SOCTRONICS TECHNOLOGIES PRIVATE LIMITED ,HYDERABAD vs DY. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, CIRCLE-3(2), HYDERABAD

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Hyderabad ‘ B ‘ Bench, Hyderabad

Before: Shri S.S. Godara & Shri Inturi Rama Rao

For Appellant: Shri A.V. Raghuram – AR

For Respondent: Shri A. Venkata Rao – DR

Hearing: 21/09/2021Pronounced: 23/09/2021

This assessee’s appeal for AY.2017-18 arises from the CIT(A)-3, Hyderabad’s order dated 22.06.2020 passed in case No.10801/2019-20/A3/ CIT(A)-3, involving proceedings u/s. 143(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 [in short, ‘the Act’].

Coming to the sole substantive issue of ESI/PF disallowance of Rs.1,49,26,447/- made in both the lower proceedings, the assessee’s and Revenue’s plea before us are that the same had been paid before the due date of filing Sec.139(1) return and after the due date prescribed in the corresponding statutes; respectively. We notice in this factual backdrop that the Page 1 of 2 legislature has not only incorporated necessary amendment in Sections 36(1)(va) as well as u/s. 43B vide Finance Act, 2021 to this effect but also the CBDT has issued Memorandum of Explanation that the same applies w.e.f. 01-04-2021 only. It is further not an issue that the foregoing legislative amendments have proposed employers’ contribution/disallowance u/s.43B as against employee’s contribution u/s.36(va) of the Act; respectively. However, keeping in mind the fact that the same has been clarified to be applicable only with prospective effect from 01-04-2021 only, we hold that the impugned disallowance is not sustainable in view of all these latest developments. The impugned ESI/PF disallowance is deleted therefore.

This assessee’s appeal is allowed in above terms.

SOCTRONICS TECHNOLOGIES PRIVATE LIMITED ,HYDERABAD vs. DY. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, CIRCLE-3(2), HYDERABAD