NORTECH POWER PROJECTS (P) LTD,KOLKATA vs. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, CIRCLE-4, GUWAHATI

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ITA 63/GTY/2020Status: DisposedITAT Guwahati31 May 2023AY 2012-133 pages
AI SummaryPartly Allowed

What did the Tribunal hold?

The Tribunal found conflicting findings regarding exempt income and restored the issue to the AO to ascertain if any exempt income was earned. If none was earned, no disallowance under Section 14A should be made.

What were the facts?

The assessee claimed no exempt income, but the AO disallowed expenses under Section 14A. The CIT(A) confirmed the disallowance, wrongly believing the assessee had earned exempt income disguised as other income.

What were the issues?

Whether disallowance under Section 14A is permissible when no exempt income is earned by the assessee. Whether the assessee is entitled to full credit for TDS deducted.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 14A

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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “DB” BENCH: GAUHATI

Before: Shri Rajesh Kumar & Shri Sonjoy Sarma]

This is the appeal preferred by the assessee against the order of the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)- Guwahati-2, Guwahati [hereinafter referred to as ‘Ld. CIT(A)’] dated 12.12.2019 for the assessment year 2012-13.

2.

Issue raised in ground no. 1 is against the order of Ld. CIT(A) confirming the disallowance of Rs. 14,11,692/- as made by the AO by invoking the provisions of Section 14A of the Act.

2 AY: 2012-13 Nortech Power Projects (P) Ltd. 3. Facts in brief are that during the year the assessee had not earned any exempt income and finding to this effect has been recorded by the AO in para 3 of the assessment order but despite that the AO invoked the provisions of Section 14A of the Act thereby making a disallowance of Rs. 14,11,692/- comprising of Rs. 9,61,667/- under Rule 8D2(ii) and Rs. 4,50,025/- under Rule 8D(2)(ii).

4.

The Ld. CIT(A) upheld the addition upon wrongly appreciation of facts that the assessee has earned dividend income of Rs. 64,98,835/- which has been camouflaged under the head income from loans and hire charges and thus dismissed the appeal of the assesse.

5.

After hearing the rival contentions and perusing the material on record, we find that both the authorities below have given a conflicting finding as to earning of exempt income. The AO has observed that there is no exempt income during the year which has been strongly supported by the A.R during the course of hearing whereas the Ld. CIT(A) has observed that the assessee has earned exempt income of Rs. 64,98,835/- which was strongly objected by Ld. D.R by submitting that this has been wrongly appreciated by the AO whereas the finding of the ld CIT(A) is correct. It is undisputed and settled position of law that once if no exempt income during the year then no disallowance is called. However in view of the conflicting findings we restore the issue back to the file of AO with the direction to ascertain the exempt of income of assesse and if the assessee has not earned any exempt income during the year no disallowance is to be made. The AO is directed to decide the issue in terms of aforesaid observations of the Bench. The ground is allowed for statistical purpose.

6.

Issue raised in ground no. 2 is against the non-allowance of credit of TDS amounting to Rs. 7,08,549/-.

7.

After hearing the rival contentions and perusing the material on record, we find that the total TDS deducted as per the assessee during the year was Rs. 46,15,261/- whereas the TDS appearing in Form 26AS was Rs. 43,06,711/-. We note that the AO has allowed credit of Rs. 39,06,712/-. Thus credit was short granted to Rs. 7,08,549/-. Now it was brought to our notice that the total credit appearing in Form 26AS is Rs.

3 AY: 2012-13 Nortech Power Projects (P) Ltd. 46,15,261/-. The Ld. A.R submitted before us that the AO may be directed to allow the claim of TDS on the basis of TDS certificate which may be filed by the assessee before the AO pursuant to direction of Tribunal and credit may be allowed in terms of the decision of Hon’ble Delhi High Court in the case of Court of its Own Motion vs. CIT [2013] 352 ITR 273 (Delhi). Accordingly we direct the AO to decide the issue and allow the credit to the assessee of TDS of Rs. 7,08,549/- after following the decision in the Hon’ble Delhi High Court in the case of Court of its own motion (supra). The ground is allowed for statistical purposes.

8.

In the result, appeal of the assessee is allowed for statistical purpose.

Order is pronounced in the open court on 31st May, 2023

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