M/S.M.ARUNACHALAM AND vs. THE JOINT/ASSISTANT

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TCA/229/2017HC Madras29 November 2021Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice R. MAHADEVAN6 pages
AI SummaryWithdrawn

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court noted that the assessee had availed the benefit of the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, a beneficial legislation for resolving disputed tax matters. The assessee's declarations under this Act were accepted, and Form 3 was issued by the Income Tax Department. In light of this development, the Court found it unnecessary to decide the substantial questions of law raised in the tax case appeal. The appeal was disposed of based on the submissions made by both parties, with a direction to the department to process the application under the Vivad Se Vishwas Act at the earliest and communicate the decision to the assessee. No costs were awarded. The specific findings on the disallowance under Section 40(a)(ia) and the assessment of sundry creditors were not adjudicated upon.

What were the facts?

The appellant, M/s M.Arunachalam and Company, filed a Tax Case Appeal before the High Court of Judicature at Madras, challenging an order dated 07.04.2016 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai 'A' Bench. The appeal pertained to assessment year 2010-11. The core dispute involved the disallowance of Rs.39,44,719/- for want of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) under Section 40(a)(ia) and the assessment of sundry creditors balances amounting to Rs.17,95,370/-. During the pendency of the appeal, the assessee filed Forms 1 and 2 under the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, which were accepted, and Form 3 was issued by the Income Tax Department.

What were the issues?

The High Court was to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the ITAT was correct in confirming the disallowance of Rs.39,44,719/- for want of TDS under Section 40(a)(ia) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, despite the applicability of the second proviso and actual payment in the relevant previous year. 2. Whether the ITAT correctly interpreted Section 40(a)(ia) given a cleavage of opinion and favorable decisions from co-ordinate benches. 3. Whether the ITAT's findings on the applicability of TDS provisions to payments leading to disallowance under Section 40(a)(ia) were recorded without examining the facts. 4. Whether the ITAT was correct in confirming the assessment of sundry creditors balances aggregating to Rs.17,95,370/- on the presumption of cessation of liability, despite such cessation and offer in subsequent assessment years. The assessee argued that they had availed the benefit of the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, with their declarations accepted and Form 3 issued. The Revenue conceded this submission. No specific arguments were recorded for either side on the merits of the substantial questions of law.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 40(a)(ia),Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Tax Case Appeal No.229 of 2017 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 29.11.2021 CORAM : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R.MAHADEVAN AND THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ Tax Case Appeal No.229 of 2017 M/s M.Arunachalam and Company, No.117/79, Lloyds Road, Royapettah, Chennai – 600 014. PAN: AAAFM6851F

.. Appellant Versus The Joint/Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax Business Range - VIII Chennai – 600 006 .. Respondent

Tax Case Appeal filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai "A" Bench, dated 07.04.2016 passed in I.T.A.No.1353/Mds/2015. For Appellant : Mr.R.Sridhar For Respondent : M/s.V.Pushpa

Junior Standing Counsel Page 1/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal No.229 of 2017

J U D G M E N T (Judgment was delivered by R.MAHADEVAN, J.) This tax case appeal has been filed by the appellant / assessee, challenging the order dated 07.04.2016 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'A' Bench, Chennai, in I.T.A.No.1353/Mds/2015, relating to the assessment year 2010-11, by raising the following substantial questions of law:- “ 1. Whether the Appellate Tribunal is correct in law in confirming the disallowance of Rs.39,44,719/- for want of TDS on the application of section 40(a)(ia) of the Act despite the applicability of the second proviso as well as in view of the fact of actual payment of such sum in the previous year relating to the Assessment year under consideration? 2. Whether the Appellate Tribunal is correct in law in interpreting the provisions of section 40(a)(ia) of the Act despite of cleavage of opinion as well as the availability of the decisions of the Co-ordinate Bench rendered in favour of the tax payer? 3. Whether the Appellate Tribunal is correct in law in recording the findings on the applicability of the TDS provisions to the payments made which were subjected to the Page 2/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal No.229 of 2017 disallowance under section 40(a)(ia) of the Act which findings were recorded without the examination of the facts? 4. Whether the Appellate Tribunal is correct in confirming the assessment of sundry creditors balances aggregating to Rs.17,95,370/- on the presumption of cessation of liability despite the fact of such cessation as well as offer of such sum in the subsequent Assessment Years? " 2.When the matter was taken up for consideration, the learned counsel appearing for the appellant / assessee submitted that during the pendency of this tax case appeal, the assessee has filed the requisite Forms 1 and 2 under Section 4 of the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, which were accepted and Form 3 was issued to the assessee on 21.04.2021 by the Income Tax Department. The learned counsel has also filed a memo to that effect. 3.The aforesaid submission made by the learned counsel for the appellant / assessee has also been fairly conceded by the learned senior standing counsel appearing for the respondent / Revenue. Page 3/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal No.229 of 2017 4.This court heard the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side, as per which, the assessee has already availed the benefit conferred under the beneficial legislation viz., the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, enacted for resolution of disputed tax and for matter connected therewith or incidental thereto, which came into force with effect from 17.03.2020; and the declarations submitted by the assessee were also accepted and Form 3 was also issued to them by the Income Tax Department. In view of such development, it is unnecessary for this court to decide the substantial questions of law arisen in this tax case appeal.

5.Therefore, recording the submissions so made by the learned counsel on either side, this appeal stands disposed of, directing the department to process the application at the earliest in accordance with the Act and communicate the decision to the assessee at the earliest. No costs. (R.M.D., J.) (M.S.Q., J.) 29.11.2021

Internet : Yes

Page 4/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal No.229 of 2017 Index : Yes / No To 1. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai "A" Bench. 2. The Joint/Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Business Range VIII, Chennai – 600 006.

Page 5/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal No.229 of 2017 R.MAHADEVAN, J. and MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ, J. av Tax Case Appeal No.229 of 2017

29.11.2021 Page 6/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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