§ 277
Chapter XVI — Procedure For Assessment
Method of accounting in certain cases
Income-tax Act, 2025
Business owners must value their inventory at the lower of actual cost or net realisable value. This applies to goods, services, and securities. The valuation should include any taxes, duties, or fees paid to bring the goods or services to their current location and condition.
- Securities not listed on a recognised stock exchange are valued at actual cost.
- Other securities are valued at the lower of actual cost or net realisable value.
📜 Official text of the section +
277. (1) For the purposes of determining the income chargeable under the head
“Profits and gains of business or profession”,—
( i) the valuation of inventory shall be made at lower of actual cost or net
realisable value computed as per the income computation and disclosure
standards notified under section 276(2);
( ii) the valuation of purchase and sale of goods or services and valuation
of inventory shall be adjusted to include any tax, duty, cess or fee (by
whatever name called) actually paid or incurred by the assessee to bring
the goods or services to the place of its location and condition as on the
date of valuation;
( iii) the inventory being securities not listed on a recognised stock exchange,
or listed but not quoted on a recognised stock exchange with regularity
from time to time, shall be valued at actual cost initially recognised as
per the income computation and disclosure standards notified under
section 276(2);
( iv) the inventory being securities other than those referred to in clause (iii),
shall be valued at lower of actual cost or net realisable value as per the
income computation and disclosure standards notified under section
276(2).
(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the inventory being securities held by a
scheduled bank or public financial institution shall be valued as per the income
computation and disclosure standards notified under section 276(2) after taking into
account the extant guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India in this regard.
(3) For the purposes of sub-sections (1) and (2), the comparison of actual cost and
net realisable value of securities shall be made category-wise.
(4) For the purposes of this section, any tax, duty, cess or fee (by whatever name
called) under any law in force, shall include all such payment irrespective of any
right arising as a consequence to such payment.
(5) For the purposes of this section, “public financial institution” shall have the same
meaning as assigned to it in section 2(72) of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013).
Taxability of certain income.
Plain-language summary — not the official text. Refer to the bare Act and confirm with a professional for your specific case.