HomeCirculars › RBI/2008-09/107

RBI clarifies DTA/DTL treatment for NBFC capital adequacy

NBFC Regulations
Live · in forceNo withdrawal recorded as of 22 Jun 2026. Reviewed by Vikram Jain; always verify against the official RBI source below.
Issued by RBI: 31 Jul 2008  ·  Decoded by BankPulse: 20 Jun 2026, 23:34 IST
⏱ ~1 min read
📄 Official RBI source ↗
Quick answerRBI directs NBFCs to deduct deferred tax assets (DTA) from Tier I capital and exclude deferred tax liabilities (DTL) from capital adequacy calculations, effective from FY ending March 2009.

What changed

RBI clarified that DTL cannot be counted as Tier I or Tier II capital for CRAR purposes. DTA must be treated as an intangible asset and deducted from Tier I capital. These norms apply from the accounting year ending March 31, 2009.

What it means for you

NBFCs will see a reduction in their regulatory capital base due to DTA deduction and DTL exclusion, potentially lowering CRAR. Lenders must adjust capital planning and may need to seek transition relief from RBI if they fall short of minimum requirements.

What you must do

Who it affects

All Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), Residuary Non-Banking Companies (RNBCs)

Why is DTA deducted from Tier I capital?

RBI treats DTA as an intangible asset because it represents future tax benefits, not current cash or tangible capital, so it is deducted from Tier I capital to ensure capital quality.

What if my NBFC's CRAR falls below the minimum after this change?

RBI allows a transition period for NBFCs unable to comply. You must approach your Regional Office within 30 days of the circular's issue for suitable dispensation.

Key dataSee the live numbers behind this topic: NPA / Asset-Quality Tracker, Bank Health Scores — updated from official RBI data.
Key termsPlain-English definitions of terms in this circular — see the full Indian banking glossary. NBFC · CRAR (Capital adequacy) · Gross NPA (GNPA) · Wilful defaulter
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AI-drafted · 3-model AI consensus fact-check · under the editorial review of Vikram Jain · decoded & published by BankPulse · 20 Jun 2026, 23:34 IST
Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=4385&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by Vikram Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; never reproduces RBI text verbatim.