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Microlesson · 5-min read

Written Down Value [Section 43(6)] and Special Adjustments

# Written Down Value (WDV) [Section 43(6)]

Depreciation under the block-of-assets system is charged on the WDV of the block. Section 43(6) tells us how to compute that WDV.

## Basic computation

  • Asset acquired during the current previous year: WDV = Actual Cost.
  • Asset bought in earlier years:

> **WDV = Actual Cost − Aggregate depreciation *actually allowed***

  • WDV of a block is computed as per Section 43(6)(c) — refer to the standard depreciation computation format:
  • Opening WDV of block
  • (+) Actual cost of assets acquired during the year
  • (−) Money receivable for assets sold/discarded/destroyed during the year
  • = WDV before depreciation, on which depreciation is charged.

## Special adjustments

### (d) Exempt entities becoming taxable [Explanation 6]

When an entity that was previously exempt becomes taxable, depreciation is computed on a WDV equal to Actual Cost minus notional depreciation for the exempt period. (Any revaluation done earlier must be reversed/adjusted.) The idea: the asset is treated as if it had been depreciated all along.

### (e) Composite income [Explanation 7]

Where income is partly taxable and partly exempt (e.g., tea manufacturing — 40% taxable as business income, 60% exempt as agricultural income):

  • Depreciation deduction is allowed only to the extent of the taxable portion, BUT
  • The full depreciation is reduced from the block to arrive at the closing WDV.

> So you deduct only the proportionate amount against income, but the block falls by the full amount.

## Worked illustration of composite income (from notes)

  • Turnover ₹20 lakh; Expenses ₹4 lakh; Depreciation ₹1 lakh.
  • Net income = ₹20L − ₹4L − ₹1L = ₹15 lakh.
  • Taxable income = 40% × ₹15 lakh = ₹6 lakh.
  • Full ₹1 lakh depreciation is deducted from the block (closing WDV), even though only 40% was effectively allowed against income.

Worked example

### Example 1

Composite income (tea business — Rule 8): A tea-growing-and-manufacturing business has turnover ₹20 lakh, expenses ₹4 lakh and depreciation ₹1 lakh. Net = ₹15 lakh. Only 40% (= ₹6 lakh) is taxable as business income; 60% is exempt agricultural income. The depreciation effectively allowed against income relates only to the 40% share, but the block WDV is reduced by the entire ₹1 lakh.

### Example 2

Exempt entity becoming taxable (Expl. 6): A charitable institution holding plant (actual cost ₹5,00,000) loses exemption after 2 years. Notional depreciation for the 2 exempt years is, say, ₹1,57,500. WDV for charging depreciation now = ₹5,00,000 − ₹1,57,500 = ₹3,42,500 (any revaluation reversed).

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • In composite-income cases, reducing the block by only the taxable proportion of depreciation — the FULL depreciation is removed from the block (Explanation 7).
  • Using actual cost (ignoring notional depreciation for the exempt period) when a previously exempt entity becomes taxable.
  • Computing WDV as 'actual cost − depreciation that could have been claimed' for earlier-year assets — for the WDV formula it is depreciation actually allowed, not notionally allowable.
Reference: Section 43(6)
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