DIRECT TAXES

Tribunal

Aarti Sathe, Deepak R. Shah, Haresh P. Shah, Paras S. Savla,
Prem Chandra Tripathi & Rahul hakani

43. Addition – Rejection of Books – S. 143 r.w.s. 145

Additions made for under statement of sales, by comparing sale prices of sales made to co-operative societies, which was merely 5% of total sales, with that of sales to other individuals, on inference that they were at a lower price, without bringing any material on record or examining the individuals was held to be unjustified, and additions made on account of suppressed sales was deleted.

ITO vs. Rabindranath Seal (2009) 180 Taxman 104 (Kolkatta) (A.Y. 2001-02)

44. Appellable Order before the Appellate Tribunal - S. 253 vis-ΰ-vis S. 251 r.w.s. 254H

(i) Assessee appealed before the Appellate Tribunal against dismissal of appeal by the CIT(A) on the ground that the appeal had become infructuous and non est before him as the issues were placed before the Settlement Commission. In otherwords, the CIT(A) loses his jurisdiction to decide the appeals in such situation. So, order passed by the CIT(A), dismissing the appeal, is only a technical order for statistical purposes and such order is not appealable order before the Appellate Tribunal.

(ii) Where the matter is abated before the Settlement Commission then the erstwhile jurisdiction of the CIT (Appeals) gets revived. In that case the CIT(A) has to suo motu revive the appeal and proceed to decide the appeal in accordance with the law thereafter or the assessee has to move a restoration petition before the CIT(A) to proceed further in the matter and therefore, unless and until the CIT(A) passes order on the issues under appeal after restoration or revival the Tribunal does not get any jurisdiction to decide any appeal on merits.

J. C. Augustine vs. ACIT (2009) 312 ITR (AT) 60 (Cochin)

45. Appeal – Tribunal – Additional Ground – Admissibility – S. 254(1)

Ground challenging the jurisdiction to make block assessment can be urged before any authority for the first time. Bar of estoppel or res judicata does not apply when the validity of assessment is questioned for want of jurisdiction.

ACIT vs. Bijay Shankar Gupta (2009) 21 DTR 254 (Jd) (Trib.) (Block Period: 1992-93 to 2001-02)

46. Assessment – Service of Notice – S. 143(2) r.w.s. 143(3)

Assessment made under section 143(3) without proving the service of statutory notice within the prescribed time, was held to be invalid and required to be quashed.

Smt. Amarjeet Kaur vs. ACIT (2009) 180 Taxman 26 (Delhi) (A. Y. 2003-04)

47. Business expenditure – Contribution towards Provident Fund – S. 36(1)(va)

Employer’s contribution towards provident fund though paid beyond the due date but before the end of the relevant financial year is allowable deduction.

Polyplex Corporation Ltd. vs. ITO (2009) 122 TTJ 949 (Del.)

48. Business Expenditure – Expenditure on computer Software – S. 37(1)

Expenditure on computer software is capital expenditure.

Avaya Global Connect Ltd. vs. ACIT (2009) 122 TTJ 300 (Mum.)

49. Business Expenditure – Expenditure on development of website – S. 37(1)

Expenditure on development of website is allowable as business expenditure.

Polyplex Corporation Ltd. vs. ITO (2009) 122 TTJ 949 (Del.)

50. Business expenditure – Payments towards tender fee and consultancy charges – S. 37(1)

Where assessee is already in business, payments made for tender fee and consultancy charges for establishing captive power plant are allowable revenue expenditure.

Polyplex Corporation Ltd. vs. ITO (2009) 122 TTJ 949 (Del.)

51. Business Expenditure – Royalty

– S. 37(1)

Royalty paid for getting non-assignable license, right and privilege to manufacture on the licensed mark, and distribute the licensed product in India and use expression “Benetton”, without becoming owner or acquiring any right in licensed trade mark, was held to be a revenue expenditure.

Dy. CIT vs. DCM Benetton India Ltd. (2009) 178 Taxman 52 (Delhi) (A. Y. 2002-03 & 2003-04)

52. Business income – vis-ΰ-vis income from House Property – Income from Warehousing – Ss. 22 & 28(i)

Assessee was not merely letting out its premises for warehousing but also under obligation to provide adequate security to the material stored apart from receiving and delivering stock, maintaining record of incoming and outgoing stock in the register, taking physical inventory at regular intervals, to do loading and unloading and stock taking in addition to ensuring proper spray of pesticides in the godown, without obtaining any security deposit. It was held that assessee was thus doing a complex commercial activity, hence receipts were taxable as business income and not income from house property. More so when receipts were assessed as business income in the past and there was no change in factual or legal position.

ITO vs. Rasikllal & Co. (P) Ltd. (2009) 23 DTR 134 (Mumbai) (Trib.) (A.Y.: 1999-2000)

53. Business Loss – Loss in respect of loan given to subsidiary – Ss. 2(47), 28(i), 37(1) & 45

Assessee is in the business of manufacturing and real estate. Action on the part of the assessee to advance loan to its subsidiary for purchase of shares is not in line with normal business activities of the assessee. Assessee is also not in the business of acquisition of shares. Thus, the loan given to D Ltd. was not connected with the business of the assessee company. When the amount advanced is not in line with the business, the same cannot be treated as having been advanced in the course of normal business activities of the assessee. Moreover, a single transaction of loan cannot be termed as business activity. Since, the loan was advanced for acquisition of shares, it was in respect of fixed capital. Therefore, the loss cannot be allowed as a business loss under section 28 r.w.s. 37(1). As regards the alternative plea of the assessee, although the definition of ‘transfer’ in section 2(47) includes extinguishment, that extinguishment does not refer to the extinguishment of the asset itself. It refers to the extinguishment of the holder’s right to the assets. When an assessee finds a loan valueless merely for the inability of the debtor to pay a part of such loan, the asset in the form of loan disappears. That being the case, no transfer is involved. Thus, the loss suffered by the assessee cannot be treated even as a capital loss under section 45.

DCM Ltd. vs. Dy. CIT (2009) 23 DTR 163 (Delhi) (Trib.) (A. Y.: 2002-03)

54. Capital Gain – Transfer – Chargeable in the year of tranfer – S. 45(1)

As per the provisions of section 45(1) of the Act, for charging capital gains tax, the previous year in which the transfer takes place is most crucial. As in the present case the transfer had taken place in the A.Y. 1995-96 and not in the A.Y. 1998-99, the capital gains would be chargeable in the A.Y. 1995-96.

Vemanna Reddy (HUF) vs. ITO (2009) 30 SOT 11 (Bang.) (URO) (Asst Year: 1998-99)

55. Capital Gains – Capital Gain or Business Income – S. 50C

Section 50C cannot be applied for determining the income under other heads, it is applicable only for the purpose of determining the sale consideration for computation of capital gains, only.

Inderlok Hotels (P) Ltd. vs. ITO (2009) 122 TTJ 145 (Mum.)

56. Capital Gains vis-ΰ-vis Business Income – Sale of agricultural land as residential sits – S. 2(13), 28(i) 45 & 54EC

Assessee had purchased a small piece of agricultural land and carried on agricultural operations on it. Assessee held the said land for more than 40 years which showed that they did not intend to trade in the land. It was held that mere fact that the assessee obtained permission from the authorities for developing residential sites cannot lead to the conclusion that this was an adventure in the nature of trade.

ITO vs. D. N. Krishnappa (2009) 21 DTR 11 (Bang.) (Trib.) (A. Y.: 2005-06)

57. Capital Receipt – Compensation for termination of agency agreement – S. 4

Termination of an agency agreement which has no major effect on profit earning apparatus, the compensation received is taxable as revenue receipt but the part of the compensation which is attributable to restrictive covenant is capital receipt and not chargeable to tax.

Chemet vs. Addl. CIT (2009) 122 TTJ 766 (Mum.)

58. Deduction – Interest on delayed payment of purchase price – S. 80HH

The assessee is entitled to deduction under section 80HH on interest on delayed payment of purchase price.

ACIT vs. Biotech Medicals (P) Ltd. (2009) 121 TTJ 858 (Hyd.)

59. Deduction – Profits of company owning industrial undertaking – S. 80IA

The assessee company is not entitled for deduction under section 80IA on the profits because the trading activities carried on by the assessee are of the assessee company and not of the industrial undertaking.

Emerson Network Power India (P) Ltd. vs. ACIT (2009) 122 TTJ 67 (Mum.)

60. Deemed Dividend – Commercial Profits – Depreciation – To be reduced from commercial profits – S. 2(22)(e)

It has been held that for the purpose of section 2(22)(e) of the Income-tax Act (Act), accumulated profits would mean commercial profits. In determining this commercial profit, depreciation, which has been recognized as a charge towards profit both under the Companies Act, 1956 as well as the Act has to be reduced from the commercial profit for the purpose of Section 2(22)(e) of the Act.
ACIT vs. Yasin Hotels (P) Ltd. (2009) 30 SOT 47(Chennai) (URO) (A. Y.: 2004-05).

61. Deemed Dividend – Loan to Director – S. 2(22)(e)

Assessee procured loan from a company in which he was a Director and was holding 50% equity shares. The said company was in business of lending of money, and on amount given as loan to assessee it charged Interest. Held, that section 2(22)(e) can not be attracted as it was a business transaction of the company.

Bharat C. Gandhi vs. ACIT (2009) 178 Taxman 83 (Mumbai) (A. Y. 2002-03)

62. Depreciation – Non-compete fee – Business / commercial right – Intangible Asset – S. 32(1)(ii)

Right acquired by payment of non-compete fee was in the nature of a business or commercial right similar to know-how, patents, copyrights, trademarks, licenses and franchises – Observed that ‘capability to have market value, assignability, transferability, diminution in value, are no more the ‘touch stones’ on which admissibility for depreciation under section 32 of the Act has to be tested’. Therefore the ‘non-compete right’ acquired by the assessee by paying the fee was eligible for depreciation under clause (ii) of Section 32(1) of the Act.

ITO vs. Medicorp Technologies India Limited (Chennai) (2009) 30 SOT 506 (A. Y.: 2002-03)

63. Disallowance – Interest on Borrowed Capital – S. 36(1)(iii)

Interest paid on borrowed funds were disallowed on the ground that the amounts have been transferred to sister concerns. It was held that as the funds advanced were for purchases / service charges, and thus had the direct nexus with the business, and as also most of the amounts were transferred by journal entries and there was no actual transfer of cash, the proportionate disallowance can not be sustained.

Accelerated Freeze Drying Co. Ltd. vs. Dy. CIT (2009) 180 Taxman 68 (Cochin) (A. Y. 2003-04)

64. Disallowance contribution towards ESI

– S. 43B

Payment made to ESI fund before due date for filing return is not hit by the rigour of S. 43B.

ACIT vs. Indwel Linings (P) Ltd. (2009) 122 TTJ 137 (Chennai)

65. Exemption – Export of manufactured and traded goods – S. 10A

Assessee is entitled to relief under section 10A on export of both manufactured goods as well as purchased goods.

T. Two International (P) Ltd. vs. ITO (2009) 122 TTJ 957 (Mum.)

66. Exemption – Free Trade Zone (STPI)

– S. 10A

Assessee company’s unit at Chennai was approved as “Software Technology Park of India” (STPI), and subsequently after the approval obtained from respective authorities, operations were transferred to Kochi, and carried under same registration number. Held, assessee is entitled to exemption under section 10A as it was merely a case of shifting of business from one place to another and not a new business, and there is no violation of sub clause (ii) & (iii) of section 10A(2), its only a seeking of continuation of exemption under section 10A.

Paradigm IT (P) Ltd. vs. Dy. CIT (2009) 180 Taxman 24 (Chennai) (A. Y. 2002-03)

67. Exemption – Ownership of Plant & Machinery – S. 10B

It is not the requirement of the section that the assessee should itself own plant and machinery for manufacture even if the assessee gets it manufactured by others under its direct supervision, the assessee is entitled to exemption under section 10B.

ITO vs. Techdrive (I) (P) Ltd. (2009) 122 TTJ 264 (Del.)

68. Export – Deduction – Eligible profits – S. 80HHC

Assessee is entitled to deduction under section 80HHC on the eligible profits

without reducing the deduction given under section 80IB.

ACIT vs. Sreeja Hosieries (2009) 122 TTJ 849 (Chennai) However, please see Hindustan Mint’s case by special Bench of ITAT (Delhi)

69. Export – Total Turnover for computation of exemption / deduction – S. 10B / 80HHC / 80HHE / 80HHF

Expenses on freight, telecommunication charges or insurance incurred outside India or expenses incurred in foreign exchange for providing technical services outside India are required to be excluded from Export Turnover as defined in Explanation 2 below section 10B and similarly, in view of the principle of parity such expenses have to be excluded for the purpose of computing ‘Total Turnover’ while applying the provisions of section 10B(4) of the Act. In this regard the ratio laid down by the Supreme Court in case of Laxmi Machine Works [290 ITR 667] was considered and applied.

ITO vs. Advent Development Centre (India) & Others (2009) 313 ITR (AT) 353 (Chennai)

70. Income – Accrual – Retention Money

– S. 5

Amount retained by clients under agreement to the extent of 5 to 10 per cent of the bill value which was released to the assessee only after satisfactory completion of the work could not be added to the income of assessee even following mercantile system of accounting. It was held that when the assessee had no right to receive the money by virtue of the contract between the parties and the assessee also had no right to enforce payment, it could not be said that the right to receive payment of the remaining 10 per cent of the value of job had accrued.

Dy. CIT vs. East Coast Constructions & Industries Ltd. (2009) 23 DTR 225 (Chennai) (Trib.) (A. Y.: 2003-04)

71. Income deemed to accrue or arise in India – Business Connection – S. 9(1)(i), Expln. 1(b)

Assessee, having its main office in USA having opened a liaison office in India solely for the purpose of helping its affiliates located at different parts of the world to buy goods etc. for trading operations, acting through liaison office as purchasing agent, placing orders with local manufacturers specifying the quantity, price, the affiliate with address on whom the bill is to be raised and the destination and not in any way communicating with the manufacturers other than supervising the manufacturing operations to ensure quality as per approved samples and specifications, the same amounts to purchase in the course of export and Expln. 1(b) to section 9(1)(i) is attracted, hence no income is deemed to accrue or arise to assessee in India.

Nike Inc. vs. ACIT (2009) 21 DTR 107 (Bang.) (Trib.) (A. Y.: 1999-2000 to 2002-03)

72. Interest – Waiver – S. 201(A)

Interest under section 201(1A) not being penal in nature, the question of waiver of Interest on grounds such as reasonable cause, bonafide belief, unintentional are irrelevant.

G. M. Punjab Roadways vs. ITO (2009) 178 Taxman 112 (Chandigarh) (SMC) (Asst. Year 2000 – 01 to 2005 – 06)

73. Notice – Pendency of assessment proceedings – S. 148

Where the return was filed in response to notice under section 148 and the assessment is pending, the second notice under section 148 is invalid.

ITO vs. Tarsem Singh (2009) 122 TTJ 861

(Asr.)

74. Penalty – Concealment – Addition deleted – S. 271(1)(c)

Where the addition was deleted by the Tribunal in quantum appeal, the very foundation for levy of the penalty ceased to exist.

ACIT vs. VIP Industries (2009) 122 TTJ 289 (Mum.) (2009) 21 DTR 153 (Mum.)

75. Penalty – Concealment – S. 271(1)(c)

Held that penalty cannot be levied on additions sustained by estimating the yield, based on % of yield of preceding year, when there is no evidence on record to prove that there were sales outside the books. Further the fact that additions made in assessment proceedings is a material fact, can not be considered as conclusive and concrete to prove the concealment.

Sangrur Vanaspati Mills Ltd. vs. ACIT (2009) 179 Taxman 27 (Chandigarh) (A. Y. 1992-93 & 1993 -94)

76. Penalty – Concealment – Finding in Assessment – S. 271(1)(c)

In penalty proceedings there has to be re-appraisal of material available at time of Assessment, as well as any additional material produced by assessee be examined, to ascertain the concealment or furnishing of inaccurate particulars. Levy of penalty merely relying upon finding in his assessment proceedings is not justified.

Vijay Power Generators Ltd. vs. ITO (2009) 180 Taxman 102 (Delhi) (A.Y. 1997-98)

77. Penalty – Failure to Deduct Tax at Source – Interest accruing on deposits – S. 271C

The penalty imposed on the assessee, a non-banking company carrying on the business of mobilization of deposits, for non deduction of TDS on accrual basis of interest was dropped as it was held that the assessee was prohibited by reasonable cause for not deducting the TDS, when there was no default on the part of the assessee.

Sahara India Financial Corporation Ltd vs. Addl. CIT (2009) 30 SOT 149 (Delhi) (A. Y.: 1996-97 to 1999-2000)

78. Penalty – Non payment of Interest – S. 221(1)

Penalty under section 221(1) can be imposed only for failure to pay tax and not for failure to pay interest under sections 234B & 234C.
Great Value Foods vs. ACIT (2009) 122 TTJ 682 (Asr.), (2009) 178 Taxman 114 (Amritsar)

79. Penalty – Not leviable – Particulars furnished by the assessee – Simple mistake on part of assessee – S. 271(1)(c)

If the assessee had a made a simple mistake while claiming deduction under Section 80-IA and thereafter filed a revised return, the same could not be a case of furnishing inaccurate particulars of income or concealment attracting the levy of penalty under S. 271(1)(c) of the Act.

Niton Valve Industries (P) Ltd. vs. ACIT (2009) 30 SOT 236 (Mum.) (A. Y.: 1998-99)

80. Precedent – Binding nature – S. 254

Tribunal is duty bound to follow the decision of a High Court, if there is no contrary decision available from any other High Court.

Maharashtra State Warehousing Corp. Ltd. vs. Dy. CIT (2009) 122 TTJ 865 (Pune)

81. Presumptive Taxation – Civil Construction Business – S. 44AD

Held, that provisions of Section 44 AD can not be invoked to apply 8% rate of Net Profit, when the Turnover of Assessee company was more than Rs. 40 lacs, and proper books of account were maintained and duly audited.

Allied Engineers vs. CIT (2009) 180 Taxman 70 (Delhi) (A.Y. 2005-06)

82. Reassessment - Proviso to S. 14A inserted w.e.f 11-5-2001 – Not valid – Cases prior to Assessment Year on or before 1-4-2001 – S. 14A

It has been held that the Assessing officer, in view of the statutory embargo placed on his jurisdiction by virtue of the proviso to S.14A of the Act, to make reassessment, in respect of specified assessment years has acted without jurisdiction in re-opening the assessments for the A.Y. 1998-1999 to bring to tax income described under substantive provisions of S.14A.

Jt. CIT vs. Bombay Dyeing Mfg. Co. Ltd. (2009) 30 SOT 461 (Mum). (A. Y.: 1998-99)

83. Rectification – S. 154

Rectification sought beyond four years from the date of original order on the issue or matter which was not part of or dealt with in any of the intervening rectification orders passed by Assessing Officer, is void ab initio and invalid.

ACIT vs. Precott Mills Ltd. (2009) 178 Taxman 15 (Chennai) (A. Y. 1996-97)

84. Rejection of Accounts – Method of Accounting – S. 145

Additions made by rejecting the Books of Accounts, by alleging imagined manipulation without proving the same or without verifying the material available through field enquiry, and only based on own judgment, was held to be not justified.

ACIT vs. Ram Manohar Singh (2009) 178 Taxman 47 (Jabalpur) (A. Y. 2004-05)

85. Revision – S. 263

Order passed by Assessing Officer in accordance with law, judicial pronouncements and after considering relevant replies duly supported by evidence can not be branded as erroneous, merely because commissioner is of other view or in his opinion order passed is weak and not a detailed order.

Section 263 empowers the commissioner to have a supervisory jurisdiction and does not visualize a case of substitution of his judgement for that of Assessing Officer.

Allied Engineers vs. CIT (2009) 180 Taxman 70 (Delhi) (Asst. Year 2005 – 06)

86. Tax Deduction at Source – Interest

– S. 194A

Assessee a department of State Government, is liable to deduct TDS on interest paid, alongwith compensation to victims as per the order of courts / motor accident claims Tribunal.

G. M. Punjab Roadways vs. ITO (2009) 178 Taxman 112 (Chandigarh) (SMC) (A. Y. 2000-01 to 2005-06)

87. Tax Deduction at Source – Works Contract or mere sale of goods

– S. 194C

Agreements entered with third parties for manufacturing goods as per specifications of the manufacturers and all other relevant decisions being taken by the manufacturers, in such circumstances the said agreements were construed as contract for sale of goods and not as works contract. The provisions of Section 194C were thus not applicable.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. vs. ITO (2009) 30 SOT 19 (Mum.) (A. Y.: 2006-07)

88. Time limit for passing order – Tax Deduction at Source – S 201(1)

(i) Where no time limit is prescribed then in that case order must be passed within a reasonable time.

(ii) Sub-section (1) of sec. 201(1) or (1A) do not prescribe any time limit for initiation of proceedings or passing of order under section 201(1) or (1A). Under the statute time limit is provided for issuing notice for completion of assessment under section 143(2) and similarly time for issuing notice of reassessment has been set in section 149. As such, time limit for completion of assessment and reassessment has been provided under section 153 and similarly time limit has been provided for rectification order and for revision order under section 154 and under section 263 respectively.

But, it was held that order passed under section 195 r.w.s. 201(1) or 201(A) of the Act cannot be held as barred by limitation “in law”, if it not passed within four years from end of the relevant financial year.

(ii) Adverting to the facts of the assessee, that –

(a) no assessment had been made in the hands of payee i. r. o. the sum received from the assessee in respect of the Euro issues,
(b) similarly, no proceedings had been taken against it till date for assessing such income, and
(c) finding that time limit for issuing notice under section 148 had come to an end for the A.Y. 1998-99
held that no lawful order can be passed against the assessee either under section 201(1) or 201(1A) of the Act. Hence, it was held that that the order passed in the case of the assessee was invalid.

Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. vs. Dy. CIT (2009) 313 ITR (AT) 263 (Mum)

89. Unexplained investment – S. 69

Assessing Officer reopened the assessment of A.Y. 1997-98 on the basis of finding that the assessee had not paid tax on the income declared under VDIS, 97 and made the addition of income declared year-wise under VDIS as unexplained investment. It was held that the addition was not justified as the alleged investments were not made in the immediate preceding financial year to the assessment year under consideration.

Shanker R. Mhatre vs. ACIT (2009) 117 ITD 241 (Mumbai)