PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF vs. M/S. I SOFT R & D LTD.,

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TCA/123/2017HC Madras26 February 2021Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice M.DURAISWAMY5 pages
AI SummaryWithdrawn

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court dismissed the appeal as withdrawn. The Revenue's counsel submitted that the appeal was not being pursued due to low tax effect, citing CBDT Circular No. 17/2019, which increased the monetary limit for appeals to the High Court to Rs. 1 crore. The tax effect in this case was stated to be below this threshold. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed as withdrawn on account of low tax effect. The substantial question of law framed by the Revenue was left open. Liberty was granted to the Revenue to seek restoration of the appeal if the tax effect was found to be above the threshold limit, to be heard and decided on merits. No costs were awarded.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, represented by the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax-2, Chennai, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai, dated July 20, 2016. The appeal pertained to the Assessment Year 2007-08 and concerned the assessee, M/s. i Soft R & D Ltd. The dispute revolved around the computation of deduction under Section 10A of the Act, specifically regarding the exclusion of telecommunication charges and expenses incurred in foreign currency from the total turnover. The Revenue's appeal was heard by the High Court of Judicature at Madras.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal had to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case, the ITAT was correct in holding that telecommunication charges and expenses incurred in foreign currency should be excluded from total turnover while computing the deduction under Section 10A of the Income Tax Act, when the section does not provide for such exclusion? 2. Whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case, the order of the Tribunal directing the exclusion of telecommunication charges and expenses incurred in foreign currency from the total turnover is perverse and against accounting principles, as these items, being expenses, are never part of turnover? The Revenue argued that Section 10A does not provide for the exclusion of telecommunication charges and foreign currency expenses from total turnover. The assessee contended that these expenses are not part of turnover and therefore should be excluded. The judgment does not explicitly state arguments for each side on the second question, but it is implicitly linked to the first question regarding the exclusion from turnover.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 10A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

T.C.A.No.123 of 2017 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATE: 26.02.2021 CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.DURAISWAMY AND THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE T.V.THAMILSELVI T.C.A.No.123 of 2017 Principal Commissioner of Income Tax-2, No.121, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai. ... Appellant Vs. M/s.i Soft R & D Ltd., No.19, Hafiz Court, Dr.MGR Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai – 600 034. ... Respondent Appeal preferred under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras, "A" Bench, dated 20.07.2016 in I.TA.No.661/Mds/2016 Assessment Year 2007-08. For Appellant : Mr.Karthick Ranganathan, Senior Standing Counsel For Respondent : Ms.Sriniranjani Srinivasan JUDGMENT Page 1/5 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.123 of 2017 (Judgment was delivered by M.DURAISWAMY, J.) We have heard Mr.Karthick Ranganathan, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant/Revenue and Ms.Sriniranjani Srinivasan, learned counsel for the respondent/assessee. 2.The appeal, filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short, the Act) is directed against the order dated 20.07.2016 made in I.TA.No.661/Mds/2016 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai, "A" Bench (for brevity, the Tribunal) for the Assessment Year 2007-08. 3.The appellant/Revenue has raised the following substantial questions of law in the grounds of appeal: “1)Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Hon'ble ITAT is correct in holding that telecommunication charges and expenses incurred in foreign currency to be excluded from total turnover while computing the deduction u/s 10A of the Income Tax Act, when the section does not provide for such Page 2/5 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.123 of 2017 exclusion? 2)Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case, the order of the Tribunal directing to exclude telecommunication charges and expenses incurred in foreign currency from the total turnover is perverse and against all accounting principles, when these items being expenses are never part of turn over?” 4.The learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant submits that the above appeal is not pursued by the Revenue on account of the Low Tax Effect in terms of Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.08.2019 issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes. By the said Circular, the monetary limit for filing or pursuing an appeal before the High Court has been increased to Rs.1 crore. It is further submitted that the tax effect in these cases are less than the threshold limit. 5.In the light of the said submissions, the above Tax Case Appeal is dismissed as withdrawn on account of the Low Tax Effect. The substantial question of law framed is left open. In the event the tax effect in this case is above the threshold limit fixed in the said Circular, Page 3/5 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.123 of 2017 liberty is granted to the Revenue to make a mention to this Court to restore the appeal to be heard and decided on merits. No costs.

Index : Yes/No [M.D., J.] [T.V.T.S., J.] Internet : Yes 26.02.2021 va

To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai, "A" Bench Page 4/5 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.123 of 2017 M.DURAISWAMY, J. and T.V.THAMILSELVI, J. va T.C.A.No.123 of 2017 26.02.2021 Page 5/5 http://www.judis.nic.in

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