LIFECELL INTERNATIONAL PVT L vs. ASST COMMISSIONER OF INCOME

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TCA/643/2019HC Madras24 June 2021Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice M.DURAISWAMY5 pages
AI SummaryWithdrawn

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court did not decide the substantial questions of law. It noted the enactment of the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, which provides for the resolution of disputed tax. The assessee informed the court that they had received Form-3 under this Act and sought to withdraw the appeal. Consequently, the High Court dismissed the appeal as withdrawn. No decision was made on the merits of the substantial questions of law. The operative direction was to dismiss the appeal as withdrawn.

What were the facts?

The assessee, M/s. Lifecell International Private Limited, filed an appeal before the High Court of Judicature at Madras against an order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Madras "B" Bench, dated May 28, 2019. The appeal pertained to the assessment year 2013-14. The dispute involved the taxability of advance storage fees received for 21 years. The High Court was to decide substantial questions of law framed by the assessee. However, subsequent to the ITAT order, the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, was enacted. The assessee informed the court that they had been issued Form-3 under this Act and sought to withdraw the appeal.

What were the issues?

The High Court was to decide four substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Tribunal was correct in upholding the CIT(A)'s order that advance storage fees for 21 years are taxable in the year of receipt. 2. Whether the Tribunal's finding that the appellant did not controvert the CIT(A)'s finding on the matching concept was perverse, given the evidence presented. 3. Whether the Tribunal was correct in holding that the entire advance storage fees for 21 years are taxable in the year of receipt, based on a perverse inference by the CIT(A) that certain expenditures were not deferred. 4. Whether the Tribunal was correct in not adjudicating the appellant's ground regarding the CIT(A)'s failure to grant deduction for revenue from earlier year enrollments recognized during the year. The assessee contended that they had followed the matching concept and presented material evidence. The revenue's contentions are not explicitly recorded in the provided judgment.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Tax Case Appeal No.643 of 2019 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 24.06.2021 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE M. DURAISWAMY AND THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE R. HEMALATHA Tax Case Appeal No.643 of 2019 and C.M.P.No.18786 of 2019 M/s.Lifecell International Private Limited 26, Vandalur Kelambakkam Main Road, Keelakottaiyur Village, Chennai – 600 048.

... Appellant Vs.

Assistant Commissioner of Income-Tax, Corporate Circle 4(1), 121, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai – 600 034. ... Respondent

Tax Case Appeal filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras "B" Bench, dated 28.05.2019 passed in I.T.A.No.247/Chny/2018. For Appellant : Ms.N.V.Lakshmi for Mr.N.V.Balaji For Respondent : Mr.Karthik Ranganathan

Senior Standing Counsel Page 1/5 Tax Case Appeal No.643 of 2019 J U D G M E N T (Delivered by M.DURAISWAMY, J.) This appeal filed by the assessee under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 ('the Act' for brevity), is directed against the order dated 28.05.2019 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras "B" Bench, ('the Tribunal' for brevity) in I.T.A.No.247/Chny/2018 for the assessment year 2013-14. The appellant/assessee has raised the following Substantial Questions of Law in the above appeal : "1.Whether under the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal is right in upholding the order of the CIT (A) that the advance storage fees for 21 years are liable for taxation in the year of receipt itself? 2.Is the finding of the Tribunal that the appellant did not controvert the finding of the CIT(A) that the appellant did not follow the matching concept, not perverse, particularly when the appellant had placed all material evidences before the Tribunal to demonstrate that it had followed the matching concept? 3.Is the Tribunal was right in holding the order of the CIT(A) that the entire advance storage fees for 21 Page 2/5 Tax Case Appeal No.643 of 2019 years received by the appellant is liable for taxation in the year of receipt itself, merely on the perverse inference of the CIT(A) that certain expenditure are not deferred? 4.Whether under the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in not adjudicating the ground of the appellant that the CIT(A) is not justified in not giving the deduction in respect of revenue of earlier year enrolments recognized during the year?” 2. We have heard Ms.N.V.Lakshmi for Mr.N.V.Balaji, learned counsel for the appellant/assessee and Mr.Karthik Ranganathan, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the respondent/Revenue. 3. It may not be necessary for this Court to decide the Substantial Questions of Law framed for consideration on account of certain subsequent developments. The Government of India enacted the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020 (Act 3 of 2020) to provide for resolution of disputed tax and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The Act of the Parliament received the assent of the President on 17th March 2020 and published in the Gazette of India on 17th March 2020. Page 3/5 Tax Case Appeal No.643 of 2019 4. We are informed by the learned counsel for the appellant/ assessee that the assessee had already been issued with Form-3 on 21.04.2021 and the learned counsel for the appellant seeks permission of this Court to withdraw the appeal. 5. In view of the submission made by the learned counsel for the appellant, the Tax Case Appeal stands dismissed as withdrawn. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. [M.D., J.] [R.H., J.] 24.06.2021

Index : Yes/No

Internet : Yes

mkn To 1. Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras "B" Bench 2.The Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Corporate Circle 4(1), 121, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai – 600 034. Page 4/5 Tax Case Appeal No.643 of 2019 M. DURAISWAMY, J. and R. HEMALATHA, J. mkn Tax Case Appeal No.643 of 2019

24.06.2021 Page 5/5

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