Section 32(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act

Income-tax Act, 2025: s.33

Section 32(1)(ii) falls under section 32 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, which corresponds to section 33 (Deduction for depreciation) of the Income-tax Act, 2025.

Read section 33 of the 2025 Act

Correspondence checked against the ICAI tabular mapping of the two Acts and the BharatTax.co section commentary.

The decision most relied on for Section 32(1)(ii) is CIT v. Smifs Securities Ltd. (348 ITR 302), cited in 540 of the 565 judgments on BharatTax that turn on this section.

Leading authorities on Section 32(1)(ii)

CIT v. Smifs Securities Ltd.
348 ITR 302 · 2012 · Supreme Court
540
citing judgments

Goodwill, whether arising from an amalgamation or a slump sale, is an intangible asset eligible for depreciation under Section 32(1) of the Income-tax Act. While the assessee must prove the existence and valuation of such goodwill, it is recognized as a depreciable asset.

Munjal Sales Corporation v. CIT
298 ITR 298 · 2008 · Supreme Court
191
citing judgments

The Supreme Court approves the mixed fund theory, holding that no interest disallowance is warranted under section 36(1)(iii) if investments or advances are made from the assessee's own non-interest bearing funds, even when mixed funds are available. This presumption applies when non-interest bearing funds are sufficient to meet the investments.

Techno Shares and Stocks Ltd. v. CIT
327 ITR 323 · 2010 · Supreme Court
130
citing judgments

Membership rights and business contracts, as 'business or commercial rights of similar nature' to a license or franchise, qualify as intangible assets eligible for depreciation under Section 32(1)(ii) of the Income-tax Act.

Income Tax-III, Pune v. Rajasthan & Gujarati Charitable Foundation Poona
89 Taxmann.com 127 · 2018 · Supreme Court
130
citing judgments

The claim of depreciation under Section 32 of the Income Tax Act for assets used by charitable trusts is permissible, affirming the Bombay High Court's view that such a claim does not amount to a 'double benefit'.

CIT v. Karnataka Power Corporation
247 ITR 268 · 2001 · Supreme Court
124
citing judgments

Income earned during the project construction stage, which has a direct nexus or is inextricably linked to the project's setting up, constitutes a capital receipt not liable to tax and reduces the project cost.

Areva T&D India Ltd. v. DCIT
345 ITR 421 · 2012 · High Court
97
citing judgments

Business contracts and commercial rights of similar nature qualify as intangible assets under Section 32(1)(ii) and are eligible for depreciation. The decision also affirms that goodwill is an intangible asset eligible for depreciation.

Aztec Software & Technologies Services Ltd. v. Asstt. CIT
107 ITD 141 · 2007 · ITAT
90
citing judgments

OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines can be referred to for resolving transfer pricing disputes in India, even though India is not an OECD member, provided they are consistent with Indian statutory regulations. Availability of exemption under Section 10A does not bar the applicability of Section 92C and 92CA.

ACIT v. Progressive Constructions Ltd.
92 Taxmann.com 104 · 2018 · ITAT
63
citing judgments

Rights acquired under a concession agreement for highway construction, which generate revenue through toll collections, constitute an 'intangible asset' under section 32(1)(ii) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, eligible for depreciation, typically at 25%. This includes claiming depreciation on the opening Written Down Value (WDV) for such highway projects.

Pentasoft Technologies Ltd. v. DCIT
41 Taxmann.com 120 · 2014 · High Court
58
citing judgments

A non-compete fee paid as part of a business acquisition or transaction constitutes an intangible asset, eligible for depreciation under Section 32(1)(ii) of the Income-tax Act.

CIT v. Radico Khaitan Ltd.
274 ITR 354 · 2005 · High Court
56
citing judgments

Where an assessee has mixed funds (borrowed and interest-free) and makes interest-free advances, it is presumed that such advances are made from interest-free funds if sufficient interest-free funds are available. This principle guides the disallowance of interest on borrowed capital under Section 36(1)(iii) if funds are diverted for non-business purposes without business expediency.

Judgments on Section 32(1)(ii)

M/S Imeco Ltd., Kolkata vs. DCIT, Circle-2(1), Kolkata

In the result, the appeal of the assessee is treated as allowed

ITA 1763/KOL/2017[2006-07]Status: DisposedITAT Kolkata12 Jan 2018AY 2006-07

Bench: Shri P.M. Jagtap, Am] I.T.A. No. 1763/Kol/2017 Assessment Year : 2006-07 M/S. Imeco Ltd..............................…………………………………………………........Appellant 26, R.N. Mukherjee Road, 4Th Floor, Kolkata – 700 001 [Pan : Aaaci 6301 B] D.C.I.T, Cir-2(1)...................……………………………………………….................Respondent Aayakar Bhawan, P-7, Chowringhee Square, Kolkata – 700 069 Appearances By: Shri Manish Tiwari, Advocate Appearing On Behalf Of The Assessee. Shri S.M. Das, Addl. Cit Appearing On Behalf Of The Revenue. Date Of Concluding The Hearing : January 10, 2018 Date Of Pronouncing The Order : January 12, 2018 Order This Appeal Filed By The Assessee Is Directed Against The Order Of Ld. Cit (Appeals) -1, Kolkata Dated 22.05.201 & The Solitary Issue Involved Therein Relates To The Refusal Of The Ld. Cit(A) To Admit The Additional Ground Filed By The Assessee Claiming Additional Depreciation Of Rs. 33,96,134/-. 2. The Assessee In The Present Case Is A Company Which Is Engaged In The Business Of Manufacturing & Trading Of Engineering Books. The Return Of Income For The Year Under Consideration Was Filed By It On 15.11.2006 Declaring A Total Income At Nil. In The Assessment Completed Under Section 143(3) Vide An Order Dated 31.12.2008, The Total Income Of The Assessee Company Was Determined By The A.O. At Rs. 41,67,460/- After Making Certain Additions / Disallowances.

Section 143(3)Section 250(5)Section 32(1)(ii)