THE PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER O vs. M/S.MINCORE RESOURCES P LTD
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court did not decide the substantial questions of law on merits. The Revenue's counsel brought to the court's notice CBDT Circular No. 17/2019 dated 08.08.2019, which stipulates that appeals shall not be filed or pursued before the High Court if the tax effect does not exceed Rs. 1,00,00,000/-. The counsel submitted that the tax effect in these appeals was less than this threshold limit. Consequently, the court dismissed the present appeals as withdrawn, stating that the substantial questions of law were kept open for determination in appropriate cases. No costs were awarded, and the connected miscellaneous petitions were closed.
What were the facts?
The Revenue (Principal Commissioner of Income Tax) filed three Tax Case Appeals (Nos. 548, 550, 553 of 2021) against the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal's (ITAT) common order dated 25.03.2019. These appeals concerned assessment years 2005-06, 2008-09, and 2006-07, relating to the assessee, M/s. Mincore Resources (P) Ltd. The appeals challenged the ITAT's decision regarding transfer pricing adjustments made by the Transfer Pricing Officer (TPO). The core dispute revolved around whether certain import data used as comparables for sulphur and iron ore met the criteria for applying the proviso to Section 92C(2) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which allows for a 5% variation.
What were the issues?
The Tribunal had to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. (T.C.A. No. 548 of 2021) Whether the ITAT erred in upholding the CIT(A)'s decision that variations were within 5% of the FMB report/data, despite the comparable Sulphur Import Data from Chennai Port Trust being a single price, not an average, to which the proviso to Section 92C(2) is inapplicable? 2. (T.C.A. No. 548 of 2021) Whether the ITAT erred in not appreciating that the comparable Iron Ore Import Data from Mangalore Port Trust was a single price, not a range, to which the proviso to Section 92C(2) is inapplicable? 3. (T.C.A. No. 548 of 2021) Whether the ITAT erred in not following the Delhi Tribunal's decision in ACIT vs. UE Trade Corporation (India) (P) Ltd, which held that the exception in the provisos to Section 92C(2) applies only when more than one price is determined? 4. (T.C.A. No. 550 of 2021) Whether the ITAT erred in not concluding on the issues raised in the grounds of appeal after discussing the facts? 5. (T.C.A. No. 553 of 2021) Whether the ITAT erred in holding that the variation between the assessee's transaction price and the comparable Sulphur Import price from Chennai Port was within (+)/(-)5%, contrary to the facts? Assessee's contentions were not recorded. The Revenue argued that the comparable data used by the TPO (Sulphur Import Data from Chennai Port Trust and Iron Ore Import Data from Mangalore Port Trust) represented single prices, not averages or ranges, and therefore, the proviso to Section 92C(2) was not applicable. They relied on the Delhi Tribunal's decision in ACIT vs. UE Trade Corporation (India) (P) Ltd.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Tax Case Appeal Nos.548, 550, 553 of 2021 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 17.12.2021 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R. MAHADEVAN AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ Tax Case Appeal Nos.548, 550 & 553 of 2021 and C.M.P. Nos. 19970 & 19972 of 2021 The Principal Commissioner of Income Tax Company Circle – IV (3) Chennai - 600 034. .. Appellant in all Cases Versus M/s. Mincore Resources (P) Ltd 5 Second Floor, Kushkumar Road Nungambakkam Chennai – 600 034 PAN: AAACM7737R ...Respondent in all Cases Tax Case Appeals filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the common order dated 25.03.2019 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras “D” Bench, in I.T.A.Nos. 987/CHNY/2011, 1454/CHNY/2013 & 2044/CHNY/2010. 1/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal Nos.548, 550, 553 of 2021 For Appellant : Mr.Rajesh Junior Standing Counsel (in all cases) for Mr. Karthik Ranganathan For Respondent : Mr. Nithyaesh Nataraj (in all cases) COMMON JUDGMENT (Judgment of the court was delivered by R. MAHADEVAN, J.) These tax case appeals have been filed by the appellant / Revenue, challenging the order dated 25.03.2019 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'D' Bench, Chennai, in I.T.A.Nos. 987/CHNY/2011, 1454/CHNY/2013 & 2044/CHNY/2010, relating to the respective assessment years 2005-06, 2008- 09 and 2006-07, by raising the following substantial questions of law: T.C.A.No.548 of 2021 “(i) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Hon'ble ITAT was right in upholding the decision of the Ld. CIT(A) in holding that the variations are within in the range of 5% of the value mentioned in the FMB report/data obtained without appreciating the fact that the Comparable Sulphur Import Data obtained from Chennai Port trust by the Transfer Pricing Officer is not an average price but a single price, to which the proviso to Section 92C(2) is not applicable? (ii) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Hon'ble ITAT was right in not appreciating 2/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal Nos.548, 550, 553 of 2021 the fact that the Comparable Iron Ore Import Data obtained from Manglore Port Trust is a Single Price and not a range of price to which the proviso to Section 92C(2) is not applicable? (iii) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Hon'ble ITAT was right in not following the decision of the Delhi Tribunal in the case of ACIT vs UE Trade Corporation (India) (P) Ltd [2011] 45 SOT 197 (Delhi) wherein it was held that exception provided in both the provisos to Section 92C(2) is applicable only when more than one price is determined? T.C.A.No.550 of 2021
“Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Hon'ble ITAT was right in not giving its conclusion on the issues raised in the grounds of appeal after discussing the facts of the case?” T.C.A.No.553 of 2021 “Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Hon'ble ITAT was right in holding that the variation between the price at which the assessee transacted and the Comparable Sulphur Import price obtained from Chennai Port is within (+)/(-)5% contrary to the facts available on record?” 2. When the matters were taken up for consideration, the learned counsel 3/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal Nos.548, 550, 553 of 2021 for the appellant / Revenue brought to the notice of this court the Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.08.2019 issued by the Central Board Direct Taxes, wherein, it is stipulated that appeals shall not be filed/pursued by the Department before the High Court in cases where the tax effect does not exceed Rs.1,00,00,000/- (Rupees One Crore). It is also submitted that the tax effect in these appeals is less than the threshold limit. 3. In the light of the aforesaid submissions made by the learned counsel for the appellant / Revenue, the present appeals, wherein, the tax effect is said to be less than the monetary limit imposed, are dismissed as withdrawn, keeping open the substantial questions of law for determination in appropriate cases. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. [R.M.D,J.] [M.S.Q, J.] 17.12.2021
Internet : Yes
Index : Yes / No dhk R. MAHADEVAN, J. AND MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ, J. 4/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal Nos.548, 550, 553 of 2021 dhk To 1. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai “D” Bench. 2. The Principal Commissioner of Income Tax Company Circle – IV (3) Chennai - 600 034. Tax Case Appeal Nos.548, 550 & 553 of 2021 17.12.2021 5/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
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