COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX vs. M/S. ISOFT R AND D PVT LTD

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TCA/801/2015HC Madras27 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 on account of low tax effect. The dismissal was based on Circular No. 17/2019 dated 08.08.2019 issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, which increased the monetary limit for filing or pursuing appeals before the High Court to Rs. 1 Crore. The Revenue submitted that the tax effect in this particular case was below this threshold. Consequently, the substantial questions of law framed were left open. The Court granted liberty to the Revenue to seek restoration of the appeal if the tax effect was found to be above the fixed threshold, allowing it to be heard and decided on merits. No costs were awarded. The specific findings or reasoning of the ITAT on the merits of the Section 10A deduction calculation were not addressed by the High Court.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated 31.10.2014 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai 'B' Bench. The appeal pertains to the assessment year 2007-08 and concerns M/s. iSoft R&D Pvt. Ltd. The core of the dispute, as framed in the substantial questions of law, relates to the ITAT's direction to reduce travel expenditure in foreign currency from the total turnover for computing deduction under Section 10A of the Act. The appeal was admitted on 21.09.2015.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal had to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the ITAT was correct in directing the Assessing Officer to reduce expenses relating to travel expenditure in foreign currency from the total turnover for computing deduction under Section 10A of the Income Tax Act, 1961. 2. Whether the ITAT was right in excluding the travel expenditure incurred in foreign currency from the total turnover when Clause (iv) to Explanation 2 to Section 10A specifically excludes the same only from the export turnover. The Revenue argued that the ITAT's direction was incorrect. The Revenue's contention was based on the specific wording of Clause (iv) to Explanation 2 of Section 10A, which they believed only excluded foreign currency travel expenditure from export turnover, not total turnover. The judgment does not record specific arguments from the assessee regarding these questions.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 10A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

TCA.No.801 of 2015 In the High Court of Judicature at Madras Dated : 27.08.2019 Coram : The Honourable Mr.Justice T.S.SIVAGNANAM and The Honourable Mrs.Justice V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal No.801 of 2015 Commissioner of Income Tax, No.121, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai - 600 034. ...Appellant Vs M/s.iSoft R&D Pvt. Ltd., No.19, Hafiz Court, Kodambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 006. PAN: AAACI7884D. ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 31.10.2014 made in ITA.No.1970/MDS/2014 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'B' Bench for the assessment year 2007-08. For Appellant : Mr.Karthik Ranganathan, SSC assisted by Mr.S.Rajesh, SC For Respondent : Mr.G.Baskar JUDGMENT (Judgment was delivered by T.S.Sivagnanam,J.) We have heard Mr.Karthik Ranganathan, learned Senior Standing Counsel, assisted by Mr.S.Rajesh, learned Standing Counsel appearing for the 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.801 of 2015 appellant/revenue and Mr.G.Baskar, learned counsel appearing for the respondent/assessee. 2.This appeal, filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is directed against the order dated 31.10.2014 made in ITA.No.1970/MDS/2014 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'B' Bench for the assessment year 2007-08. 3.The appeal was admitted on 21.09.2015 on the following substantial questions of law : “(i) Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Honourable ITAT is correct in directing the Assessing Officer to reduce the expenses relating to travel expenditure in foreign currency from the total turnover for computing deduction under section 10A of the Income Tax Act, 1961? (ii) Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Honourable ITAT is right in excluding the travel expenditure incurred in foreign currency from the total turnover when the clause (iv) to Explanation 2 to Section 10A specifically excludes the same only from the export turnover?" 4.The learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant submits that the above appeal is not pursued by the Revenue on account of the low tax 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.801 of 2015 effect in terms of Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.8.2019 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.) 27.08.2019 cse Speaking (or) Non Speaking Order Index : Yes (or) No To 1.M/s.iSoft R&D Pvt. Ltd., No.19, Hafiz Court, Kodambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 006. 2.The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'B' Bench. 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.801 of 2015 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J. AND V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN,J. cse TCA.No.801 of 2015 27.08.2019 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in

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