THE COMMISSIONR OF INCOME TAX vs. M/S WHEELS INDIA LTD

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TCA/572/2015HC Madras27 August 2019Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice T. S. SIVAGNANAM4 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court dismissed the appeal on the grounds of low tax effect, as per CBDT Circular No. 17/2019, which raised the monetary limit for appeals to the High Court to Rs. 1 Crore. The Court noted that the tax effect in this case was below the revised threshold. Consequently, the substantial questions of law framed for the appeal 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, allowing the appeal to be heard and decided on merits. No costs were awarded. The specific findings of the ITAT on the two substantial questions of law were not adjudicated upon by the High Court.

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 14.03.2014 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai 'A' Bench. The appeal pertained to assessment year 2006-07 and challenged the ITAT's decision regarding the disallowance of a loan arising from a sales tax liability and the treatment of the difference between a sales tax loan amount and the amount paid on a net present value basis under a Maharashtra Government sales tax deferral scheme. The High Court admitted the appeal on substantial questions of law.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal had to decide two substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Appellate Tribunal was right in entertaining additional grounds on the issue of disallowance of loan arising from sales tax liability, which did not arise out of the CIT(A)'s order nor the assessment order. 2. Whether the Appellate Tribunal was right in law in holding that the difference between the sales tax loan amount and the amount paid on a net present value basis under the Maharashtra Government's sales tax deferral scheme is not a remission of liability under Section 41(1) of the Income Tax Act. The Revenue argued that the appeal was not being pursued due to low tax effect, citing CBDT Circular No. 17/2019 which increased the monetary limit for appeals to Rs. 1 Crore. The Revenue stated that the tax effect in this case was below this threshold. The judgment does not record any specific arguments from the assessee on these issues.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 41(1)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

TCA.No.572 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.572 of 2015 The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai. ...Appellant Vs M/s.Wheels India Ltd., Padi, Chennai - 600 050. ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 14.03.2014 made in ITA.No.43/MDS/2010 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'A' Bench for the assessment year 2006-07. For Appellant : Mr.T.Ravikumar, SSC and Ms.R.Hemalatha, SSC For Respondent : Mr.R.Venkatanarayanan for M/s.Subbaraya Aiyar Padmanabhan 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.572 of 2015 appellant/revenue and Mr.R.Venkatanarayanan, learned counsel for M/s.Subbaraya Aiyar Padmanabahan, 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 14.03.2014 made in ITA.No.43/MDS/2010 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'A' Bench for the assessment year 2006-07. 3.The appeal was admitted on 27.07.2015 on the following substantial questions of law : “i) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal was right in entertaining additional grounds on the issue of disallowance of loan arising from sales tax liability which does not arise out of order of the CIT(A) nor the assessment order? ii) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal was right in law in holding that the difference between sales tax loan amount and the amount paid on net present value basis under sales tax deferral scheme of the Maharashtra Government is not a remission of liability under Section 41(1) 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 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.572 of 2015 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 To 1.M/s.Wheels India Ltd., Padi, Chennai - 600 050. 2.The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'A' Bench. 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.572 of 2015 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J. AND V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN,J. cse TCA.No.572 of 2015 27.08.2019 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in

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