cost of a fixed asset which is allocated to a particular accounting year is called
depreciation. The main intention to provide depreciation allowance is to provide a fund which equals
the value of the asset which has depreciated by normal wear and tear.
An asset (movable or immovable) must be owned by the assessee and used for the purpose of
business or profession. It is not necessary that assessee should be a registered owner. Full control of
an asset, exclusive possession right is the relevant factor.
To arrive at true profit or correct income it is mandatory that depreciation has to be provided in books
An asset should be used during the relevant previous year. Depreciation commences once when it is
put to use. It is not necessary that an asset should be used throughout the previous year.
When an asset is acquired and put to use for less than 180 days during the relevant previous year,
then 50% of the eligible depreciation is allowed as deduction. This restriction applies only to the
year of acquisition and not for the subsequent years.
The owner is a person who is entitled to receive income from the property in his own right. Owner
includes the beneficial owner to claim depreciation.
Depreciation is available on tangible and intangible asset. Here tangible asset includes Plant,
Machinery, Building (except land) and Furniture. Intangible asset includes Know-how, patents,
copyright, licenses, any other business or commercial rights.
Written down value method is used to claim depreciation allowance. Note: Straight line method in
case of power generation or distribution.
Depreciation is calculated on actual cost, hence revaluation of asset is not considered for deprecation.
# Section 53A of Transfer of Property Act:-
(i) There should be a contract in writing.
(ii) The transferee has taken possession of property.
(iii) The transferee has paid consideration or willing to perform his obligation. Entries in the books of
accounts are not relevant consideration to determine transfer.
When transfer should be complete and effective
Immovable Property Movable Property
Document Registered Document not registered
Date of execution of conveyance
deed and not date of registration
Apply Section 53A # of Transfer of
Property Act Provisions
When property delivered pursuant
to a contract to sell.
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The assessee is a non-banking finance company engaged in the business of leasing and hire purchase. Section
32 imposes a twin requirement of “ownership” and “usage for business” as conditions for claim of
depreciation there under. The term usage refers the asset must be used in the course of business. It does not
mandate actual usage b y the assessee itself. Lessor would be the owner of the asset in the eyes of law, if the
assessee is the exclusive owner of the vehicle at all points of time (and) the assessee is empowered to
repossess the vehicle, in case the lessee committed a default (and) at the end of the lease period, the lessee
was obliged to return the vehicle to the assessee (and) the assessee had a right of inspection of the vehicle at
all times. It can be seen that the proof of ownership lies in the lease agreement itself, which clearl y points in
favour of the assessee. The assessee was entitled to claim depreciation in respect of vehicles leased out since it
has satisfied both the requirements of section 32. {(In re I.C.D.S. Ltd.)(2013)(SC)}
Expenses incurred on acquisition of software should be treated as revenue expenditure because the
advancement in the area of software is enormous and software becomes obsolete in matter of days. {(In re
Citicorp overseas software ltd)(2004)(Mum)}
Section 32(1)(ii) allows depreciation on “business or commercial rights”. The expression “business or
commercial rights” means rights obtained for effectively carrying on business or commerce. Commerce is a
wider term which encompasses business in its fold. Therefore, any right which is obtained for carrying on
business effectivel y and profitably has to fall within the meaning of the term “intangible asset” eligible for
depreciation. {In re Tirumala Music Centre (P) Ltd (2013)(ITAT)
The expression “used for the purpose of business” is mandator y for claim of depreciation. The Court held that
so long as the business was a going one and the machinery got ready for use but could not be put to use due to
certain extraneous circumstances, depreciation u/s 32 would be allowable. {(In re Chennai Petroleum
Corporation Ltd.)(2013)(Mad)}
Intellectual property such as trademarks, copyrights and know-how comes within the definition of ‘plant’ in
the ‘sense which people conversant with the subject-matter with which the statute is dealing, would attribute
to it’? In our opinion, there can be no doubt that for the purposes of a large business, control over intellectual
property rights such as brand name, trademark etc. are absolutely necessar y. Moreover, the acquisition of such
rights and know-how is acquisition of a capital nature, more particularly in the case of the assessee. Therefore,
it cannot be doubted that so far as the assessee is concerned, the trademarks, copyrights and know-how
acquired by it would come within the definition of ‘plant’ being commercially necessar y and essential as
understood b y those dealing with direct taxes. {In re Mangalore Ganesh Beedi Works (2015)(SC)}
10.2 Section 2(11): Block of assets
Block of assets includes a group of assets falling within a class of assets comprising tangible and
intangible assets in respect of which rate of depreciation percentage is prescribed.
Profit and Gains of Business or Profession 3
Rule 5 of Income tax Rules, 1962 : Rate of depreciation
Block
Number Nature of an asset Rate of
Depreciation
I Building
(i) Residential building other than hotel and boarding house. 5%
(ii) Office, factory, godowns and building not for residential use 10%
(iii) Temporary erection 100%
II Furniture
(i) Furniture including electrical fitting 10%
III Plant and machinery
(i) Ocean going ship, vessels, speed boat 20%
(ii) Computer including computer software, printers, UPS etc. 60%
(iii) Air/water pollution control equipment 100%
(iv) Buses, lorries used in business and running them on hire. 30%
(v) Any plant and machinery used other than for commercial use. 15%
(vi) Wind mills and special devices installed before 01.04.2014 15%
Noti. No. 43/2014 Wind mills and special devices installed on or after 01.04.2014 80%
(vii) Aero planes, aero engines 40%
(viii) Books owned by assessee carrying on profession in respect of
annual subscription 100% and others
60%
(ix) Books owned by assessee on business of lending libraries 100%
(x) Energy saving devices 80%
(xi) Motor cars other than those used in a business of running them on hire,
acquired or put to use on or after 01.04.1990
15%
Annual publication owned by assessees carrying on profession 100%
IV Intangible assets
(i) Know-how, patents, copyright, licenses, any other business
or commercial rights
25%
Depreciation is mandatory to claim. If assessee fails to claim depreciation, assessing officer is dut y
bound to consider the depreciation to arrive at the assessed income.
The second hand machinery purchased from outside India by the assessee is for use as spare parts for the
existing old machinery, the same had to be allowed as revenue expenditure. For determining year of
accounting due consideration is given on transfer of ownership of an asset. Since the entire sale
consideration was paid on 31stMarch of the relevant previous year and the machinery was also
dispatched by the vendor from USA, the sale transaction was complete on that date, though the goods
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reached India only in August next year.{(In re Dr. Aswath N. Rao)(2010)(Kar)}
Section 32 when used with respect to discarded machinery would mean the use in the business, not in
the relevant previous year, but in the earlier previous years. The discarded machinery may not be
actually used in the relevant previous year but depreciation can be claimed as long as it was used for the
purposes of business in the earlier years provided the block continues to exist in the relevant previous
year.{(In re Yamaha Motor India Pvt. Ltd)(2010)(Del)}
EPABX and mobile phones are treated as communication equipment and not as computers hence higher
depreciation at 60%is not available.{(In re Federal Bank Ltd)(2011)(Ker)}
Depreciation is allowable on both tangible and intangible assets. Goodwill is paid for acquiring a
business and commercial right and it was comparable with trade mark, franchise, cop yright etc. hence
depreciation is available. {( In re B. Raveendran Pillai)(2011)(Ker)}
The use of the general words after the specified intangible assets such as Know-how, patents,
copyright, licenses clearly demonstrates that the Legislature did not intend to provide for depreciation
only in respect of specified intangible assets but also to other categories of intangible assets, which were
neither feasible nor possible to exhaustively enumerate. Specified intangible assets (goodwill) acquired
under the slump sale agreement by the assessee are in the nature of intangible asset under the category
"other business or commercial rights of similar nature" specified in section 32(1)(ii) and are
accordingly good will eligible for depreciation.{(In re Areva T and D India Ltd.)(2012)(Del)}
In the process of amalgamation, the amalgamated company had acquired a capital right in the form of
goodwill because of which the market worth of the amalgamated company stood increased. It was held
that 'Goodwill' is an asset under "other business or commercial rights of similar nature" and
depreciation is allowable.{(In re Smifs Securities Ltd.)(2012)(SC)}
Abkari licence is a business right given to the party to carry on liquor trade by Govt. such licence is
eligible for depreciation.{(In re S. Ambika)(2011)(ker)}
Where an assessee is declared owner of property b y Civil Court, transfer did not require registration.
Accordingly. Assessee should be entitled to depreciation.
The assessee owned two units located in different places with separate staff, management, funds and
accounts. The assessee decided to hive-off one unit by forming a subsidiary company. The assessee
when sold an undertaking to its subsidiary company formed for the purpose, it is a case of succession
and not an outright sale. The transferor company and the transferee company can claim depreciation in
terms of the fifth proviso to section 32(1) and the proviso is meant to limit the total allowance of
depreciation claim in the ratio of the number of days, the assets were used b y the predecessor and the
successor company. {In re Sree Jayajothi & Co Ltd (2013)(Mad)}
10.3 Section 43(1): Actual cost of depreciable asset
(i) The actual cost incurred by the assessee for acquiring asset XXX
(ii) Less: The proportion of cost met by any person or authority(ex: Govt. cash subsidy) (XX)
(iii) Actual cost of depreciable asset XXX
Profit and Gains of Business or Profession 5
Explanation to section 43(1): Actual cost in specified cases
Expl. Situation Notional actual cost
1 An asset previously used in scientific research Actual cost less deduction u/s 35
2 Acquired by gift or inheritance Actual cost of previous owner less depreciation
allowed/ allowable to that owner.
3 Asset acquired at higher than FMV to claim
higher depreciation and reduce tax
Actual cost as determined by assessing officer
with prior approval of Joint Commissioner.
4 Reacquisition of an asset previously used and
transferred b y the assessee.
Written down value in the hands of transferor
(or) amount paid to reacquire asset, whichever
is lower.
4A Sale and lease back transaction Written down value in the hands of transferor
at the time of transfer.
5 Self acquired building converted into business
purpose.
(The cost of purchase or construction)
Deemed depreciation b y appl ying sec.32
provision as if building used in business from
the date of purchase or construction.
6 Assets mutual transfer between holding
company and wholly owned subsidiary
company.
Written down value to the transferor company
(Transferee company should be an Indian
company)
7, 7A Transfer in the scheme of amalgamation/
demerger
Written down value of amalgamating or
demerged company
8 Interest pertaining to post-acquisition period Interest up to asset put to use is form part of
actual cost.
9 Actual cost of CENVAT claimed asset Actual cost less duty of excise for which credit
of Cenvat has been taken
10 Portion of acquired asset met b y some other
person
Actual cost less cost met by some other person
11 Asset bought into India by a non-resident Actual cost of an asset less notional depreciation
of holding period of an asset outside India.
12 Asset acquired b y a company under a scheme
for corporatization of recognised stock in India
Notional actual cost had there been no such
corporatization
13 Specified business asset u/s 35AD transferred
u/s 47
Actual cost of such asset to transferee company
shall be taken as NIL.
Explanation 10 to section 43(1) covers only a case of subsidy, grant or reimbursement but not a case
of waiver of loan. The term actual cost u/s 43(1) refers the actual cost of the assets to the assessee, as
reduced b y that portion of the cost, if any, as has been met directl y or indirectl y by any other person or
authority. Waiver of loan given to the assessee by the Government of India from Steel Development Fund
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(SDF) to meet the capital cost of asset is reduced to arrive at the actual cost as per sec. 43(1) for computing
depreciation u/s 32. {(In re Steel Authority of India Ltd)(2012)(Del)}
The manner of repayment of loan cannot affect the cost of the assets acquired by the assessee. If the loan is
not repaid it will not reduce actual cost. But if the loan is specifically waived then it may dilute actual cost.
{(In re Cochin Co. P. Ltd)(1990)(ker)}
A gas cylinder attached to the body of a truck continues to be a gas cylinder and is accordingly entitled to
depreciation. {(In re H.B. Leasing & Finance Ltd (2014)(Del)}
Depreciation is allowable at the rate of 60% on the printers, Ups and computer peripherals. {(In re CNB
Finwiz Ltd (2014)(ITAT)} [
10.4 Section 43A: Change in rate of exchange of currency
Applicable when assets acquired from a country outside India through a loan in foreign currency.
Foreign exchange adjustment is made only in the previous year in which actual payment is made to the
foreign supplier or repays the foreign currency loan.
The adjustment shall be made to the actual cost of asset as defined u/s 43(1); or capital expenditure
referred in section 35(1)(iv); or cost of acquisition as per section 48 except section 50.
The increase/decrease in liability at the time of payment has to be adjusted from actual cost of the
asset. {Actual cost less depreciation allowed till date}
10.5 Section 43(6): written down value of depreciable asset
(i) Block value as on the first day of previous year XXX
(ii) Add: Actual cost of asset acquired during the previous year XXX
(iii) Less: Asset sold (money received or receivable) (XX)
(iv) Block value as on the last day of previous year (restricted to either zero or positive value) XXX
The term asset sold indicates actual money in terms of cash, cheque, draft realised and not any other
mode or benefit which can be converted into money.
No depreciation is admissible when
(i) The written down value of block of asset is reduced to zero though the block of assets exist
on the last day of previous year.(value zero due to claim of full depreciation in the PY (or)
(ii) If block of assets ceases to exist on last day of previous year (or)
(iii) If the entire block have been transferred and the block of asset is empt y on the last day of PY.
Depreciation in case change of ownership
Find out the amount of depreciation for the whole year assuming no such amalgamation,
succession or demerger taken place.
Amount of depreciation shall be apportioned between amalgamating and amalgamated
company in the ratio of number of days the assets are used.
The written down value of the asset falling within that block of assets at the beginning of the previous
year u/s 43(6) has to be adjusted by the amount for which the asset is actually sold. But fair market value
is considered in case of scrap of an asset. {(In re Cable Corporation of India Ltd.)(2011)(Bom)}
Profit and Gains of Business or Profession 7
Where once asset was part of block of asset and depreciation was granted on the block, it cannot be
denied in subsequent year on ground that one of asset was not used b y assessee in some of the years;
user of assets has to apply upon block as a whole instead of an individual asset. {(In re unitex products
ltd)(2008)(Mum)}
10.6 32(1) (iia): Additional depreciation – An overview (Amended Fin. Act, 2015)
Conditions to be satisfied.
(i) Eligible assessee:
Assessee engaged in manufacture or production of any article or thing; (or)
Assessee engaged in the business of generation (or) generation and distribution of power.
The assessee sets up an undertaking or enterprise for manufacture or production of
any article or thing in any backward areas in the State of Andhra Pradesh or Bihar
or Telangana or West Bengal on or after 01.04.2015. (Fin. Act, 2015 AY 2016-17)
(ii) New plant and machinery (other than ships and aircraft) should be acquired and installed on or
after 01.04.2005 and exclusively used for the purpose of business.
(iii) Additional depreciation shall be available at 20% of actual cost of new plant and machinery
acquired and installed on or after 01.04.2005
(iv) Additional depreciation only in the year of an asset put to use in the factory. (i.e. if plant such as
air conditioner is installed and put to use in office, not eligible for additional depreciation.)
(v) Additional depreciation is not allowed in respect of second hand machinery & office appliances.
(vi) If plant and machinery is eligible for 100% depreciation in the first year of put to use, then no
additional depreciation is eligible on such asset. Ex: air pollution control equipment.
In order to claim the benefit of additional depreciation u/s 32(1) (iia), what is required to be satisfied is that
the new plant or machiner y should have been acquired and installed after March 31, 2005. Assessee
manufacturing textile goods eligible for additional depreciation on the setting up of wind mills for generation
of power. The provision does not state that the setting up of a new machiner y or plant should have any
operational connectivity to the article or thing that is already being manufactured by the assessee.
Additional depreciation at the rate of 35% of the actual cost of new machinery or plant (other than a
ship and aircraft) acquired and installed during the period between 1st April, 2015 and 31st March,
2020 by a manufacturing units in the notified backward areas of the States of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar,
Telangana and West Bengal. (Inserted - Fin. Act, 2015 AY 2016-17)
When an asset is put to use for less than 180 days, then 50% of the eligible additional depreciation is
allowed as deduction in the year of acquisition (and) balance 50% shall be allowed in the immediately
succeeding previous year. (Inserted - Fin. Act, 2015 AY 2016-17)
10.7 Unabsorbed depreciation – An overview
Section 32 depreciation allowance is allowed as deduction during the relevant previous year.
In case of inadequacy of profit, remaining balance of depreciation allowance is deductible from other
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heads of income except salary head for the same assessment year.
The balance still remain, shall be carried forward for unlimited period to the subsequent assessment
year by the same assessee.
In subsequent year it shall be set off under other heads of income except salary head by following the
order of priority; (a) current year depreciation; (b) brought forward business loss; (c) unabsorbed
depreciation.
Continuity of business is not relevant factor for carry forward and set off.
Intellectual property such as trademarks cop yrights and know-how come within the definition of ‘plant’ in
the ‘sense which people conversant with the subject-matter with which the statute is dealing, would
attribute to it’? In our opinion, there can be no doubt that for the purposes of a large business, control over
intellectual property rights such as brand name, trademark etc. are absolutel y necessar y. Moreover, the
acquisition of such rights and know-how is acquisition of a capital nature, more particularly in the case of
the assessee. Therefore, it cannot be doubted that so far as the assessee is concerned, the trademarks,
cop yrights and know-how acquired by it would come within the definition of ‘plant’ being commerciall y
necessary and essential as understood by those dealing with direct taxes. {In re Mangalore Ganesh Beedi
Works (2015)(SC)}
10.8 Section 32AC: Investment in new Plant and Machinery (Amended - Fin. Act, 2014)
A COMPANY engaged in the business of manufacture or production of any article or thing (and)
Sec. 32AC(1): New plant and machinery acquired and installed on or after 01.04.2013 and
ending on 31.03.2015 (and) invest a sum of more than ` 100 crore in this period.
Sec. 32AC(1A): New plant and machinery acquired and installed on or after 01.04.2014 and ending
on 31.03.2017 (and) invest a sum of more than ` 25 crore during the previous year.
An investment allowance at 15% of the aggregate amount of actual cost of investment during this
period is allowed as deduction.
10.9 Section 32AD: Investment in new Plant and Machinery ( Fin. Act, 2015 AY 2016-17)
The assessee sets up an undertaking or enterprise for manufacture or production of any article or
thing in any backward areas in the State of Andhra Pradesh or Bihar or Telangana or West Bengal.
New plant and machinery acquired and installed in between 01.04.2015 and 31.03.2020.
An investment allowance at 15% of the aggregate amount of actual cost of investment during this
period is allowed as deduction.
Where the assessee is a company, it shall be eligible to claim deduction u/s. 32AC as well as
u/s. 32AD subject to satisfaction of respective section condition.
Common Provision Sec. 32AC and Sec. 32AD
The investment allowance of 15% is in addition to the depreciation and additional depreciation
allowable u/s 32(1). Further the investment allowance would not be reduced to arrive at the written
down value of new plant and machinery.
Profit and Gains of Business or Profession 9
“New Plant and machinery” does not include
(a) Any plant and machinery which before its installation by the assessee was used either within or
outside India by any other person
(b)
Any plant or machinery installed in any office premises or any residential accommodation
including accommodation in the nature of a guest house.
(c) Any office appliances including computer or computer software
(d) Any vehicle or ship or aircraft
(e) Any plant or machinery, the whole of actual cost of which is allowed as deduction in computing
the income chargeable under the head “PGBP” of any previous year.
If the new asset acquired and installed is sold or transferred, except b y amalgamation or demerger,
within a period 5 years from the date of installation, the amount of deduction shall be deemed to be
the income of the assessee under the head “PGBP”.
In case of amalgamation or demerger, benefit of amortization is allowed to amalgamated or resulting
company for the remaining period.
Wish You a Grand Success in the Examinations
Chakravarthi Murali
quickinsightdt@gmail.com
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