Set off and Carry forward of Unabsorbed Depreciation, Carry forward and Set off of Speculation Loss [Sec. 113]

The Income-tax Act, 2025 permits eligible business losses and depreciation that cannot be fully absorbed in a tax year to be adjusted according to prescribed rules. Unabsorbed depreciation arises when the depreciation allowance exceeds the income available for adjustment and is principally governed by Section 33(11). In contrast, Section 113 specifically governs the set-off and carry forward of speculation business losses. Speculation loss is ring-fenced and can be adjusted only against profits of another speculation business. The Act also prescribes different carry-forward rules and an order of priority where both speculation loss and depreciation relating to speculation business remain unabsorbed.

1. Set-off of Unabsorbed Depreciation

Unabsorbed depreciation arises when the depreciation allowance available to an assessee cannot be fully absorbed because the relevant income is insufficient. Under Section 33(11), the unabsorbed amount is carried forward and added to the depreciation allowance of the following tax year, subject to the provisions of the Act. It is therefore treated as part of the depreciation allowance available for the subsequent year. The rules governing unabsorbed depreciation are different from those applicable to ordinary business losses. Where depreciation relating to a speculation business and speculation loss are both carried forward, Section 113(4) requires priority to be given to the speculation-loss provisions.

2. Carry Forward of Unabsorbed Depreciation

Where the full depreciation allowance cannot be absorbed in the relevant tax year, the unabsorbed portion is carried forward according to Section 33(11). Unlike an ordinary business loss under Section 112, unabsorbed depreciation is governed by the special depreciation provision rather than the eight-year business-loss rule. The amount carried forward becomes part of the depreciation allowance available in the succeeding tax year and continues to receive the treatment prescribed by the Act. Therefore, business loss and unabsorbed depreciation should be maintained separately for tax computation. Where both amounts are available, the applicable statutory order of set-off must be followed while determining the assessee’s taxable business income.

Illustration – Unabsorbed Depreciation

Carry Forward and Set-off of Speculation Loss [Section 113]

3. Meaning and Set-off of Speculation Loss

A speculation loss is a loss computed in respect of a speculation business carried on by the assessee. Under Section 113(1), such loss is subject to a strict restriction: it can be set off only against profits and gains of another speculation business. It cannot be adjusted against profits from an ordinary non-speculative business or income chargeable under other heads merely because such income is available. This rule effectively keeps speculation losses separate from ordinary business losses. If sufficient speculation profit is available during the same tax year, the loss may be adjusted against it. Any remaining eligible loss is carried forward under Section 113(2).

4. Carry Forward of Speculation Loss

Where a speculation loss cannot be wholly adjusted against speculation profits during the tax year, Section 113(2) permits the unabsorbed amount to be carried forward to the following tax year. In that subsequent year, the brought-forward loss can again be set off only against profits and gains of a speculation business carried on by the assessee. If it is still not completely absorbed, the remaining amount may continue to be carried forward. However, Section 113(3) restricts such carry forward to four tax years immediately succeeding the tax year for which the speculation loss was first computed. Thereafter, the unabsorbed loss cannot be carried forward.

5. Priority over Depreciation

Section 113(4) specifies the order of adjustment where both a speculation loss and a carried-forward depreciation allowance relating to the speculation business are available. Where an allowance or part of an allowance under Section 33(11) or Section 45(7) relating to speculation business is to be carried forward, effect must first be given to the provisions of Section 113. Consequently, the eligible brought-forward speculation loss receives priority in the statutory sequence before the relevant carried-forward allowance is given effect. This ordering is important because speculation loss has a limited four-year carry-forward period, whereas depreciation is governed separately under the depreciation provisions of the Act.

Illustration – Speculation Loss

Suppose an assessee has a speculation loss of ₹5,00,000 and speculation profit of ₹2,00,000 during the relevant tax year.

The balance ₹3,00,000 can be carried forward and set off only against future speculation profits, within the four-tax-year limit prescribed by Section 113.