Depreciation Calculator

Calculate Asset Depreciation using Straight Line (SLM) & Written Down Value (WDV) methods.

Asset Details

Original purchase price of the asset.
Estimated resale value at the end of its useful life.
Expected number of years the asset will be used.
SLM deducts the same amount every year. WDV deducts a percentage, meaning higher deductions early on.

Depreciation Schedule

SLM Method
Annual Depreciation

₹ 9,000

Final Book Value

₹ 10,000

Year Opening Value (₹) Depreciation (₹) Closing Value (₹)

SLM vs WDV — Understanding Depreciation Methods

Straight Line Method (SLM)

Equal depreciation charged every year. Best for assets with uniform economic usefulness (furniture, buildings).

Annual Dep. = (Cost − Salvage) ÷ Useful Life
Example: ₹1,00,000 asset, ₹10,000 salvage, 10 years
Annual Dep. = (1,00,000 − 10,000) ÷ 10 = ₹9,000/year
Written Down Value (WDV)

Higher depreciation in early years on reducing balance. Mandatory for Income Tax in India. Best for tech, vehicles.

Annual Dep. = Book Value × Rate %
Example: ₹1,00,000 asset at 15% WDV
Year 1: ₹15,000  |  Year 2: ₹12,750  |  Year 3: ₹10,838
FeatureSLMWDV
Annual depreciationEqual every yearHigher early, lower later
Mandatory for Income Tax?✗ No✓ Yes (Sec 32)
Allowed under Companies Act?✓ Yes✓ Yes
Reaches zero book value?✓ Yes (by end of life)✗ No (theoretically never)
Best suited forBuildings, furnitureComputers, vehicles, machinery

Income Tax Act Depreciation Rates — Block-wise

WDV depreciation rates as prescribed under Section 32 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. All businesses and professionals must use these rates for tax computation.

Asset BlockDescriptionWDV Rate
Building — Block 1Residential buildings (used for business)5%
Building — Block 2Commercial/office buildings, hotels10%
Building — Block 3Temporary structures40%
Furniture & FittingsOffice furniture, partitions, electrical fittings10%
Plant & Machinery — Block 1General plant and machinery15%
Plant & Machinery — Block 2Motor cars, scooters (not commercial use)15%
Plant & Machinery — Block 3Commercial vehicles (buses, trucks, taxis)30%
Computers & ITComputers, laptops, printers, servers, software40%
Intangible AssetsPatents, copyrights, trademarks, know-how25%
New Mfg. Plant (Additional)New machinery for manufacturing — additional depreciation claim+20% (additional)

Assets added in the second half of the year (after October 3rd) are eligible for only 50% of the normal depreciation in the year of purchase.

Companies Act (Schedule II) vs Income Tax Act

AspectCompanies Act 2013Income Tax Act 1961
MethodSLM or WDVWDV only (Sec 32)
PurposeFinancial reporting (P&L)Tax deduction calculation
Asset lifeSchedule II useful lifeBlock-wise WDV rates
Computer rateSLM 33.33% (3 yr life)WDV 40%
Vehicle rateSLM 25.89% (8 yr life)WDV 15–30%
ResultTwo different P&LsLeads to deferred tax asset/liability
Key Point: The difference between depreciation as per Companies Act (books) and Income Tax Act (tax returns) creates a Deferred Tax Asset or Liability that must be reported under AS-22 / Ind AS 12.

Key Depreciation Rules to Know

Half-Year Rule

Assets purchased after October 3rd (i.e., after the first half of the financial year) are eligible for only 50% of the normal WDV rate in the year of purchase under the Income Tax Act.

Block of Assets

Under the Income Tax Act, similar assets are grouped into 'blocks'. Depreciation is calculated on the total WDV of the block, not each asset individually. Additions and disposals adjust the block value.

Additional Depreciation (Sec 32(1)(iia))

New plant & machinery used for manufacturing or power generation qualifies for an additional 20% depreciation in the year of purchase (10% if installed in the second half).

Depreciation = Lower of Cost or Market

You cannot depreciate an asset below its residual/scrap value. Under Companies Act, if book value goes below scrap value, depreciation stops. Under IT Act, WDV theoretically never reaches zero.

Frequently Asked Questions

Depreciation is the systematic allocation of the cost of a tangible fixed asset over its useful life. It represents wear and tear, obsolescence, or value reduction. It is a non-cash expense that reduces taxable income and is recorded in the Profit & Loss statement.
SLM (Straight Line Method) charges equal depreciation every year: (Cost − Salvage) ÷ Useful Life. WDV (Written Down Value) charges a fixed % on the remaining book value — giving higher deductions in early years and lower later. WDV is mandatory for Income Tax; SLM is allowed only under Companies Act.
Under Section 32 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, only the WDV (Written Down Value) method is allowed for tax depreciation. Companies can use SLM for their books (Companies Act), but tax depreciation must use WDV rates prescribed in the IT Act.
Key IT Act WDV rates: Buildings (5–10%), Furniture & fittings (10%), General plant & machinery (15%), Commercial vehicles (30%), Motor cars (15%), Computers & software (40%), Intangible assets — patents, trademarks (25%). Additional 20% depreciation is available for new manufacturing plant & machinery.
Under the Income Tax Act, if an asset is purchased after October 3rd (the second half of the financial year), only 50% of the normal WDV rate is allowed as depreciation in the year of purchase. This applies irrespective of the exact date of purchase within that half.
Section 32(1)(iia) allows an additional 20% depreciation on new plant & machinery used for manufacturing or generation of power, in the year of purchase. If the asset is installed in the second half of the year, the additional deduction is limited to 10%. This is over and above the normal 15% depreciation.
Yes, depreciation can be claimed on second-hand or used assets at the same WDV rates as new assets. The depreciation is calculated on the actual purchase price paid for the used asset. However, additional depreciation under Section 32(1)(iia) is only available on new assets.
Under the Income Tax Act, similar assets are grouped into blocks based on the prescribed depreciation rate. For example, all computers (40% WDV) form one block, all general machinery (15%) forms another. Depreciation is calculated on the total WDV of the block — not per individual asset. New assets added and old assets sold adjust the block value.
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