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Friday, 9 October 2015

Loss u/s 10(38) not to be allowed as deduction. SC in Harprasad & Co. followed. Mumbai Tribunal in case of Raptokas Brett & Co. Ltd. Rendered on 10-06-2015 ITA 3317/2009 not considered -M/s. LGW Limited ITA No.267/Kol/2013 Date of Pronouncement : 07.10.2015.


ITAT, Hyderabad Bench in the case of ACIT vs S.Suvarna Rekha in ITA No.743/Hyd/2009 dated 29.10.2010 took the view that if difference between valuation for the purpose of stamp duty and the sale consideration actually received by the assessee is 10% or less then the value actually received by the assessee should be adopted for the purpose of computing the long term capital gain. Keeping in view of the decision of the Hon’ble ITAT, Hyderabad Bench referred to above and keeping in view of the fact that the difference between the valuation for the stamp duty and the actual consideration received by the assessee is less than 2% , addition u/s 50C is not sustainable [Para 30,31]-M/s. LGW Limited ITA No.267/Kol/2013 Date of Pronouncement : 07.10.2015.


Loss on Forward Contracts for hedging foreign exchange fluctuations is not speculative. Followed CIT Vs. Soorajmull Nagarmull (1981) 5 Taxman 289 (Cal), CIT Vs, Badridas Gauridu (P) Ltd., (2004) 134 Taxman 376 (Bom), CIT Vs. Friends and Friends Shipping Pvt.Ltd., Tax Appeal No.251 of 2010 dated 23.8.2011 and CIT Vs. Panchmahal Steel Ltd. Tax Appeal No.131 of 2013 dated 28.3.2013 by the Hon’ble Gujarat High Court-M/s. LGW Limited ITA No.267/Kol/2013 Date of Pronouncement : 07.10.2015.


Bill for professional fee for uploading tax return of financial year ending 31st March raised on 31st October is not prior period item [para 23]--M/s. LGW Limited ITA No.267/Kol/2013 Date of Pronouncement : 07.10.2015.


Share application money cannot be considered as investment which is likely to earn tax free dividend income. Hence, there can be no disallowance u/s 14A of the Act.[Para 7]-M/s. LGW Limited ITA No.267/Kol/2013 Date of Pronouncement : 07.10.2015.


Application for approval under Section 10(23C)(vi) of the Act could not be rejected only on the ground that it was not accompanied with an audit report. Report can be filed during approval process also.Support drawn from P&H High Court in Punjab Financial Corporation (2002) 254 ITR 6 and Circular No. 689 of 1994- All India Personality Enhancement & Cultural Centre for Scholars Aipeccs Society [2015] 62 taxmann.com 92 (Delhi)


Advance to person engaged in managing the educational institution for purchase of land shall not dis entitle the institution from exemption (Para 72,73) )- All India Personality Enhancement & Cultural Centre for Scholars Aipeccs Society [2015] 62 taxmann.com 92 (Delhi)


Section 11(5) is not applicable to educational institutions u/s 10(23C)(iiiab)/(iiiad) i.e. institutions having gross receipts lesser than one crore or being substantially financed by government need not invest in specified modes u/s 11(5)[Para 63 2nd Line] )- All India Personality Enhancement & Cultural Centre for Scholars Aipeccs Society [2015] 62 taxmann.com 92 (Delhi)


Income of trust/educational institution even if not entitled to exemption can not be treated as undisclosed to the extent it is recorded in books of accounts.(Para 49) )- All India Personality Enhancement & Cultural Centre for Scholars Aipeccs Society [2015] 62 taxmann.com 92 (Delhi)


Recall order of ITAT u/s 254(2) can not be challenged before High Court u/s 260A. It canot even be challenged along with main order u/s 254(1). The only remedy is writ petition under Article 226 (Para 32 to 36)- All India Personality Enhancement & Cultural Centre for Scholars Aipeccs Society [2015] 62 taxmann.com 92 (Delhi)


Where deposits are made in saving account of the assessee and assessee pleads that they represent sale proceeds of the business without producing sale and purchase bills of the business, the matter held to require investigation by AO -Bir Parkash Malhotra [2015] 61 taxmann.com 99 (Chandigarh - Trib.)


AO assumed that all the patients who had undergone lab test had been operated upon. Held that AO has not brought any material on record to show whether actually any patient had undergone surgery without recording the same in the records Of the assessee. The addition has been made by the AO merely on assumption of certain facts without any basis.Books of accounts can not be rejected. Dr. Maheshinder Singh [2015] 61 taxmann.com 353 (Chandigarh - Trib.) JANUARY 30, 2015


Fee for technical service in DTAA between India-China covers provision of service while Pak-China treatise talks about 'provision of rendering of services. Hence DTAA between India-China gives more comprehensive coverage to fee for technical service and service might get covered even if it is not rendered. Hence Chinese subsidiary of Indian company getting service cost plus 10% from Indian company for specialized services of market research and information on new developments in China with regard to technology/product/process upgrade etc., held taxable at gross amount including reimbursement of actual service cost following Timken India Limited (AAR No.617 of 2003). [2015] 62 taxmann.com 96 (AAR - New Delhi)


Tax and computation sheet for demand raised by AO enabled to overcome difficulties faced in getting intimation u/s 143(1) at following link: e-filing portal>e-file>Click on 'Response to Outstanding Tax Demand'>Click on download button next to demand amount> Download the details in .pdf [09-10-2015]


Wednesday, 7 October 2015

Investments on which no dividend income is earned should be excluded for calculation of disallowance u/s 14A-Living Media India Ltd [2015] 61 taxmann.com 206 (Delhi - Trib.)

Battery of Cases u/s 14A relied upon by assessee:
Delhi High Court in the case of CIT v. Holcim India (P.) Ltd. [2015] 57 taxmann.com 28 and

Para 63 of Karanatka High Court in Manju Nath Cotton & Ginning factory 359 ITR 565 on Penalty followed by Banglore Tribunal in H.LakshmiNarayan [2015] 61 taxmann.com 373 (Bangalore - Trib.)

63. In the light of what is stated above, what emerges is as under :
(a)Penalty under section 271(1)(c) is a civil liability.
(b)Mens rea is not an essential element for imposing penalty for breach of civil obligations or liabilities.
(c)Willful concealment is not an essential ingredient for attracting civil liability.

Tuesday, 6 October 2015

When statements of witnesses are made basis of demand, not allowing assessee to cross-examine witnesses is a serious flaw which makes order nullity, as it amounts to violation of principles of natural justice - It is not for adjudicating authority or Tribunal to have guesswork as to for what purposes assessee wanted to cross-examine witnesses and what extraction assessee wanted from them- Andaman Timber Industries [2015] 62 taxmann.com 3 (SC) SUPREME COURT OF INDIA SEPTEMBER 2, 2015


Ancilary services such as loading/ unloading, packing/unpacking, transshipment, temporary storage services provided by goods transport agency in course of transportation of goods by road to be treated as part of composite service and shall enjoy abatement of 70% like principal service- Circular No. 186/5/2015 by CBEC dated 05-10-2015-


Assessee filed returns in response to notices under section 148 issued by ITO, Erode - While said returns were pending for disposal, assessee's file was transferred to jurisdiction of ITO, Madras, who issued second notice under section 148 - Whether, while reassessment proceedings were pending, impugned second notice was valid - Held, no-A.S.S.P. & Co. [1986] 27 Taxman 623 (Madras)


Tuesday, 29 September 2015

Once the Council of Ministers takes a policy decision, the implementing Vat Department cannot issue a notification contrary to the policy decision taken by the Government.

Held by Supreme Court in Lloyd Electric And Engineering Ltd. 2015] 61 taxmann.com 311 (SC) SEPTEMBER  3, 2015 where central sales exemption was extended by decision of the State Cabinet, the notification issued by vat department of the Himachal pradesh at a later point of time extending exemption from the date of issue of notification shall have effect from the date decided by State cabinet only. Excise and Taxation department can not take a different stand

Ignorance of law, it is trite, is no excuse in law and if that be so, ignorance of law cannot also be a reasonable cause as contemplated under Section 273B. This view has been taken by the Apex Court in Sitaram Ramcharan v. M.N. Nagrashana AIR 1960 SC 2601.


Failue of the assessee partner to deduct TDS on Interest on overdrawn balance with the firm is liable to penalty for failure to deduct tax.

S. 19A(3)(iv) exempts interest credited or paid by a firm to a partner of the firm but vice versa is not true . So the alleged belief of the partner that vice versa is true i.e partner is also not liable to deduct tax form the overdrawn balance was brushed aside by Kerala High Court in Thomas Muthoot [2015] 61 taxmann.com 76 (Kerala) JULY  3, 2015 . The plea of reasonable cause u/s 273B also held not applicable 

Friday, 25 September 2015

CBEC has issued a circular on 21-09-2015, directing field officers not to follow the CBEC circulars contrary to the judgement of supreme court. The Board has quoted Supreme Court Judgement in Rattan Meltings which says that circular only represent department's understanding of the law, while power to declare the law is vested with Supreme Court only under Article 141. Board has also urged to start the process of referring such circulars to Board so that they may be declared non est. The board may suo moto also take such action.


Vat department publishes list of documents Required for registration on its site and instructs the processing in 30 days. Refund and Inspection provisions also displayed on site


Non attendances of assessment proceedings due to CA busy in tax audits in the month of September held reasonable cause for non levy of penalty u/s 271(1)(b) by ITAT Mumbai in RAMESH KUMAR JAIN Separate 23, 2015 (2015) 45 CCH 0073


Compensation of Rs. 1.95 crores received by prospective employee for not joining the employment held not taxable. Also held not covered by Section 17(3)(iii) "profits in lieu of salary" which includes any amount due to or received, whether in lump sum or otherwise, by any assessee from any person before his joining any employment with that person or after cessation of his employment with that person. Further not held taxable as income from other sources- Pritam Dass Narang [2015] 61 taxmann.com 322 (Delhi) SEPTEMBER 16, 2015


1. Depreciation of business and administrative expense to be allowed for business suspended due to govt orders but not discontinued. 2. Interest income from margin money and bank guarantee deposits to be set off against expenses and not to be treated under Income from other sources- .MS. ASSOCIATES vs.ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAXSep 21, 2015(2015) 45 CCH 0069 DelTrib


Notice u/148 issued to address in PAN data base which is no longer occupied by assessee. Assessee not precluded from pleading that notice served to wrong address. Also even if assessee participates in reassessment proceedings , the Jurisdictional defect does not get cured.IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI 2. + ITA 665/2015 ATLANTA CAPITAL PVT. LTD.


Matters which are not covered by notified standards u/s 145(2) and are also not covered by provisions of income tax law can be interpreted as per non notified standards or guidance notes of ICAI although not mandatory in nature- Held by AP High Court in Pact Securities on 05-02-2015 ITA 252/2003. The Court allowed deduction of lease equalization charges as per Guidance Note issued by ICAI applicable before 01-04-2001


Refund of excess salary which was granted in earlier years is deductible because the assessee is under legal obligation to repay the amount. Ahmadabad Trib. lays down that salary “due” and not salary “accrued” or “arising” is sought to be taxed u/s 15. The legislature has intentionally used the words “due” and not “accrued”. -Vrajeshwari B. Parikh 15-09-2015 ITA 1512/2014


Salary and Interest to partner to be allowed as deduction while estimating the profits of the firm where books of accounts are rejected- Inter Continental Constructions[2015] 61 taxmann.com 15 (High Court of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana


Rectification order passed by Tribunal u/S 254(2) is not appealable before High Court- Saroop Tanneries Ltd ( P&H) 60 taxmann.cim 305 following Rani Paliwal 268 ITR 220 (P& H)


Section 40(a)(ia) 2nd Proviso Inserted by Finance Act wef AY 2013-14 abating TDS disallowance on production of CA certificate attesting payment of tax and filing of return by deductee which was held applicable with retrospective effect by Agra Bench in Rajiv Kumar Agarwal ITA PGB/2013 and confirmed by ITAT Delhi in Ansal Land Mark Township P Ltd also upheld by Delhi High court in ITA 161/2015 dated 26-08-2015. High Court praised ITAT for thorough analysis on the subject


TAT withdraws adverse remark against ICAI and its members in Vijay V. Meghani [2015] 61 taxmann.com 114 (Mumbai - Trib.) 04-09-2015

Para 9.6 of the order amended to substitute following remarks: However, if it is considered for a moment that the above said C.A. firm has really given such advice to the assessee herein and accordingly it has furnished the letter and affidavit, then it is a cause of concern to one and all. We have already noticed that the self study model coupled with "on-site articled clerk training" embedded in the Chartered Accountancy course aims to achieve high quality education and training .

CBDT Instructions no. 1916 dated 11-05-1994, requiring non seizure of jewellery to the extent of 500 gms for married lady, 250 gms for unmarried lady and 100 gms for male to be extended to assessment proceedings also and to be treated as explained income . The circular also explained by Hon'ble Ahmedabad I.T.A.T. in case of Kishorbhai V Sakaria, Rameshchandra R Patel 89 ITD 203 and Manila S Dave 117 Taxman 23- Ahemdabad Tribunal in RASIK GOPALDAS PATEL (2015) 45 CCH 0032 AhdTrib on 04-09-2015


Held by Calcutta High Court in Smt. Mina Deogun "We can imagine a situation where a person can be the owner of the land and another can be the owner of the structure. This is permissible in law because in joint ownership unity of title is not required. In the case before us the land admittedly belonged to the husband. He has raised the building with the joint funds belonging to himself and his wife. Therefore, one inference which can be drawn is that the land belonging to the husband has been thrown into the common stock of joint property between the husband and the wife. Both of them thus became the joint owners by operation of the doctrine of blending. They admittedly have borne the cost of construction in the ratio of 1/3rd and 2/3rd. Therefore, the income arising out of the property is in fact an income arising out of house property which has to be taxed under Section 22 rather than as an income arising out of other sources under Section 56. [2015] 60 taxmann.com 430 (Calcutta)


Due date extension from 31st Aug to 7th Sep is applicable to only those who were required to file return electronically. However as per Rule 12(3) Ind and HUF neither having income above 5 lacs nor having any refund claim and super senior citizens ( 80 yrs or above) can file return in paper form also. Hence there is no date extension for such categories of assesses


Chit fund satisfies the principle of mutuality and the transactions of the participators do not give rise to any taxable income or allowable loss - Soda Silicate vs CIT 179 ITR 588 - Kanga and Palkhiwala - 2014 edition - page 678 .


Sale of Shares held taxable under Short term capital gain and not profits and gains of business for following reasons: 1. No borrowings for purchase of Shares 2. Shares held for more than 30 days.( Shri Sugam Chand C. Shah Ahd Trib relied upon) 3. Had shares been held for business, stock would be been valued at cost or market price , whichever is less while in present case stock of Shares valued at cost only. 4. Shares reflected in Investment account. 5. Separate account maintained for F&O BHUPENDRA SHANTILAL SHAHITA No. 1496/Ahd/2011 (28-08-2015)(Ahd Trib)


Where land given for development, the capital gain shall arise in the year in which constructed flats handed over to land owner and not when Construction completed and accordingly exemption u/S 54/54F allowable in the year of taking flats.DR. S. VENKATESWARE PRASAD2015) 44 CCH 0563 HydTrib 28-08-2015


Only because an amounting is appearing in 26AS, it can not be taxed in the hands of assessee unless he is proved to be beneficiary of that amount- Rajinder Pratap Thareja (Jab.) ITA 137/2014 dtd 31-03-2015