THE COMMISSIONER OF vs. M/S. REDINGTON (INDIA) LTD.,
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court did not decide the substantial questions of law framed for consideration. This was due to the enactment of the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020. The learned counsel for the respondent/assessee submitted that the assessee had availed the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme and that the Department had issued Form-3 on 27.01.2021. Since Form-3 was issued to the assessee, the Court held that nothing further survived for adjudication in the appeals. Consequently, the Tax Case Appeals were disposed of. No costs were awarded. The specific findings on the trademark commission, trademark license fees, corporate guarantee, and Section 14A disallowance by the Tribunal were not reviewed or adjudicated upon by the High Court.
What were the facts?
The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai (Revenue) filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated 07.08.2015 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras "D" Bench, for the assessment year 2008-09. The appeal was admitted on substantial questions of law concerning trademark commission, trademark license fees, corporate guarantee as an international transaction, and disallowance under Section 14A. The High Court heard arguments from both the Revenue and the assessee, M/s. Redington (India) Ltd. However, the Court did not proceed to decide the substantial questions of law due to subsequent developments.
What were the issues?
1. Whether the Tribunal was correct in not appreciating that the associate enterprise's trademark name does not constitute its trademark, which is not identical to the assessee's, to justify guarantee commission payments to the associate enterprise, the registered trademark owner? (Question of law) 2. Whether the Tribunal's finding is flawed given the assessee has used the trademark since 1993, while the associate enterprise was formed in 2005, making payments for trademark license fees improper? (Question of mixed law and fact) 3. Whether the Tribunal was correct in deleting additions for corporate guarantee given by the assessee to its associate enterprise, deeming it not an international transaction, despite Section 92B of the Income Tax Act being amended by the Finance Act, 2012, to include 'guarantee' as an international transaction? (Question of law) 4. Whether the Tribunal was correct in setting aside the disallowance under Section 14A and remitting the matter to the Assessing Officer, especially when additions on the same issue were confirmed by the Tribunal in the previous year without any change in circumstances? Assessee's Contentions: The assessee submitted that it had availed the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme, 2020, and the Department had issued Form-3 on 27.01.2021. Revenue's Contentions: The Revenue argued the substantial questions of law as framed in the appeal.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Tax Case Appeal No.158 of 2016 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 25.03.2021 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE M. DURAISWAMY AND THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE T.V. THAMILSELVI Tax Case Appeal No.158 of 2016 The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai. ... Appellant Vs.
M/s.Redington (India) Ltd., SPL Guindy House, 95, Mount Road, Guindy, Chennai – 600 032.
... Respondent
Appeal filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras "D" Bench, dated 07.08.2015 passed in I.T.A.No.221/Mds/2013. For Appellant : Mr.T.Ravi Kumar, Senior Standing Counsel For Respondent : Mr.R.Venkatanarayanan Page 1/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ Tax Case Appeal No.158 of 2016 J U D G M E N T (Delivered by M.DURAISWAMY, J.) The appeal filed by the Department under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 ('the Act' for brevity), is directed against the order dated 07.08.2015 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras "D" Bench, ('the Tribunal' for brevity) in I.T.A.No.221/Mds/2013 for the assessment year 2008-09. 2.On 29.02.2016, the above appeal was admitted on the following Substantial Questions of Law: “1)Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in not appreciating the fact that the name of associate enterprise of the assessee does not constitute its trade mark, which is not identical to that of the assessee for justifying the payment made relating to guarantee commission by the assessee to its associate enterprise who is the registered owner of the trademark? 2)Is not the finding of the Tribunal bad especially when the assessee is using the trademark since 1993 whereas the associate enterprise was formed only in the year 2005 and therefore, payments made under the Trade Mark Licence fee are not proper? 3)Whether on the facts and circumstances of the Page 2/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ Tax Case Appeal No.158 of 2016 case, the Tribunal was right in deleting the additions made on account of corporate guarantee given by the assessee to its associate enterprise that it is not a international transaction especially when Section 92B of the Income Tax Act was amended by Finance Act, 2012 with effect from 01.04.2012 includes 'guarantee' as an international transaction? 4)Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in setting aside the disallowance made under Section 14A and remitting the matter back to the Assessing Officer especially when in the previous year on the same issue the additions were confirmed by the Tribunal and there was no change in the circumstances in the present year?” 3.We have heard Mr.T.Ravi Kumar, learned Senior Standing counsel for the appellant/Revenue and Mr.R.Venkatanarayanan, learned counsel for the respondent/assessee. 4. It may not be necessary for this Court to decide the Substantial Questions of Law framed for consideration on account of certain subsequent developments. The Government of India enacted the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020 (Act 3 of 2020) to provide for Page 3/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ Tax Case Appeal No.158 of 2016 resolution of disputed tax and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The Act of the Parliament received the assent of the President on 17th March 2020 and published in the Gazette of India on 17th March 2020. 5.The learned counsel for the respondent/assessee submitted that the respondent/assessee had availed Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme and that the Department had also issued Form – 3 on 27.01.2021. 6. Since the assessee has been issued with Form – 3, nothing survives for adjudication in the above appeals. Recording the submission made by the learned counsel for the respondent/assessee, the Tax Case Appeals stand disposed of. No costs.
Index : Yes/No [M.D., J.] [T.V.T.S., J.] Internet : Yes 25.03.2021 va
To 1. Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras "D" Bench M. DURAISWAMY, J. Page 4/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ Tax Case Appeal No.158 of 2016 and T.V. THAMILSELVI, J. va Tax Case Appeal No.158 of 2016
25.03.2021 Page 5/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
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