THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME vs. M/S. WILLIAMS LEA INDIA PVT

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TCA/77/2016HC Madras30 August 2019Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice T. S. SIVAGNANAM4 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Revenue. The Court noted that the substantial questions of law framed in the appeal had already been answered in favour of the assessee in the assessee's own case, specifically in M/s. ISOFT R&D Pvt. Ltd. vs. Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai (T.C.A.No.1248 of 2008, dated 08.10.2018). In that prior decision, the Court had considered an identical issue and ruled in favour of the assessee, following the Supreme Court's decision in CIT vs. HCL Technologies Ltd. (2018) 404 ITR 0719. Therefore, by following its own precedent and the Supreme Court's ruling, the High Court answered the substantial questions of law in favour of the assessee and against the Revenue, leading to the dismissal of the appeal.

What were the facts?

The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai (Revenue) filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income-tax Act, 1961, against an order dated 28.05.2014 passed by the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal ('A' Bench, Chennai). The appeal pertains to the assessment year 2008-09 and concerns M/s. Williams Lea India Pvt. Ltd. (assessee). The Tribunal had directed the assessing officer to recompute the income in light of the decision in the case of Sak Soft, by excluding freight and insurance expenses from both export turnover and total turnover when computing deduction under Section 10A. The Revenue challenged this direction.

What were the issues?

1. Whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in directing the assessing officer to recompute income by excluding freight and insurance expenses from both export turnover and total turnover for the purpose of computing deduction under Section 10A, in light of the decision in Sak Soft? (Question of law) 2. Is the finding of the Tribunal bad, given that Explanation 2(iv) to Section 10A defines 'Export Turnover' to exclude freight, telecommunication charges, insurance attributable to delivery outside India, or expenses incurred in foreign exchange for ITES outside India? (Question of law) Assessee's contentions: Not recorded. Revenue's contentions: The Revenue argued that the Tribunal's direction was incorrect, particularly in light of the specific definition of 'Export Turnover' under Explanation 2(iv) to Section 10A, which excludes freight and insurance expenses.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 10A,Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

T.C.A.No.77 of 2016 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 30.08.2019 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.S.SIVAGNANAM and THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal No.77 of 2016 The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai. ...Appellant -vs- M/s.Williams Lea India Pvt. Ltd, Module No.308, “D” Block, 3rd Floor, Tidel Park, Taramani, Chennai – 600 113. ...Respondent Appeal under Section 260A of the Income-tax Act, 1961, against the order dated 28.05.2014 on the file of the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal 'A' Bench, Chennai in I.T.A.No.62/Mds/2014 for the assessment year 2008-09. For Appellant : Mrs.R.Hemalatha Senior Standing Counsel For Respondent : Mr.K.Sudarshan ****** 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.77 of 2016 JUDGMENT (Delivered by T.S.Sivagnanam, J.) This appeal filed by the appellant/Revenue under Section 260A of the Income-tax Act, 1961, is directed against the order dated 28.05.2014 on the file of the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal 'A' Bench, Chennai in I.T.A.No.62/Mds/2014 for the assessment year 2008-09. 2.The Revenue has raised the following substantial questions of law for consideration:- “(i) Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in directing the assessing officer to recompute the income in the light of the decision of the Special Bench in the case of Sak Soft by excluding the freight and insurance expenses both Export turnover and also from the Total turnover while computing deduction under Section 10A? and (ii) Is not the finding of the Tribunal bad, especially when explanation 2(iv) to Section 10A defines the word 'Export Turnover' whereby it had been specifically stated that it would not include freight telecommunication charges, insurance attributable to the delivery of the articles or things or computer software outside India or expenses if any incurred in foreign exchange while providing information technology enable services outside India?” 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.77 of 2016 3.Heard Mrs.R.Hemalatha, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant/Revenue; and Mr.K.Sudarshan, learned counsel for the respondent/assessee. 4.It is not disputed by the Revenue, rather agreed by the Revenue that the substantial questions of law framed in this appeal has been answered in favour of the assessee in the assessee's own case in M/s.ISOFT R&D Pvt. Ltd., vs. Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai in T.C.A.No.1248 of 2008, dated 08.10.2018 wherein, we considered identical issue and answered the same in favour of the assessee, following the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of CIT vs. HCL Technologies Ltd., (2018) 404 ITR 0719. 5.Following the above decision, this tax case appeal is dismissed and the substantial questions of law are answered in favour of the assessee and against the Revenue. No costs.

(T.S.S., J.) (V.B.S., J.) 30.08.2019 Index : Yes/No Speaking/Non-Speaking Order mp T.S.Sivagnanam, J. 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.77 of 2016 and V.Bhavani Subbaroyan, J. mp To The Income-tax Appellate Tribunal 'A' Bench, Chennai. T.C.A.No. 77 of 2016 30.08.2019 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in

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