Chapter V - Input tax credit
Section 17
Section 17: Apportionment and blocked ITC
Section 17 limits credit where purchases serve both business and non-business purposes, or taxable and exempt supplies. It also blocks specified categories of credit even when a business expense is otherwise genuine.
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This article is for general information. Refer to the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 official text for the official provisions. If you need professional advice for your situation, contact Bizeneed.
Statutory text
Bare law
(1) Where the goods or services or both are used by the registered person partly for the purpose of any business and partly for other purposes, the amount of credit shall be restricted to so much of the input tax as is attributable to the purposes of his business.
(2) Where the goods or services or both are used by the registered person partly for effecting taxable supplies including zero-rated supplies under this Act or under the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act and partly for effecting exempt supplies under the said Acts, the amount of credit shall be restricted to so much of the input tax as is attributable to the said taxable supplies including zero-rated supplies.
(3) The value of exempt supply under sub-section (2) shall be such as may be prescribed, and shall include supplies on which the recipient is liable to pay tax on reverse charge basis, transactions in securities, sale of land and, subject to clause (b) of paragraph 5 of Schedule II, sale of building.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression ‘‘value of exempt supply’’ shall not include the value of activities or transactions specified in Schedule III, except,— (i) the value of activities or transactions specified in paragraph 5 of the said Schedule; and (ii) the value of such activities or transactions as may be prescribed in respect of clause (a) of paragraph 8 of the said Schedule.
(4) A banking company or a financial institution including a non-banking financial company, engaged in supplying services by way of accepting deposits, extending loans or advances shall have the option to either comply with the provisions of sub-section (2), or avail of, every month, an amount equal to fifty per cent. of the eligible input tax credit on inputs, capital goods and input services in that month and the rest shall lapse: Provided that the option once exercised shall not be withdrawn during the remaining part of the financial year: Provided further that the restriction of fifty per cent. shall not apply to the tax paid on supplies made by one registered person to another registered person having the same Permanent Account Number.
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) of section 16 and sub-section (1) of section 18, input tax credit shall not be available in respect of the following, namely:— (a) motor vehicles for transportation of persons having approved seating capacity of not more than thirteen persons (including the driver), except when they are used for making the following taxable supplies, namely:— (A) further supply of such motor vehicles; or (B) transportation of passengers; or (C) imparting training on driving such motor vehicles; (aa) vessels and aircraft except when they are used–– (i) for making the following taxable supplies, namely:— (A) further supply of such vessels or aircraft; or (B) transportation of passengers; or (C) imparting training on navigating such vessels; or (D) imparting training on flying such aircraft; (ii) for transportation of goods; (ab) services of general insurance, servicing, repair and maintenance in so far as they relate to motor vehicles, vessels or aircraft referred to in clause (a) or clause (aa): Provided that the input tax credit in respect of such services shall be available— (i) where the motor vehicles, vessels or aircraft referred to in clause (a) or clause (aa) are used for the purposes specified therein; (ii) where received by a taxable person engaged— (I) in the manufacture of such motor vehicles, vessels or aircraft; or (II) in the supply of general insurance services in respect of such motor vehicles, vessels or aircraft insured by him; (b) the following supply of goods or services or both— (i) food and beverages, outdoor catering, beauty treatment, health services, cosmetic and plastic surgery, leasing, renting or hiring of motor vehicles, vessels or aircraft referred to in clause (a) or clause (aa) except when used for the purposes specified therein, life insurance and health insurance: Provided that the input tax credit in respect of such goods or services or both shall be available where an inward supply of such goods or services or both is used by a registered person for making an outward taxable supply of the same category of goods or services or both or as an element of a taxable composite or mixed supply; (ii) membership of a club, health and fitness centre; and (iii) travel benefits extended to employees on vacation such as leave or home travel concession: Provided that the input tax credit in respect of such goods or services or both shall be available, where it is obligatory for an employer to provide the same to its employees under any law for the time being in force. (c) works contract services when supplied for construction of an immovable property (other than plant and machinery) except where it is an input service for further supply of works contract service; (d) goods or services or both received by a taxable person for construction of an immovable property (other than plant and machinery) on his own account including when such goods or services or both are used in the course or furtherance of business.
Explanation.1––For the purposes of clauses (c) and (d), the expression “construction” includes re-construction, renovation, additions or alterations or repairs, to the extent of capitalisation, to the said immovable property;
Explanation 2.––For the purposes of clause (d), it is hereby clarified that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any judgment, decree or order of any court, tribunal, or other authority, any reference to “plant or machinery” shall be construed and shall always be deemed to have been construed as a reference to “plant and machinery”; (e) goods or services or both on which tax has been paid under section 10; (f) goods or services or both received by a non-resident taxable person except on goods imported by him; (fa) goods or services or both received by a taxable person, which are used or intended to be used for activities relating to his obligations under corporate social responsibility referred to in section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013); (g) goods or services or both used for personal consumption; (h) goods lost, stolen, destroyed, written off or disposed of by way of gift or free samples; and (i) any tax paid in accordance with the provisions of section 74 in respect of any period up to Financial Year 2023-24.
(6) The Government may prescribe the manner in which the credit referred to in sub-sections (1) and (2) may be attributed.
Explanation.––For the purposes of this Chapter and Chapter VI, the expression “plant and machinery” means apparatus, equipment, and machinery fixed to earth by foundation or structural support that are used for making outward supply of goods or services or both and includes such foundation and structural supports but excludes— (i) land, building or any other civil structures; (ii) telecommunication towers; and (iii) pipelines laid outside the factory premises.
Introduction
Start with section 16 eligibility, then apply section 17. Subsections (1)–(3) govern attribution of common credit; subsection (4) offers a special banking and financial-institution option; subsection (5) lists blocked categories and their exceptions. The calculation method is prescribed in the Rules.
Key takeaways
Only business use qualifies
Where an inward supply is used partly for business and partly for other purposes, credit is limited to the business-attributable part.
Taxable and zero-rated use is separated
Common credit used for taxable (including zero-rated) and exempt supplies is restricted to the taxable and zero-rated share; the statutory exempt-supply value and its exceptions must be applied.
Blocked categories need item-by-item review
Subsection (5) includes specified vehicles and related services, personal and employee-benefit items, construction, composition-taxed supplies, non-resident purchases, CSR use, lost goods and gifts, each subject to its exact statutory wording and exceptions.
Construction wording changed
The consolidated Act uses ‘plant and machinery’ in subsection (5)(d), with a 2025 clarifying explanation addressing earlier ‘plant or machinery’ references. Do not rely on the earlier wording without checking period and amendment effect.
Attribute common credit
Separate exclusive business credit from non-business use under subsection (1). For inputs serving taxable and exempt supplies, subsection (2) allows the part attributable to taxable supplies, including zero-rated supplies. Subsection (3) defines items included in exempt-supply value, with a Schedule III carve-out and stated exceptions. Use the prescribed current Rules for the numerical allocation.
Banking and financial-institution option
A qualifying bank, financial institution or NBFC accepting deposits or extending loans/advances can follow subsection (2) or elect the monthly fifty-per-cent eligible-credit option under subsection (4). The elected option cannot be withdrawn during the rest of that financial year, and the same-PAN supply proviso needs separate review.
Vehicle and employee-benefit restrictions
Subsection (5) contains detailed blocks for certain passenger motor vehicles, vessels and aircraft, related insurance or maintenance, food and catering, insurance and travel benefits, among others. Statutory exceptions include specified onward taxable supplies, some employer obligations under law and certain other listed uses. Check the exact item and exception; a blanket claim or blanket rejection can both be wrong.
Construction, personal use and other blocks
Review works-contract services and own-account construction of immovable property under clauses (c) and (d), including the ‘plant and machinery’ wording and capitalisation explanation. Separate blocks also cover composition-taxed purchases, certain non-resident purchases, CSR activity, personal consumption, lost or written-off goods, and gifts or free samples. Clause (i) is period-specific for tax under section 74 up to FY 2023–24.
Practical checklist
Do
- Code inward supplies by business/non-business and taxable/exempt use before claiming.
- Document the exact section 17(5) clause and any exception for each blocked-credit decision.
- For construction, review capitalisation and the 2025 plant-and-machinery amendment for the relevant period.
- Use the current prescribed allocation method for common credit.
Avoid
- Claim full credit on common purchases used partly for exempt supplies.
- Treat all vehicle, insurance or employee-benefit expense as automatically creditable or automatically blocked.
- Apply an older ‘plant or machinery’ formulation without checking the consolidated amendment.
Glossary
- Blocked credit
- Input tax credit denied by a specific subsection 17(5) category, subject to any statutory exception.
- Exempt supply value
- The value used in section 17(2) allocation, with subsection (3)'s inclusions and Schedule III exceptions.
- Plant and machinery
- The defined expression in the Explanation to section 17, including qualifying fixed apparatus and excluding listed land, civil structures and other items.
Frequently asked questions
Does a genuine business expense always qualify for ITC?
No. Section 17(5) blocks specified categories even where the expenditure relates to business, subject to its stated exceptions.
Are zero-rated supplies treated as taxable for apportionment?
Yes. Section 17(2) expressly includes zero-rated supplies in the taxable side of the attribution.
Can a bank use a simplified monthly option?
A qualifying banking company, financial institution or NBFC may elect subsection (4)'s monthly fifty-per-cent option, subject to its conditions and same-PAN proviso.
Need help applying this provision to your situation?
Contact BizeneedLast updated 10 October 2026