What shall be the cost of improvement?

Any capital expenditure incurred by you or the previous owner of the asset for making additions or alterations to such capital asset which enhances the value of the asset or raises its price shall be treated as a cost of improvement. Any cost of improvement before 1-4-2001 shall be ignored. Now, as per a recent judgement of CIT Vs. K. Raja Gopala Rao 252 ITR 459 (MAD) (2001)], expenses incurred for removing encumbrances (anything that burdens title to the property), will be included in the cost of improvement.
Some expenses which can not be taken as cost of improvement are:

• Property Taxes
• Repairs and maintenance expenses
• Any Estate duty paid in case of inherited property