Rates of Depreciation as Per Income Tax Act, 1961

This comprehensive guide provides information on the rates of depreciation applicable for income tax purposes from the assessment year 2003-04 onwards. Depreciation is an essential factor in calculating taxable income for businesses and individuals owning assets. Rates of Depreciation as Per Income Tax Act, 1961 listed here cover various tangible and intangible assets, helping taxpayers understand the allowed Rates of Depreciation as per the Income Tax Act.

Article provides Rates of Depreciation as per Income Tax Act, 1961 on Building, Plant & Machinery, Furniture & Fittings, Ships & on Intangibles Assets i.e. Know-how, patents, copyrights, trademarks, licences, franchises or any other business or commercial rights of similar nature for Financial Year 2002-03 onwards

Block of Assets – The expressions Assets and Blocks of Assets w.e.f. 1-4-1999 shall mean a group of assets falling within a class of assets comprising:–

a. Tangible Assets being buildings, machinery, plant or furniture;

b. Intangible Assets being knowhow, patents, copyrights, trademarks, licences, franchises or any other business or commercial rights of similar nature; in respect of which same percentage of depreciations is prescribed.

In case of a domestic company, which has exercised an option under Section 115BA of the Income-tax Act, 1961 of rate of taxation from 30% to 25%, the depreciation allowance under Section 32(1)(ii) of the Act in respect of any block of assets entitled to more than 40 per cent shall be restricted to 40 per cent on the written down value of such block of assets with effect from 1 April 2016. Notification No. 103/2016, dated 7 November 2016

New Appendix I which provides a table of depreciation rates has been amended. The Notification states that wherever higher rates (i.e. 50, 60, 80 and 100) occurs, the figure ’40’ shall be substituted with effect from 1 April 2017. Notification No. 103/2016, dated 7 November 2016

Rates are also been updated with Notification No. 69/2019-Income Tax Dated 20th September, 2019 by which Depreciation Rate on Motor Car was changed.

Also Read-

• Rates of depreciation as per Companies act 2013
• Depreciation Rates as per Companies Act,1956

Chart of Rates of depreciation (for income-tax) AS APPLICABLE FROM THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2003-04 ONWARDS

Depreciation rates

While computing profits and gains from business or profession, a taxpayer can claim depreciation on all those assets which he has acquired and used for the purpose of his business or profession. Different depreciation rates are prescribed for different nature of assets. This write up lists down all such depreciation rates.

Rates of depreciation

(for income-tax)

AS APPLICABLE FROM THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2003-04 ONWARDS

Notes:

1. “Buildings” include roads, bridges, culverts, wells and tubewells.

2. A building shall be deemed to be a building used mainly for residential purposes, if the built-up floor area thereof used for residential purposes is not less than sixty-six and two-third per cent of its total built-up floor area and shall include any such building in the factory premises.

3. In respect of any structure or work by way of renovation or improvement in or in relation to a building referred to in Explanation 1 of clause (ii) of sub-section (1) of section 32, the percentage to be applied will be the percentage specified against sub-item (1) or (2) of item I as may be appropriate to the class of building in or in relation to which the renovation or improvement is effected. Where the structure is constructed or the work is done by way of extension of any such building, the percentage to be applied would be such percentage as would be appropriate, as if the structure or work constituted a separate building.

4. Water treatment system includes system for desalination, demineralisation and purification of water.

5. “Electrical fittings” include electrical wiring, switches, sockets, other fittings and fans, etc.

5A. Rate of depreciation shall be 40% if conditions of Rule 5(2) are satisfied.

5B. Applicable from the Assessment year 2004-05.

6. “Commercial vehicle” means “heavy goods vehicle”, “heavy passenger motor vehicle”, “light motor vehicle”, “medium goods vehicle” and “medium passenger motor vehicle” but does not include “maxi-cab”, “motor-cab”, “tractor” and “road-roller”. The expressions “heavy goods vehicle”, “heavy passenger motor vehicle”, “light motor vehicle”, “medium goods vehicle”, “medium passenger motor vehicle”, “maxi-cab”, “motor-cab”, “tractor” and “road-roller” shall have the meanings respectively as assigned to them in section 2 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988).

7. “Computer software” means any computer programme recorded on any disc, tape, perforated media or other information storage device.

8. “TUFS” means Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme announced by the Government of India in the form of a Resolution of the Ministry of Textiles vide No. 28/1/99-CTI of 31-3-1999.

9. Machinery and plant includes pipes needed for delivery from the source of supply of raw water to the plant and from the plant to the storage facility.

10. “Speed boat” means a motor boat driven by a high speed internal combustion engine capable of propelling the boat at a speed exceeding 24 kilometers per hour in still water and so designed that when running at a speed, it will plane, i.e.,its bow will rise from the water.

Depreciation rates for power generating units

(applicable from the assessment year 1998-99

[As amended by Finance Act, 2024]