COMMISSIONR OF INCOME TAX vs. M/S CELEBRITY FASHION LTD
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Revenue on account of low tax effect, as per CBDT Circular No. 17/2019. The Court noted that the monetary limit for filing appeals before the High Court had been increased to Rs. 1 Crore, and the tax effect in this case was below that limit. Consequently, the substantial questions of law framed were left open. The Revenue was granted liberty to mention the case for restoration if the tax effect was found to be above the threshold limit in the future. No costs were awarded. The specific findings on the substantial questions of law were not adjudicated on merits.
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 27.08.2013 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'B' Bench. The appeal pertains to the assessment year 2009-10 and concerns the assessee, M/s. Celebrity Fashion Ltd. The High Court admitted the appeal on four substantial questions of law. However, during the hearing, the Revenue 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 the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Tribunal was correct in allowing the deduction of overseas selling commission expenses when the assessee failed to deduct tax at source under Section 195. 2. Whether the Tribunal correctly disregarded the effect of the Explanation to Section 9, inserted by the Finance Act, 2010, which deems income received by a non-resident for technical services to accrue in India, irrespective of the non-resident's establishment or the location of service rendering. 3. Whether the Tribunal was right in allowing the deduction of swap loss incurred by the assessee on speculative transactions as a business loss. 4. Whether the Tribunal erred in overlooking that forward contracts resulting in loss were settled without physical delivery, thus falling under Section 45(a). The Revenue argued that the deduction of overseas selling commission should not be allowed due to non-deduction of TDS. The Revenue also contended that the Explanation to Section 9 should be considered, and that swap losses on speculative transactions and forward contracts settled without delivery should not be treated as business losses. The judgment does not record specific arguments from the assessee on these points, but implies they were in favour of allowing the deductions.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
Section 260A,Section 195,Section 9,Section 45(a)
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
TCA.No.561 of 2015 In the High Court of Judicature at Madras Dated : 27.08.2019 Coram : The Honourable Mr.Justice T.S.SIVAGNANAM and The Honourable Mrs.Justice V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal No.561 of 2015 Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai. ...Appellant Vs M/s.Celebrity Fashion Ltd., SDF-IV, 3rd main road, MEPZ-SEZ, Tambaram, Chennai - 600 045. PAN:AAACC3696D ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 27.08.2013 made in ITA.No.1250/MDS/2013 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'B' Bench for the assessment year 2009-10. For Appellant : Mr.T.Ravikumar, SSC and Ms.R.Hemalatha, SSC For Respondent : Mr.A.S.Sriraman for Mr.S.Sridhar JUDGMENT (Judgment was delivered by T.S.Sivagnanam,J.) We have heard Mr.T.Ravikumar, learned Senior Standing Counsel, and Ms.R.Hemalatha, learned Senior Standing Counsel appearing for the 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.561 of 2015 appellant/revenue and Mr.A.S.Sriraman, learned counsel for Mr.S.Sridhar, learned counsel appearing for the respondent/assessee. 2.This appeal, filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is directed against the order dated 27.08.2013 made in ITA.No.1250/MDS/2013 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'B' Bench for the assessment year 2009-10. 3.The appeal was admitted on 23.07.2015 on the following substantial questions of law : “i) Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was right in allowing the deduction of expenses incurred by the assessee towards overseasselling commissin when the assessee had failed to deduct tax at source under Section 195 on the same? ii) Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was correct in not considering the effect of Explanation to Section 9 inserted by Finance Act, 2010 whereby income received by a non-resident for technical services is deemed to accrue in India irrespective of whether the non-resident has an establishment in the country and whether the non-resident had rendered the service outside India or India? iii) Whether in the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in allowing the deduction of swap loss incurred by the assessee on speculative transactions as a business loss? iv) Whether in the facts and circumstances of the case, 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.561 of 2015 the Tribunal was right in overlooking the fact that the forward contract entered into by the assessee and ultimately ending in loss were settled without physical delivery and therefore fell within the scope of Section 45(a) of the Income Tax Act?" 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 08.8.2019 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.) 27.08.2019 cse Speaking (or) Non Speaking Order Index : Yes (or) No 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.561 of 2015 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J. AND V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN,J. cse To 1.M/s.Celebrity Fashion Ltd., SDF-IV, 3rd main road, MEPZ-SEZ, Tambaram, Chennai - 600 045. 2.The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'B' Bench. TCA.No.561 of 2015 27.08.2019 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in
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