THE COMMISSIONER OF vs. M/S. RAMASAYS CORPORATION
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Revenue. The dismissal was based on the Revenue's submission that the appeal was not being pursued due to low tax effect, in line with CBDT Circular No.17/2019, which increased the monetary limit for filing appeals before the High Court to Rs.1 Crore. The Court noted that the tax effect in this case was below the threshold limit. Consequently, the substantial questions of law framed were left open. The Revenue was granted liberty to seek restoration of the appeal if the tax effect exceeded the threshold limit. No costs were imposed.
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 31.05.2017 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) 'B' Bench, Chennai. The appeal pertained to assessment year 2013-14 and concerned the classification of expenses incurred on spares and tools. The amount in dispute, representing the cost of spares and tools, was Rs.1,97,05,800/-. The High Court admitted the appeal on substantial questions of law.
What were the issues?
1. Whether the Tribunal is right in treating expenses incurred on cost of spares and tools amounting to Rs.1,97,05,800/- as revenue expenditure, especially when these tools were used for producing parts which tantamount to the cost of acquiring profit-earning apparatus and not for operating it? (Question of law) 2. Whether the expenses incurred on spares and tools used by the assessee for producing parts in the manufacture of industrial fasteners is capital expenditure or revenue expenditure? (Question of mixed law and fact) Assessee's contentions: Not recorded in the judgment. Revenue's contentions: The Revenue argued that the expenses on spares and tools were capital in nature as they were used for acquiring profit-earning apparatus, not for operating it. The Revenue relied on the distinction between acquiring and operating profit-earning apparatus.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
T.C.A.No.702 of 2017 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 29.08.2019 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.S.SIVAGNANAM and THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal No.702 of 2017 The Commissioner of Income tax, Chennai. .. Appellant -vs- M/s.Ramasays Corporation (P) Ltd., No.18, L.G.N.Road, Chennai-600 002. PAN: AADCR8596A .. Respondent Appeal under Section 260A of the Income-tax Act, 1961, against the order dated 31.05.2017, made in I.T.A.No.282/Mds/2017 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'B' Bench, Chennai for the assessment year 2013-14. For Appellant : Mr.T.Ravikumar Senior Standing Counsel & : Ms.R.Hemalatha Senior Standing Counsel For Respondent : Mr.Philip George ****** 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.702 of 2017 JUDGMENT (Delivered by T.S.Sivagnanam, J.) This appeal filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income-tax Act, 1961 is directed against the order dated 31.05.2017, made in I.T.A.No.282/Mds/2017 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'B' Bench, Chennai for the assessment year 2013-14. 2.The appeal has been admitted on 15.12.2017, on the following substantial questions of law:- “(i) Whether the Tribunal is right in treating the expenses incurred on cost of spares and tools amounting to Rs.197,05,800/- as revenue expenditure especially when the said tools were used by the assessee for producing parts which tantamount to the cost of acquiring profit earning apparatus and not for operating the profit earning apparatus? and (ii) Whether the expenses incurred on spares and tools used by the assessee for producing parts in the manufacture of industrial fastener is capital expenditure or revenue expenditure?” 3.Heard Mr.T.Ravikumar and Ms.R.Hemalatha, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant – and Mr.Philip George, learned counsel for the respondent. 4.The learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant submits that 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.702 of 2017 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 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.) 29.08.2019 Index : Yes/No Speaking/Non-Speaking Order abr To 1.M/s.Ramasays Corporation (P) Ltd., No.18, L.G.N.Road, Chennai-600 002. 2.The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'B' Bench, Chennai. T.S.Sivagnanam, J. and 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.702 of 2017 V.Bhavani Subbaroyan, J. (abr) T.C.A.No.702 of 2017 29.08.2019 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in
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