(+) Installation, Transportation & Trial Run Expenses
xxx
(+) Interest on loan up to the date of put to use
xxx
(+) Taxes & Duties (only if ITC not available)
xxx
(−) Subsidy / Government Grant received
(xxx)
(−) Amount earned by selling trial-run production
(xxx)
= Actual Cost of Asset
xxx
## Cash Payment Restriction (Sec 43(1) - Second Proviso)
If the payment for the purchase or any expenditure on the asset:
Exceeds ₹10,000 to a single person on a single day
Is paid in cash / bearer cheque / crossed cheque (other than account payee)
Then, such payment will NOT form part of Actual Cost of the asset. Consequently, no depreciation, no capital gains adjustment.
## Special Cases - Actual Cost Computation
Situation
Actual Cost
Asset previously used in Scientific Research
NIL (since 100% deduction already claimed under Sec 35)
Section 35AD asset (specified business)
NIL
Asset acquired by Gift / Will / Inheritance
WDV of previous owner
Stock-in-trade converted into Capital Asset and used in business
FMV on the date of conversion
Building used for personal purpose, later brought into business
Original cost less notional depreciation till date (at current rates). Applies ONLY to building; for other assets → original cost
Re-purchase of an asset previously sold
Lower of (i) WDV at time of sale, or (ii) Re-purchase price
Asset purchased and leased back to the same person (Sale & Lease Back)
WDV of previous owner (the lessee)
## Section 43A - Foreign Exchange Fluctuation
Where an asset is purchased in foreign currency, any profit or loss due to forex fluctuation at the time of PAYMENT of liability shall be adjusted to the cost of asset:
Situation
Effect
Forex Profit (rupee strengthens)
Reduce from cost of asset
Forex Loss (rupee weakens)
Add to cost of asset
## Interest on Loan for Capital Asset
Period
Treatment
Up to the date of put to use
Capitalized — added to Actual Cost under Sec 43(1)
After date of put to use
Revenue expense allowed under Sec 36(1)(iii)
Worked example
### Example 1
Example: ABC Ltd. purchases new machinery for ₹5,00,000. Installation = ₹50,000; Trial run earnings = ₹20,000; Subsidy received = ₹30,000; Interest on loan upto put-to-use = ₹40,000.
Example: Mr. X pays ₹12,000 in cash for installation services of a machine in a single day.
Treatment: Since cash payment exceeds ₹10,000, ₹12,000 will NOT form part of actual cost.
### Example 3
Example: Mr. P bought a building 8 years ago for ₹20,00,000 for personal use. Today he brings it into business. Notional depreciation @ 10% (general rate for building) over 8 years on WDV basis ≈ ₹11,38,000.
Actual Cost for depreciation = 20,00,000 − 11,38,000 = ₹8,62,000
### Example 4
Example: A company imports machinery for $1,00,000. Exchange rate at purchase = ₹80; at time of payment = ₹83. So additional ₹3,00,000 outflow.
Treatment: ₹3,00,000 forex loss is added to the cost of the machinery (Section 43A).
⚠️ Common exam mistakes
Including cash payments over ₹10,000 (to a single person in a single day) in actual cost.
Treating government subsidy as income instead of reducing it from actual cost.
Adding interest on loan after the asset is put to use to actual cost — it is revenue expense u/s 36(1)(iii).
For assets received as gift, computing actual cost as FMV instead of WDV of previous owner.
In re-purchase situations, taking only the new purchase price without comparing with original WDV.
In sale & lease back, taking the new purchase cost as actual cost instead of the lessee's WDV.
Adjusting forex fluctuation on the date of purchase rather than the date of payment (Sec 43A explicitly says at the time of payment).
Bare-Act text Section 43(1) and Section 43A · Income-tax Act, 1961 · click to expand
Section 43(1): 'Actual cost' means the actual cost of the assets to the assessee, reduced by that portion of the cost thereof, if any, as has been met directly or indirectly by any other person or authority. Proviso to Section 43(1): Where the assessee incurs any expenditure for acquisition of any asset in respect of which a payment to a person in a day, otherwise than by an account payee cheque drawn on a bank or account payee bank draft or use of electronic clearing system through a bank account, exceeds ten thousand rupees, such expenditure shall be ignored for the purposes of determination of actual cost. Section 43A: Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, where an assessee has acquired any asset in any previous year from a country outside India for the purposes of his business or profession and, in consequence of a change in the rate of exchange during any previous year after the acquisition of such asset, there is an increase or reduction in the liability of the assessee, the amount by which the liability is so increased or reduced during such previous year shall be added to, or, as the case may be, deducted from the actual cost of the asset.