LIONBRIDGE TECHNOLOGIES P. LTD,NAVI MUMBAI vs. ASST CIT 15(2)(1), MUMBAI

The brief facts for the appeal number 1291/M/2017 for assessment year 2012 – 13 shows that it was originally filed by the assessee against the order dated 24/1/2017 passed by the assistant Commissioner of income tax – 15 (2) (1) Mumbai (the learned AO) in pursuance of the direction of the dispute resolution panel (DRP – 1, Mumbai (the learned DRP). During the course of hearing, the assessee challenged the comparable cybermate Infotek limited having operating margin of 56.97% is to be excluded from the comparability study of the arm's-length price of the international transaction. However, the argument of the assessee was rejected with respect to the exclusion of the above comparable as per paragraph number six of the order of the ITAT in ITA number 1291/M/2017 dated 7/11/2017. Subsequently assessee filed

Before us also the assessee argued that if once CIL is excluded entire transfer pricing addition is deleted and all other TP issues becomes academic.

For exclusion of CIL, the argument of the assessee is that it is engaged in the product Development, segmental details between product development and software services are not available therefore in absence of segmental data it is not a good comparable, the honourable Bombay High Court in two different decisions as well as the ITAT in assessee's own case has categorically held that company involved in product development cannot be adopted as a comparable company. The assessee also relied upon the decision of ITAT in four different assessees which were engaged in the provision of software development services where it was held that the above comparable company i.e. CIL is not a good comparable. To show that the comparable is engaged in product development, reference was made to page number 211, 215, 231 and 238 of the paper book. With respect to the segmental analysis not available in case of this comparable, reference was made to paper book page number 243. The assessee also referred to the decision of the coordinate bench in case of the assessee itself for assessment year 2009 – 10 and 2010 – 11 in 64 taxmann.com 461 dated November 18/2015 wherein in paragraph number 25 the coordinate bench has held that that the learned transfer pricing officer has not recorded any finding that assessee is a product manufacturing Co but it was found that assessee is in the business of calling

To examine the functional profile of the assessee, attention was drawn to page number 27 of the paper book wherein it was shown that an international transaction of ₹ 908,141,789/– is with respect to receipt of fees towards low- end, routine, software development and localization services rendered by assessee to its group companies. For the function, attention was drawn to contract localization service agreement dated first day of April 2010 and it was shown that services means service are subcontracted software services related to a particular project. It was also shown that project means a particular assignment of statement of work for software services between a customer of financial entrepreneur and the entrepreneur. Thus, it was stated that assessee is engaged in software services and not in software development.

Coming to the comparability of CIL, the annual accounts placed at page number 203 onwards was referred wherein in the directors' report it is mentioned that this company is engaged in the business of providing custom- built software development, product development and IT services to customers in domestic and overseas locations. Attention was also drawn to the annexure to the director's report wherein the comparable company was carrying on continuous efforts in strengthening its research exposure in application and system development areas. Referring to the segmental reporting at page number 243 where it was stated that the entire operation of the comparable company relates only to one segment of computer segment. Thus, it was stated that it does not have the segmental information available. Reference was also made to balance sheet abstract and company's general business profile wherein generic name of the principal product or service of the company was stated to be computer software.

It was also submitted that CIL was rejected as a comparable for assessment year 2012 – 13 in case of several other companies one of them is 91 taxmann.com 356 in paragraph number 10 wherein it has been held that CIL was engaged in providing both software development services and was a product company and in the absence of segmental details it cannot be compared as both the above segments were clubbed together under the head software segment. It was also held that that company is engaged in providing software development services as well as developing variety of software products in the field of hospital management, software Heal Soft and 38 other products. It was held that where the segmental details were not available of the concern, which was engaged in multiple activities i.e. in providing software development services as well as being a product company then margins of the said comparable company cannot be applied to benchmark the international transactions of the concern, which was engaged in providing software development services. Accordingly, it was submitted that Cybermate Infotek limited deserves to be excluded.

The learned departmental representative vehemently supported the order of the learned transfer-pricing officer. It was submitted that assessee himself has accepted the above comparable company and therefore now it cannot argue that it should be excluded and functionally not comparable.

We have carefully considered the rival contention and perused the orders of the lower authorities. As such the order under section 92CA (3) of the act passed on 21/1/2016 shows that transfer pricing methodology adopted by the assessee clearly shows in comparability analysis that at serial number 3 the assessee has included Cybermate Infotech limited as a good comparable. This is evident at paragraph number 5.2 of the order. When the assessee was asked to give the updated margins of the comparable companies using the single year data, once again the assessee included the above company as comparable this is evident as per paragraph number 5.2.2 of the order where

In the result, appeal of the assessee is allowed.

Now we come to the appeal of the assessee for assessment year 2013 – 14 in ITA number 7304/M/2017, which was originally decided on 21 May 2018 partly allowing the appeal of the assessee. Thereafter assessee preferred a miscellaneous application in MA number 704/M 2018 which was decided on 27/05/2019 recalling the order originally passed with respect to adjudication on inclusion in comparability analysis of Acropetal technologies Ltd and aspire Systems India private limited. Relevant paragraph recalling the above order to that extent is placed at paragraph number 4 and 6 of the order of the coordinate bench dated 27/05/2019. Accordingly, now the issue is to be decided whether Acropetal Technologies Limited and aspire Systems India private limited is a good comparable or not.

The learned authorized representative submitted that with respect to Acropatel technologies Ltd submitted the ITAT by its order dated 21 May 2018 accepted e appellant's argument and followed the ITAT order for assessment year 2008- 2009. However, instead of directing ld TPO to consider the margin of IT segment, ITAT directed that the margin of ITes segment be considered. This was the mistake pointed out before the coordinate bench and it was accepted and therefore if the margin of information technology services segment is adopted, there is no grievance. It was further stated that the correct margin of the IT segment be adopted by the learned transfer pricing officer. According to the assessee, correct margin of this comparable for that particular segment is 0.81%.

The learned departmental representative did not have any objection to this aspect subject to verification of the margin.

Accordingly, we direct the learned transfer-pricing officer to consider the margin of this comparable company of IT segment. The margin as stated by the assessee at 0.81% may be verified.

The argument of the learned authorized representative is that this comparable company should be rejected for the reason that it is engaged in IT consulting and outsourced product development, which has over 20 years of experience in developing software products. The learned authorized representative also referred to various products of that company. Further, in the annual report it has made addition to its intangible assets, which were developed internally to show that it is developing products also. It was further contended that segmental details between product development and software services are not available. Further, the coordinate bench for the same year has already rejected companies, which are into outsourced product development. The assessee referred to the appellate order in case of aspire systems India private limited for assessment year 2009 – 10 dated 25/2/2015 wherein in paragraph number 2 it is stated that assessee is in the business of providing outsourced Product services. The website extract of expired products was also demonstrated which itself shows that it is a software product development company.

The learned departmental representative vehemently supported the orders of the learned transfer pricing officer and learned dispute resolution panel

We have carefully considered the rival contention and perused the orders of the lower authorities. Assessee argued before the learned transfer-pricing officer that this company is functionally not comparable because it is providing services including outsourced product development, software testing and infrastructure application support and Oracle services. It also contended that the operation of the software segment and the nature of IT consulting services and outsource software development. The learned transfer-pricing officer rejected the same for the reason that companies engaged in providing software development and outsourced solution is comparable functionally. Before the dispute resolution panel the assessee challenged the above comparable that the segment, which is compared with

Thus, the issues recalled are decided in favour of the assessee and appeals of the assessee are allowed.