COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX vs. M/S.THAMBI MODERN SPINNING

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TCA/384/2017HC Madras29 August 2019Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice T. S. SIVAGNANAM4 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Revenue on the grounds of low tax effect, citing CBDT Circular No. 17/2019. The Court noted that the tax effect in this case was below the revised monetary limit for filing or pursuing appeals before the High Court. Consequently, the substantial questions of law framed in the appeal were left open. The Court granted liberty to the Revenue to mention the case for restoration if the tax effect was found to be above the threshold limit, allowing for a decision on merits. No costs were imposed. The specific findings of the ITAT on the three issues raised were not adjudicated upon by the High Court.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax, Salem, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income-tax Act, 1961, against an order dated 30.12.2015 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai Bench. The appeal pertained to assessment year 2011-12 and concerned the assessee, M/s. Thambi Modern Spinning Mills. The appeal challenged the ITAT's findings on three substantial questions of law. However, during the hearing, the Revenue's counsel submitted that the appeal was not being pursued due to a 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.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal had to decide three substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the assessing authority had the power to adjust book profit computation under Section 115JB by relying on the Apex Court decision in Apollo Tyres Ltd., without first deciding whether the profit on sale of land should be credited to surplus reserve or profit and loss account as capital gains, as per the Companies Act and Accounting Standards. 2. Whether the profit on sale of land should be credited to surplus reserve or to the profit and loss account under the head capital gains, in accordance with the Companies Act and Accounting Standards. 3. Whether expenditure on converting factory premises into office premises was rightly treated as revenue expenditure. The Revenue argued that the Tribunal was incorrect in its findings on these issues. The Assessee's contentions are not recorded in the judgment. The Revenue relied on the Apex Court decision in Apollo Tyres Ltd. and provisions of the Companies Act, including Schedule VI, Part II and III, and Section 211, as well as Accounting Standards.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 115JB

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

T.C.A.No.384 of 2017 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 29.08.2019 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.S.SIVAGNANAM and THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal No.384 of 2017 Commissioner of Income Tax, Salem. .. Appellant -vs- M/s.Thambi Modern Spinning Mills, Omalur Road, Jagir Ammapalayam Post, Salem-636 302. PAN: AAACT 7676G .. Respondent Appeal under Section 260A of the Income-tax Act, 1961, against the order dated 30.12.2015, made in I.T.A.No.765/Mds/2015 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'B' Bench, Chennai for the assessment year 2011-12. For Appellant : Mr.M.Swaminathan, Senior Standing Counsel assisted by Ms.V.Pushpa Standing Counsel For Respondent : Mr.A.S.Sriraman For Mr.S.Sridhar JUDGMENT (Delivered by T.S.Sivagnanam, J.) This appeal filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income-tax Act, 1961 is directed against the order dated 30.12.2015, made in 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.384 of 2017 I.T.A.No.765/Mds/2015 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'B' Bench, Chennai for the assessment year 2011-12. 2.The appeal has been filed raising the following substantial questions of law:- “(i) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that the assessing authority has no powers to adjust the book profits computation u/s 115JB by relying on the apex court decision in the case of Appollo Tyres Ltd without deciding the main issue as to whether the profit on sale of land has to be credit to the surplus reserve or to the profit and loss accounts under the head capital gains as per the provisions of part II and III of SCH VI of the Companies Act r/w Section 211 of the Companies Act and the Accounting Standards? (ii) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the profit on sale of land has to be credited to the surplus reserve or to the profit and loss accounts under the head capital gains as per the provisions of part II and III of SCH VI of the Companies Act r/w Section 211 of the Companies Act and the Accounting Standards? and (iii) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that expenditure on conversion of factory into office premises as revenue expenditure?” 3.Heard Mr.M.Swaminathan, learned Senior Standing Counsel assisted 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.384 of 2017 by Ms.V.Pushpa, learned Standing Counsel for the appellant – and Mr.A.S.Sriraman, learned counsel for Mr.S.Sridhar, learned Counsel for the respondent. 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 this case is less than the threshold limit. 5.In the light of the said submissions, the above tax case appeal is dismissed on account of the low tax effect. The substantial questions of law framed are left open. In the event the tax effect is above the threshold limit fixed in the said circular, 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. (T.S.S., J.) (V.B.S., J.) 29.08.2019 abr T.S.Sivagnanam, J. and V.Bhavani Subbaroyan, J. 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.384 of 2017 (abr) To 1.M/s.Thambi Modern Spinning Mills, Omalur Road, Jagir Ammapalayam Post, Salem-636 302. 2.The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'B' Bench, Chennai. T.C.A.No.384 of 2017 29.08.2019 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in

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