Chapter XIII - Determination of Tax in Special Cases
Section 229
Section 229: depreciation and gains relating to tonnage tax assets
Section 229 deals with the bookkeeping needed when a company enters the tonnage tax scheme: it splits the existing block of ship/inland-vessel assets into a block of "qualifying assets" (used in the tonnage tax business) and "other assets", and sets rules for depreciation and capital gains on the qualifying-asset block.
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This article is for general information. Refer to the Income-tax Act, 2025 as amended by the Finance Act, 2026 and the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2026 for the official provisions. If you need professional advice for your situation, contact Bizeneed.
Statutory text
Bare law
(1) For the purposes of computing depreciation under section 230(1)(d), the depreciation for the first tax year of the tonnage tax scheme (herein referred to as the first tax year) shall be computed on the written down value of the qualifying ships as specified under sub-section (2).
(2) The written down value of the block of assets, being ships or inland vessels, as the case may be, as on the first day of the first tax year, shall be divided in the ratio of the book written down value of the qualifying ships (herein referred to as the qualifying assets) and the book written down value of the non-qualifying ships (herein referred to as the other assets), as per the following formula:–– D = A x B B+C E = A x C B+C where,— D = the written down value of the block of qualifying assets as on the first day of the tax year; E = the written down value of the block of other assets as on the first day of the tax year; A = the written down value of the existing block of assets, being ships or inland vessel, as the case may be, as on the first day of the tax year; B = the aggregate of book written down value of qualifying assets as on the last day of the preceding tax year; and C = the aggregate of the book written down value of other assets as on the last day of the preceding tax year.
(3) The block of qualifying assets as determined under sub-section (2) shall constitute a separate block of assets for the purposes of this Part.
(4) Where an asset forming part of a block of,—
(a) qualifying assets begins to be used for purposes other than the tonnage tax business, an appropriate portion of the written down value allocable to such asset shall be reduced from the written down value of that block and shall be added to the block of other assets as per the following formula:— A = B x C D where,–– A = the appropriate portion of the written down value allocable to the asset which begins to be used for purposes other than the tonnage tax business; B = the written down value of block of qualifying assets as on the first day of the tax year; C = the book written down value of qualifying asset which begins to be used for purpose other than the tonnage tax business; and D = the aggregate of book written down value of all the assets forming the block of qualifying assets;
(b) other assets, begins to be used for tonnage tax business, an appropriate portion of the written down value allocable to such asset shall be reduced from the written down value of the block of other assets and shall be added to the block of qualifying asset as per the following formula:— E= F x G I where,— E = the appropriate proportion of the written down value allocable to the asset which begins to be used for purposes of tonnage tax business; F = the written down value of block of other assets as on the first day of the tax year; G = book written down value of the other asset which begins to be used for tonnage tax business; and I = the aggregate of book written down value of all the assets forming the block of other assets.
(5) For the purposes of computing depreciation under section 230(1)(d) in respect of an asset mentioned in sub-sections (4)(a) and (b), the depreciation computed for the tax year shall be allocated in the ratio of the number of days for which the asset was used for the tonnage tax business and for purposes other than tonnage tax business.
(6) For the purposes of this Act, the depreciation on the block of qualifying assets and block of other assets so created shall be allowed as if such written down value referred to in sub-section (2) had been brought forward from the preceding tax year.
(7) For the purposes of this section, the expression “book written down value” means the written down value as per books of accounts.
(8) Any profits or gains arising from the transfer of a capital asset being an asset forming part of the block of qualifying assets shall be chargeable to income-tax as per sections 67 and 74, and the capital gains so arising shall be computed as per sections 67 to 81.
(9) For the purposes of computing such profits or gains, as referred to in sub-section (8), the provisions of section 74 shall have effect as if for the words “written down value of the block of assets”, the words “written down value of the block of qualifying assets” had been substituted.
(10) For the purposes of this Chapter, the expression “written down value of the block of qualifying assets” means the written down value computed as per sub-section (2).
Introduction
The scheme separates qualifying shipping assets from other asset blocks for depreciation. Changes in an asset’s use move written-down value between those blocks, while transfers remain subject to the capital-gains computation identified in this section.
Key takeaways
Asset blocks are separated
On entering the tonnage-tax scheme, written-down value is apportioned between qualifying and other assets.
Use changes can move value
When an asset stops being used for the tonnage business, an appropriate part of its written-down value moves to the other block.
Transfers still face capital-gains rules
Gain on a transferred qualifying capital asset is computed under the capital-gains provisions specified here.
Splitting the written down value on entering the scheme
For the first tax year the tonnage tax scheme applies, depreciation is computed on the written down value of qualifying ships as determined by apportioning the existing block of ship/inland-vessel assets between qualifying assets and other assets, in the ratio of their respective book written down values as on the last day of the preceding tax year (a formula is prescribed for this apportionment).
The resulting block of qualifying assets constitutes a separate block of assets for the purposes of this Part.
Assets moving between blocks
If an asset in the block of qualifying assets begins to be used for purposes other than the tonnage tax business, an appropriate portion of written down value is moved out of the qualifying-assets block into the block of other assets (by a prescribed formula), and vice versa when an "other asset" begins to be used for the tonnage tax business.
Depreciation for the tax year on such a moving asset is allocated between the two blocks in the ratio of the number of days it was used for the tonnage tax business versus other purposes.
Ongoing depreciation treatment
Depreciation on the block of qualifying assets and the block of other assets is allowed as if the written down value determined on entry into the scheme had simply been brought forward from the preceding tax year.
"Book written down value" means the written down value as shown in the company's books of account.
Capital gains on qualifying assets
Profits or gains from the transfer of a capital asset forming part of the block of qualifying assets are chargeable to tax under Sections 67 and 74, with capital gains computed under Sections 67 to 81. For this purpose, Section 74 applies as if references to "written down value of the block of assets" instead read "written down value of the block of qualifying assets" (as computed under this section).
Step-by-step flow for applying Section 229
- 1
Take the tax WDV of the block of ships on the first day of the first tax year of the scheme
This is A in the formula in Section 229(2).
- 2
Split it in the ratio of book WDVs
D (qualifying assets) = A × B / (B + C) and E (other assets) = A × C / (B + C). B and C are the book WDVs of qualifying and other ships on the last day of the preceding tax year. The qualifying block is a separate block (Section 229(3)).
- 3
Does an asset move between the two blocks during a year?
- Qualifying to other use: Move its share of WDV from the qualifying block to the other block using the Section 229(4)(a) formula.
- Other to tonnage tax use: Move its share of WDV from the other block to the qualifying block using the Section 229(4)(b) formula.
- No movement: Go to the next step.
- 4
Allocate depreciation and carry the WDV forward
For a moved asset, the year's depreciation is split by the days used in each business (Section 229(5)). Both blocks are treated as if their WDV had been brought forward from the preceding tax year (Section 229(6)).
- 5
Is a qualifying asset transferred?
Gains are charged under Sections 67 and 74 and computed under Sections 67 to 81, reading Section 74 as referring to the WDV of the block of qualifying assets (Section 229(8) and (9)).
Practical checklist
Do
- Maintain separate written-down-value blocks for qualifying shipping assets and other assets.
- Track assets moving between those blocks and any capital-gains consequence on transfer.
Avoid
- Deduct depreciation on the same asset under both blocks.
Illustrative example
Worked example: splitting the block and moving one ship
Hypothetical facts (illustration only, not a real taxpayer): A company opts for the tonnage tax scheme. On the first day of its first tax year under the scheme, the tax WDV of its block of ships is ₹90 crore. On the last day of the preceding tax year, the book WDV of its qualifying ships was ₹120 crore and of its other ships ₹30 crore. Later, a qualifying ship with a book WDV of ₹24 crore begins to be used outside the tonnage tax business. All figures are assumed.
Qualifying block
D = ₹90 crore × ₹120 crore / (₹120 crore + ₹30 crore) = ₹90 crore × 120/150 = ₹72 crore.
Other block
E = ₹90 crore × 30/150 = ₹18 crore. Check: ₹72 crore + ₹18 crore = ₹90 crore.
Moving the ship
Under Section 229(4)(a), the portion moved = ₹72 crore × ₹24 crore / ₹120 crore = ₹14.4 crore, taking the book WDV of all qualifying assets as ₹120 crore.
Revised blocks
Qualifying block: ₹72 crore − ₹14.4 crore = ₹57.6 crore. Other block: ₹18 crore + ₹14.4 crore = ₹32.4 crore. Check: ₹57.6 crore + ₹32.4 crore = ₹90 crore.
Depreciation
The year's depreciation on the moved ship is split by the days it was used in each business. Section 229 does not give the depreciation rate.
Outcome
- The opening qualifying block is ₹72 crore and the other block is ₹18 crore.
- After the move, the blocks are ₹57.6 crore and ₹32.4 crore.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a tonnage tax company need a separate block of "qualifying assets"?
Because only assets used in the tonnage tax business get the special depreciation and capital-gains treatment under this section; the split is needed to keep that block distinct from ships/assets used in the company's other business.
What happens to depreciation if an asset moves from qualifying to non-qualifying use partway through the year?
The depreciation for that year is allocated between the two blocks in proportion to the number of days the asset was actually used for the tonnage tax business versus other purposes.
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Talk to our tax team about tonnage tax depreciationLast updated 9 October 2026