M/S.REDINGTON (INDIA) LTD., vs. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court did not decide the substantial questions of law. The Court was informed by the assessee's counsel that the assessee had been issued Form-3 under the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020. Consequently, the assessee sought permission to withdraw the appeal. In view of this submission, the Tax Case Appeal was dismissed as withdrawn. The Court did not make any findings on the merits of the substantial questions of law framed, nor did it provide any reasoning or ratio decidendi for those questions. The operative direction was to dismiss the appeal as withdrawn.
What were the facts?
The assessee, M/s. Redington (India) Limited, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated 17.07.2015 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Madras "C" Bench. The appeal pertained to assessment year 2005-06. The core dispute revolved around the taxability of payments made to M/s. Microsoft Corporation Inc. for copyrighted software, specifically whether these payments constituted royalty and if tax was deductible at source. The procedural history indicates that the High Court admitted the appeal on substantial questions of law. Subsequently, the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, was enacted. The assessee informed the court that they had received Form-3 under this Act and sought to withdraw the appeal.
What were the issues?
The Tribunal had to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Tribunal was correct in holding that payments to M/s. Microsoft Corporation Inc. for copyrighted software are royalty, requiring tax deduction at source, without considering Article 12 of the India-USA Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA)? 2. Whether the Tribunal was correct in holding that tax is deductible on the sale of copyrighted articles (software), disregarding that the sale consideration represents business profits of Microsoft not taxable in India? 3. Whether the Tribunal was correct in holding that tax is deductible on the gross payments made to Microsoft Corporation, rather than on the net amount after accounting for sales returns? 4. Whether tax is deductible on the price of software returned to Microsoft before the payment due date, in light of CBDT Circular No. 790 dated 20.04.2000? Assessee's Contentions: The assessee argued that payments for software were not royalty but business profits not taxable in India, and that tax should not be deducted on gross payments or on returned software. The assessee relied on Article 12 of the India-USA DTAA and CBDT Circular No. 790. Revenue's Contentions: The judgment does not record specific contentions for the revenue regarding these issues.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Tax Case Appeal No.675 of 2016 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 25.03.2021 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE M. DURAISWAMY AND THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE T.V. THAMILSELVI Tax Case Appeal No.675 of 2016 M/s.Redington (India) Limited, Redington House, Centre Point Plot Nos.8 & 11 (SP), Thiru.Vi.Ka. Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai – 600 032. ... Appellant Vs.
The Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Company Range – V(4), Fourth Floor, Main Building, 121, N.H.Road, Chennai – 34. ... Respondent
Appeal filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras "C" Bench, dated 17.07.2015 passed in I.T.A.No.2060/Mds/2013. For Appellant : Mr.R.Venkatanarayanan For Respondent : Mr.T.Ravi Kumar, Senior Standing Counsel Page 1/5 http://www.judis.nic.in Tax Case Appeal No.675 of 2016 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 17.07.2015 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras "C" Bench, ('the Tribunal' for brevity) in I.T.A.No 2060/Mds/2013 for the assessment year 2005-06. 2.The above appeal was admitted on the following Substantial Questions of Law: “1)Whether the Tribunal was right in law in holding that the payment to M/s.Microsoft Corporation Inc towards purchase of copyrighted software is royalty and hence tax has to be deducted at source without appreciating the Article 12 of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between India and USA? 2)Whether the Tribunal was right in law in holding that tax is deductible on the sale of copyrighted article (software) without appreciating that the sale consideration constitutes business profits of the Microsoft not taxable in India? 3)Whether the Tribunal was right in law in holding Page 2/5 http://www.judis.nic.in Tax Case Appeal No.675 of 2016 that tax is deductible on the gross payments made to Microsoft Corporation and not on the net amount payable after considering the sales return? 4)Whether tax is deductible in respect of price of software returned to Microsoft even before the due date for payment of the price in view of CBDT Circular No.790 dated 20.04.2000?” 3.We have heard Mr.R.Venkatanarayanan, learned counsel for the appellant/assessee and Mr.T.Ravi Kumar, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the respondent/Revenue. 4.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 http://www.judis.nic.in Tax Case Appeal No.675 of 2016 5.We are informed by the learned counsel for the appellant/ assessee that the assessee had already been issued with Form – 3 on 05.03.2021 and the learned counsel for the appellant seeks permission of this Court to withdraw the appeal. 6.In view of the submission made by the learned counsel for the appellant, the Tax Case Appeal stands dismissed as withdrawn. No costs. [M.D., J.] [T.V.T.S., J.] Index : Yes/No 25.03.2021
Internet : Yes
va To 1. Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras "C" Bench 2.The Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Company Range – V(4), Fourth Floor, Main Building, 121, N.H.Road, Chennai – 34. M. DURAISWAMY, J. Page 4/5 http://www.judis.nic.in Tax Case Appeal No.675 of 2016 and T.V. THAMILSELVI, J. va Tax Case Appeal No.675 of 2016
25.03.2021 Page 5/5 http://www.judis.nic.in
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