THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME T vs. RENAULT INDIA PRIVATE LTD

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TCA/697/2018HC Madras05 January 2021Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice T. S. SIVAGNANAM6 pages
AI SummaryWithdrawn

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court disposed of the appeal without deciding the substantial questions of law. This was due to a subsequent event where the assessee filed a declaration under the Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020. The Court directed the Competent Authority to process the declaration and pass appropriate orders expeditiously. The assessee was granted liberty to restore the appeal if the decision under the Vivad Se Vishwas Act was not in their favour. Consequently, the substantial questions of law were left open and not adjudicated upon. 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 dated 30.01.2018 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras 'D' Bench. The appeal pertained to assessment year 2012-13 and challenged the Tribunal's decision regarding international transactions and advertisement/market promotion expenditure. The respondent assessee, M/s. Renault India Private Ltd., informed the Court that it had filed a declaration under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme and was awaiting orders. The High Court noted this subsequent event.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal had to decide two substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Tribunal was correct in holding that the purchase of cars by the Assessee from Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd did not constitute an international transaction and was not eligible for Arms Length Pricing (ALP) analysis and adjustment. 2. Whether the Tribunal was correct in holding that expenditure incurred on advertisement/market promotion activity did not amount to an international transaction, even if the Assessee incurred it to create market share for its cars and a marginal benefit accrued to its Principal Abroad. The Revenue argued that both the car purchases and the advertisement expenditure were international transactions subject to ALP analysis. The Assessee contended that the car purchases were not international transactions and that the advertisement expenditure was incurred for creating market share for its own products, with any benefit to the Principal Abroad being incidental.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 4

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

TCA.No.697 of 2018 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 05.01.2021 CORAM : The Honourable Mr.Justice T.S.SIVAGNANAM and The Honourable Ms.Justice R.N.MANJULA Tax Case Appeal No.697 of 2018 The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai. ...Appellant Vs M/s.Renault India Private Ltd., No.37&38, ASV Ramana Towers, 4th Floor, Venkatanarayana Road, T.Nagar, Chennai - 600 017. PAN: AADCR2042M ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 30.01.2018 made in ITA.No.1078/Mds/2017 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras 'D' Bench for the assessment year 2012-13. For Appellant: Mrs.Hemalatha Senior Standing Counsel For Respondent: Mr.N.V.Balaji 1/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.697 of 2018 JUDGMENT (Judgment was delivered by

T.S.Sivagnanam,J

) This appeal has been filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 ('the Act' for brevity) challenging the order dated 30.01.2018 made in ITA.No.1078/Mds/2017 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras 'D' Bench ('the Tribunal' for brevity) for the assessment year 2012-13. 2. The appeal was admitted on 19.11.2018 on the following substantial questions of law: “1. Whether the Tribunal was correct in holding that the purchase of cars by the Assessee from Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd would not come within the meaning of International Transaction and is not eligible to Arms length pricing analysis and adjustment thereof? 2. Whether the Tribunal was right in holding that the expenditure incurred on advertisement/market promotion activity will not amount to international transaction since the Assessee has incurred such expenditure to create market share for its cars and marginal benefit 2/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.697 of 2018 derived by its Principal Abroad as offshoot cannot be converted into an international transaction?" 3. We have heard Mrs.Hemalatha, learned Senior Standing Counsel appearing for the appellant/Revenue and Mr.N.V.Balaji, learned counsel appearing for the respondent. 4. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent/ assessee submits that the respondent/assessee has already filed the declaration/undertaking under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme and is awaiting orders to be passed in Form No.3. 5. In the light of the subsequent event, the Competent Authority shall process the application/declaration in accordance with the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020 (Act 3 of 2020) and pass appropriate orders as expeditiously as possible. The assessee is given liberty to restore this appeal in the event the ultimate decision to be taken on the declaration filed by the assessee under Section 4 of the said Act is not in favour of the assessee. If such a prayer is made, the Registry shall entertain the prayer without insisting upon any application to be filed for condonation of delay in 3/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.697 of 2018 restoration of the appeal and on such request made by the assessee by filing a miscellaneous petition for restoration, the Registry shall place such petition before the appropriate Division Bench for orders. 6. The tax case appeal stands disposed of with the aforementioned liberty and consequently, the substantial questions of law framed are left open. No costs. (T.S.S.,J.) (R.N.M.,J.) 05.01.2021 Index: Yes/No Internet:Yes/No Speaking Judgment/Non speaking Judgment hvk 4/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.697 of 2018 To 1. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'D' Bench. 2. The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai. 5/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.697 of 2018 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND R.N.MANJULA,J hvk TCA.No.697 of 2018 05.01.2021 6/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

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