THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME vs. RANE MADRAS LTD

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TCA/458/2017HC 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. The dismissal was based on the Revenue's submission that the appeal was not being pursued due to a low tax effect, in line with CBDT Circular No. 17/2019, which increased the monetary limit for filing appeals before the High Court to Rs. 1 Crore. The Court noted that the tax effect in this case was below this threshold. Consequently, the substantial questions of law framed were left open. The Revenue was granted liberty 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, Commissioner of Income-tax, Chennai, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income-tax Act, 1961, against an order dated February 14, 2017, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai, 'C' Bench. The appeal pertains to assessment year 2010-11 and challenges the ITAT's decision concerning payments made by the assessee, M/s. Rane (Madras) Limited, to a non-resident. The dispute involves the applicability of Section 40(a)(i) of the Act and the nature of services rendered by TRW Automotive, USA, in light of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with the USA. The tax effect in this case was stated to be below the threshold limit for filing appeals.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal had to decide three substantial questions of law: 1. Whether Section 40(a)(i) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, applies to payments made by the assessee to a non-resident, rendering them not liable to tax. 2. Whether the Tribunal's finding is flawed, considering the Explanation to Section 9(2) of the Act, which retrospectively states that income is deemed to have accrued or arisen in India and is taxable even if the non-resident has no business connection or has not rendered services in India. 3. Whether the Tribunal's reasoning and finding that services rendered by TRW Automotive, USA, do not constitute 'fee for included services' under Article 12 of the DTAA with the USA, as they did not make available any technical knowledge, experience, skill, know-how, or process to the assessee, are proper. The Revenue contended that the Explanation to Section 9(2) makes income taxable. The assessee's arguments are not explicitly recorded, but the Tribunal's findings suggest they argued that the services did not meet the 'make available' criteria under the DTAA.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 40(a)(i),Section 9(2)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

T.C.A.No.458 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.458 of 2017 The Commissioner of Income-tax, Chennai. .. Appellant -vs- M/s.Rane (Madras) Limited, “Maithri”, No.132, Cathedral Road, Chennai-600 086. PAN: AACCR9772M .. Respondent Appeal under Section 260A of the Income-tax Act, 1961, against the order dated 14.02.2017, made in I.T.A.No.1493/Mds/2015 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'C' Bench, Chennai for the assessment year 2010-11. For Appellant : Mr.T.Ravikumar Senior Standing Counsel & : Ms.R.Hemalatha Senior Standing Counsel For Respondent : Mr.R.Venkatanarayana, for M/s.Subbaraya Aiyar, Padmanabhan & Ramamani 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 14.02.2017, made in 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.458 of 2017 I.T.A.No.1493/Mds/2015 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'C' Bench, Chennai for the assessment year 2010-11. 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 Section 40(a)(i) of the I.T.Act would not apply on the payments made by the Assessee to the non resident are not liable to be taxed? (ii) Is not the finding of the Tribunal bad, since as per Explanation to Section 9(2) introduced with retrospective effect from 01.06.1976 clearly holds that even if the non- resident has no business connection in India and has not rendered any service in India, still the income would be deemed to have accrued or arisen in India and therefore taxable? and (iii) Whether the reasoning and finding of the Tribunal is proper by holding that the services rendered by TRW Automotive, USA are not in the nature of “fee for included services” as they have not made available any technical knowledge, experience, skill, know how or process to the assessee as per Article 12 of the DTAA with USA?” 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.458 of 2017 3.Heard Mr.T.Ravikumar and Ms.R.Hemalatha, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant – and Mr.R.Venkatanarayana, learned counsel, for M/s.Subbaraya Aiyar, Padmanabhan & Ramamani, 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 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.458 of 2017 T.S.Sivagnanam, J. and V.Bhavani Subbaroyan, J. (abr) To 1.The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'C' Bench, Chennai. 2.M/s.Rane (Madras) Limited, “Maithri”, No.132, Cathedral Road, Chennai-600 086. T.C.A.No.458 of 2017 29.08.2019 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in

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