EXHIBIT 12.1 CIT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES ($ IN MILLIONS) For the Nine Months Ended For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003 September 30, 2002 ------------------------- ------------------------- Net income ................................... $ 411.7 $(6,882.8) Provision for income taxes ................... 263.4 250.7 -------- --------- Earnings before provision for income taxes ... 675.1 (6,632.1) -------- --------- Fixed charges: Interest and debt expense on indebtedness .. 1,004.3 1,066.3 Dividends on preferred capital securities .. 8.8 13.1 Interest factor-one third of rentals on real and personal properties ................. 10.5 11.7 -------- --------- Total fixed charges .......................... 1,023.6 1,091.1 -------- --------- Total earnings before provision for income taxes and fixed charges .................... $1,698.7 $(5,541.0) ======== ========= Ratios of earnings to fixed charges .......... 1.66x (1) -------- --------- - ---------- (1) Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $6,632.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002. Earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 included a goodwill impairment charge of $6,511.7 million in accordance with SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets."