THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME vs. M/S VKC, CREDIT AND FOREX

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TCA/57/2015HC Madras22 March 2021Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice M.DURAISWAMY5 pages
AI SummaryWithdrawn

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court dismissed the appeal as withdrawn. The Revenue submitted that it was not pursuing the appeal due to the 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 below this threshold. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed as withdrawn. The substantial questions of law framed were left open. The court granted liberty to the Revenue to seek restoration of the appeal if the tax effect was found to be above the threshold limit, allowing it 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 of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), dated August 8, 2014. The appeal pertained to Assessment Year 2007-08 and concerned M/s. VKC Credit and Forex Services Pvt. Ltd. The ITAT's order was challenged before the High Court of Judicature at Madras. The appeal was admitted on March 10, 2015, based on substantial questions of law framed by the court. The Revenue later sought to withdraw the appeal.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal had to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether Section 40(a)(ia) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, is applicable only to expenditures payable as of March 31 of the relevant previous year, and not to expenditures actually paid during the previous year for which no tax was deducted at source. 2. Whether the Tribunal's finding was bad, considering that non-deduction of TDS on rent paid would automatically warrant disallowance under Section 40(a)(ia). 3. Whether the term 'payable' includes amounts paid during the previous year or only those outstanding as of March 31. 4. Whether the Tribunal was right in treating 'amount payable' as distinct from 'amount paid' for the purposes of Section 40(a)(ia). The Revenue argued that non-deduction of TDS on rent paid should lead to disallowance under Section 40(a)(ia). The assessee's arguments are not explicitly recorded in the judgment, but the Tribunal's decision implies they contended that Section 40(a)(ia) did not apply to amounts already paid during the year.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

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

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

T.C.A.No.57 of 2015 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATE: 22.03.2021 CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.DURAISWAMY AND THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE T.V.THAMILSELVI T.C.A.No.57 of 2015 The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai. ... Appellant Vs. M/s.VKC Credit and Forex Services Pvt. Ltd., Jeyamkondar Apartments, Unit No.1B, 1st Floor, Alwarpet, Chennai – 600 018. ... Respondent Appeal preferred under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras, "B" Bench, dated 08.08.2014 in I.TA.No.639/Mds/2014 Assessment Year 2007-08. For Appellant : Mr.M.Swaminathan, Senior Standing Counsel For Respondent : Mr.M.P.Senthil Kumar JUDGMENT Page 1/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ T.C.A.No.57 of 2015 (Judgment was delivered by M.DURAISWAMY, J.) We have heard Mr.M.Swaminathan, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant/Revenue and Mr.M.P.Senthil Kumar, learned counsel for the respondent/assessee. 2.The appeal, filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short, the Act) is directed against the order dated 08.08.2014 made in I.TA.No.639/Mds/2014 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai, "B" Bench (for brevity, the Tribunal) for the Assessment Year 2007-08. 3.The appeal was admitted on 10.03.2015 on the following substantial questions of law: “1)Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in law in holding that provisions of Section 40a(ia) are applicable only to the amount of the expenditure which are payable as of 31st March of the relevant previous year and it cannot be invoked to disallow expenditure which had been actually paid during the Page 2/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ T.C.A.No.57 of 2015 previous year for which no tax had been deducted at source? 2)Is not the finding of the Tribunal bad, especially when the assessee has not deducted TDS in respect of rent paid which would automatically warrant disallowance under Section 40(a)(ia)? 3)Whether the term payable would include the amount which are paid during the previous year or only those that are outstanding as on 31st of March? 4)Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in treating the amount payable as distinct from the amount paid for the purpose of provisions of Section 40(a)(ia)?” 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 these cases are less than the threshold limit. Page 3/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ T.C.A.No.57 of 2015 5.In the light of the said submissions, the above Tax Case Appeal is dismissed as withdrawn on account of the Low Tax Effect. The substantial questions of law framed are left open. In the event the tax effect in this case 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.

Index : Yes/No [M.D., J.] [T.V.T.S., J.] Internet : Yes 22.03.2021 va To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai, "B" Bench Page 4/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ T.C.A.No.57 of 2015 M.DURAISWAMY, J. and T.V.THAMILSELVI, J. va T.C.A.No.57 of 2015 22.03.2021 Page 5/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

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