SUKHMANI AUTOMOBILES,INDORE vs. ITO-TDS-I, INDORE

From perusal of the grounds we find that only one issue needs to be adjudicated as to whether the Revenue authorities were justified in levying the late fees u/s 234E of the Act while processing the statement of tax deducted at source u/s 200A of the Actbefore the amendmentwas brought in w.e.f. 01.06.2015 in the provisions of section 200A of the Act.

Brief facts common in all these appeals are that the appellant was required to file the statement of tax deducted at source for the respective quarter but failed to do so within the due date prescribed in the law for filing such quarterly TDS returns. As per the provisions of section 2 ITANos.412 of 2019 and others Sukhmani Auto mobiles & Dr. Arunesh Kumar 234E of the Act, fee for default in furnishing the statement is leviable if the statement of TDS are not delivered within the time prescribed in sub-section (3) of section 200 or the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 206C of the Act.

The revenue authorities have levied the late fees for default in furnishing the statement in the processing of statement of tax deducted at source prepared u/s 200A of the Act. Against the levy of late fee u/s 234E in the statement processed u/s 200A of the Act,appeal was preferred by the assessee(s) for respective quarters for the respective assessment years before Ld. CIT(A) pleading that before the amendment was brought in by the Finance Act, 2015 w.e.f. 01.06.2015,the revenue authorities were not having the power to levy the late fees u/s 234E of the Act in the statement processed u/s 200A of the Act.

Ld. Counsels further submitted that in the above referred decisions of the Tribunal, Judgments of Hon'ble High Court of Karnataka in the case of FatehrajSinghvi vs. UOI (2016) 73 Taxmann.com 252 (Karn) (HC)favouring the ITANos.412 of 2019 and others Sukhmani Auto mobiles & Dr. Arunesh Kumar assessee and the judgment of Hon'ble High Court of Gujarat in the case of Rajesh Kaurani vs. UOI (2017) 83 Taxmann.com 137 (Guj) held against the assessee were duly considered and thereafter following the judgment of Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of CIT vs. Vatika Township Pvt. Ltd. (2014) 367 ITR 466(SC) and the judgment of Apex Court in the case of CIT vs. Vegetable Products ltd. (1973) 88 ITR 192(SC) Hon'ble Tribunal took a view that if there is a cleavage of opinion between different Courts on an issue the one in favour of the assessee needs to be followed. Accordingly, in the above referred decisions of the Tribunal the view favouring the assessee taken by the Hon'ble High Court of Karnataka in the case of FatehrajSinghvi(supra) has been followed holding that amendment brought in w.e.f. 01.06.2015 in section 200A of the Act is prospective in nature, therefore, no computation for fee for demand or intimation u/s 234E of the Act could have been made for TDS deducted in respective of statements prepared/procured prior to 01.06.2015and processed u/s 200A of the Act.

We have heard the rival contentions and perused the record placed before us and carefully gone through various judgments referred and relied by the Ld. Counsels for above captioned assessees. The common issue raised in all these bunches of appeals is that whether the ld. CIT(A) was justified in confirming the levy of late fee u/s 234E of the Act in the statement of tax deducted at source processed u/s 200A of the Act,even when the amendment brought in the Finance Act 2015 w.e.f. 01.06.2015 paved the way for 6 ITANos.412 of 2019 and others Sukhmani Auto mobiles & Dr. Arunesh Kumar levying the fee u/s 234E of the Act in the statement processed u/s 200A of the Act.

From perusal of the above issue we find that the same has been adjudicated by us in the case of State Bank of India, GendaChowk and others dated 13.11.2018(supra)and M/s. Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Ltd. & others in & others, order dated 20.12.2018(supra),Bhupesh Kumar J. Sanghvi& others in ITANo.15/Ind/2018 & others, order dated 22.01.2019(supra) and Indore School of Social Work & others in ITANo.117 of 2019 and others, order dated 20.02.2020after examining similar facts as well as various judicial pronouncements. The revenue authorities failed to controvert the contention of Ld. counsels for the assessees that the common issue raised in all these bunch of 4 appeals aresquarely covered in favour of assesseesby the decisions in the case of State Bank of India, GendaChowk and others dated 13.11.2018(supra) and M/s. Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Ltd. & others in ITA Nos.740/Ind/2017 & others, order dated 20.12.2018(supra), Bhupesh Kumar J. Sanghvi& others in ITANo.15/Ind/2018 & others, order dated ITANos.412 of 2019 and others Sukhmani Auto mobiles & Dr. Arunesh Kumar 22.01.2019(supra)and Indore School of Social Work & others in ITANo.117 of 2019 and others, order dated 20.02.2020 authored by us. Relevant portion of the decision given by us in the case of State Bank of India, GendaChowk and others dated 13.11.2018 (supra) reads as follows: 9. We have heard the rival contentions and perused the record placed before us. The common issue raised in all these bunches of appeals is that whether the ld. CIT(A) was justified in confirming the levy of late fee u/s 234E of the Act in the statement of tax deducted at source processed u/s 200A of the Act, even when the amendment brought in the Finance Act 2015 w.e.f. 01.06.2015 paved the way for levying the fee u/s 234E of the Act in the statement processed u/s 200A of the Act. 10. We find that the above issue has consistently being adjudicated by the Coordinate Bench of the Tribunal and consistent view has been taken that the amendment brought in the Finance Act 2015 w.e.f. 01.06.2015 in clause (c),(d) & (e) of sub-section (1) of section 200A of the Act are prospective in nature, therefore, fee u/s 234E cannot be levied in the statement processed u/s 200A up to 31.05.2015. 11. Coordinate Agra Bench in the case of SudarshanGoyal (supra) adjudicating very same issue observed as follows: “The issue involved in this appeal is as to whether late filing fee u/s 234E of the IT Act has rightly been charged in the intimation dated 10.11.2013 issued u/s 200A of the Act while processing the TDS returns/statement, the enabling clause (c) having been inserted in the section w.e.f. 01.06.2015. Before 01.06.2015, there was no enabling provision in the Act u/s 200A for raising demand in respect of levy of fee u/s 234E. As such, as per the assessee, in respect of TDS statement filed for a period prior to 01.06.2015, no late fee could be levied in the intimation issued u/s 200A of the Act.

Similarly Coordinate Jaipur Bench in the case of M/s. Mentor India Ltd. (supra) took the same view favouring the assessee observing as follows:

We have heard the rival contentions of both the parties, perused the material available on the record and also gone through the orders of the authorities below. Recently the Coordinate Bench of Jaipur ITAT in the case of M/s. SandeepJhanwar Advisory Services Pvt. Ltd. Vs. The TDS CPC, Gaziabad in & 723/JP/2016 for the A.Y. 2013-14 / Q-3 & 4 has allowed the appeal of the assessee by observing as under:- "3.5. We have heard rival contentions, perused the material available on record and gone through the orders of the authorities below. We have also gone through the case laws relied upon by the ld. Counsel. We find merit into the contention of ld. Counsel that he jurisdictional High Court has decided the validity of section 234E, but has not decide the issue of power of AO for levy of tax under section 234E in the judgment rendered in the case of M/s. DundlodShikshanSansthan and Others (supra) as relied by ld. CIT (A). We have considered the recent decision of Hon'ble Karnataka High Court in the case of ShriFatherajSinghvi&Ors (supra) wherein the issue of levy of fees u/s 234E on statements processed u/s 200A before 01.06.2015 has been categorically discussed by the Hon'ble High Court and in para 24 of the said order it was held that "no demand for fee u/s 234E can be made in intimation issued for TDS deducted u/s 200A before Geeta Star Hotels & Resorts Pvt. Ltd. Vs. DCIT 01.06.2015". We have also gone through the judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of CIT vs. Vatika Township Pvt. Ltd. (supra) wherein the Hon'ble Apex Court has discussed in detail the general principle of concerning retrospectively and held that unless contrary intention appears, a legislation is presumed not to have a retrospective operation. Respectfully following the above judgments of Hon'ble Supreme Court and Hon'ble Karnataka High Court, we set aside the order of ld. CIT (A) and direct the AO to drop the demand raised of Rs. 11 ITANos.412 of 2019 and others Sukhmani Auto mobiles & Dr. Arunesh Kumar 4,200/- u/s 234E on statements processed u/s 200A before 01.06.2015. Thus grounds raised by the assessee are allowed." The Hon'ble Jurisdictional High Court in the case of DundlodShikshanSansthanVs. Union of India (supra) has decided the issue of vires of Section 234E of the Act. The Hon'ble Karnataka High Court in the case of FatherajSinghvi&ors. Vs Union of India &Ors. (supra) has held that the demand U/s 200A for computation and intimation for the payment of fee U/s 234E could not be made in purported exercise of power U/s 200A for the period of the respective assessment years prior to 1st June, 2015. When the intimation of the demand notices U/s 200A is held to be without authority of law so far as it relates to computation and demand of fee U/s 234E, the question of further scrutiny for testing the constitutional validity of Section 234E would be rendered as an academic exercise. We find that the Hon'ble Jurisdictional High Court in the case of DundlodShikshan Geeta Star Hotels & Resorts Pvt. Ltd. Vs. DCIT Sansthan Vs. Union of India (supra) has also considered the decision of the Hon'ble Bombay High Court in the case of RashmikantKundalia Vs. Union of India (2015) 229 Taxman 596 wherein the Hon'ble High Court has decided the nature of demand. The Hon'ble High Court has held that Section 234E of the Act is not punitive in nature but a fee which is a fixed charge for the extra service which the department has to prove due to the late filing of the TDS statements. Hence from both the decisions relied upon by the ld. DR, the issue of power of imposing late fee is not decided but the Hon'ble Karnataka High Court in the case of FatherajSinghvi&ors. Vs. Union of India &Ors. (supra) has decided the issue in favour of the assessee and held that the late fee U/s 234E of the Act has raised vide impugned demand notice U/s 200A of the Act. We find force in the contention of the ld. AR of the assessee. If there is conflicting views taken by the two Hon'ble Courts, then the view, which favours the assessee should be adopted. In this regard, the ld AR of the assessee has relied on the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of CIT Vs. Vatika Township P. Ltd. (2014) 367 ITR 466 (SC). In view of the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of CIT Vs. Vatika Township (supra), the demand so raised are directed to be deleted. 12 ITANos.412 of 2019 and others Sukhmani Auto mobiles & Dr. Arunesh Kumar Similarly identical findings have also been given in all the appeals of other assessment years."

It is seen that prior 01.06.2015, there was no enabling provision in the Act u/s 200A for raising demand in respect of levy of fee u/s 234E of the Act. The provision of Section 234E of the Act is charging provision i.e. substantive provision which could not be applied retrospectively, unless it is expressly provided in the Act, to levy the late fee for any delay in filing the TDS statement for the period prior to 01.06.2015. The counsel for the assessee has rightly contended that in the absence of enabling provisions u/s 200A of the Act, such levy of late fee is not valid relying on Group of SBI and Ors. The decisions in the cases of 'CIT vs. Vatika Township Pvt. Ltd. (2014) 367 ITR 466 (SC), 'SudarshanGoyalvs DCIT (TDS)' and FatehrajSinghviVs. UOI (2016) 289 CTR 0602 (Karn) (HC). The decisions relied on by the Ld. DR are distinguishable on facts, as the issue involved in those cases pertains to interest u/s 201(1) and 201(1A) on the amount of TDS whereas in the present cases the issue were pertains to liability of late fee u/s 234E of the Act for delay in filing TDS statement which was inserted from 01.06.2015.

In 'ShriFatehrajSinghvi and Others' (supra) it has been held, inter alia, as follows: "22. It is hardly required to be stated that, as per the well established principles of interpretation of statute, unless it is expressly provided or impliedly demonstrated, any provision of statute is to be read as having prospective effect and not ITANos.412 of 2019 and others Sukhmani Auto mobiles & Dr. Arunesh Kumar retrospective effect. Under the circumstances, we find that substitution made by clause (c) to (f) of sub-section (1) of Section 200A can be read as having prospective effect and not having retroactive character or effect. Resultantly, the demand under Section 200A for computation and intimation for the payment of fee under Section 234E could not be made in purported exercise of power under Section 200A by the respondent for the period of the respective assessment year prior to 1.6.2015. However, we make it clear that, if any deductor has already paid the fee after intimation received under Section 200A, the aforesaid view will not permit the Group of SBI and Ors. Deductor to reopen the said question unless he has made payment under protest."

In view of the above, respectfully following 'ShriFatehrajSinghvi and Others' (supra), 'Sibia Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. vs. DCIT (TDS)', order dated 09.06.2015 passed in for A.Y.2013-14, by the Amritsar Bench of the Tribunal, and 'ShriKaur Chand Jain vs. DCIT, CPC (TDS) Ghaziabad', order dated 15.09.2016, in ITA No.378/ASR/2015, for A.Y. 2012-13, the grievance of the assessee is accepted as justified. The order under appeal is reversed. The levy of the fee is cancelled."

We, therefore, respectfully following the above referred decision of the Coordinate Bench consistently holding that in the intimation prepared u/s 200A of the Act up to 31st May 2015, the late filing fee u/s 234E of Act cannot be charged while processing the TDS return/statement because enabling clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 200A have been inserted w.e.f. 01.06.2015 and before this amendment w.e.f 01.06.2015 there was no enabling provision in the Act u/s 200A of the Act for raising demand in respect of levy of fees u/s 234E of the Act.

In the result, all these appealsat the instance of assessee(s) are allowed.