M/S.TIDEL PARK LTD., vs. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court did not decide the substantial questions of law. It was informed that the assessee had availed the benefit under the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, and had been issued Form-3. Consequently, the assessee sought to withdraw the appeal. The Court observed that keeping the appeal pending would serve no useful purpose. The appeal was dismissed as withdrawn. However, to safeguard the assessee's interest, liberty was granted to restore the appeal in the event the ultimate decision on the declaration filed under Section 4 of the Vivad Se Vishwas Act is not in favour of the assessee. If such a prayer is made, the Registry shall entertain it without requiring a condonation of delay application. The substantial questions of law were left open.
What were the facts?
The assessee, M/s. Tidel Park Ltd., filed an appeal before the High Court of Judicature at Madras against an order dated 19.02.2016 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) in ITA No. 1405/Mds/2014 for the assessment year 2009-10. The appeal was filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The dispute pertained to the eligibility of deduction under Section 80IA of the Act in respect of interest income and other income related to the business of a Software Technology Park, and the exclusion of expenditure for computing eligible profits. The High Court noted that the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, had been enacted for the resolution of disputed tax. The assessee informed the court that they had availed the benefit under this Act, having been issued Form-3 on 29.04.2021, and sought to withdraw the appeal.
What were the issues?
The High Court was to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Tribunal was correct in holding that the assessee is not entitled to deduction under Section 80IA in respect of interest income and other income directly related to the business of a Software Technology Park. 2. Whether the Tribunal was correct in restricting the claim of deduction under Section 80IA when the entire income was derived from developing, running, and maintaining a Software Technology Park approved under Section 80IA(4)(iii) read with Rule 18C, and thus no part of it should be excluded for computing the relief. 3. Whether the Tribunal was correct in holding that the assessee is not entitled to the exclusion of expenditure in respect of income that does not form part of the eligible profit for deduction under Section 80IA. The assessee argued that the entire income was derived from the eligible business and therefore, interest and other incomes directly related to the business should be eligible for deduction. The revenue's contentions are not recorded in the judgment.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Tax Case Appeal No.871 of 2017 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 15.07.2021 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE M. DURAISWAMY AND THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE R. HEMALATHA Tax Case Appeal No.871 of 2017 M/s.Tidel Park Ltd., 4, Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Taramani, Chennai – 600 113.
... Appellant Vs.
The Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Company Circle – III (2), now Corporate Circle – 3(1), Chennai – 600 034. ... Respondent
Tax Case Appeal filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras "D" Bench, dated 19.02.2016 passed in I.T.A.No.1405/Mds/2014. For Appellant : Mr.Vikram Vijayaraghavan for M/s.Subbaraya Aiyar Padmanabhan
For Respondent : Mrs.V.Pushpa Standing Counsel
Page 1/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ Tax Case Appeal No.871 of 2017 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 19.02.2016 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras "D" Bench, ('the Tribunal' for brevity) in I.T.A.No.1405/Mds/2014 for the assessment year 2009-10. The appellant/assessee has raised the following substantial questions of law in the above appeal: “1.Whether the Tribunal was right in law in holding that the assessee is not entitled to deduction u/s.80IA in respect of interest income and other income which are directly related to the business of Software Technology Park? 2.Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in law in restricting the claim of deduction u/s.80IA when the entire income was derived only from developing, running and maintaining of Software Technology Park (STP) which was approved by the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion and notified by the Central Board of Direct Taxes in terms of Page 2/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ Tax Case Appeal No.871 of 2017 Sec.80IA(4)(iii) of the Act r/w. Rule 18C of the IT Rules and hence no part of the same can be excluded while computing the relief under Section 80IA? 3.Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case the Tribunal was right in law in holding that the assessee is not entitled to exclusion of expenditure in respect of income which does not form part of the eligible profit for deduction under Section 80IA?” 2. We have heard Mr.Vikram Vijayaraghavan for M/s.Subbaraya Aiyar Padmanabhan, learned counsel appearing for the appellant/ assessee and Mrs.V.Pushpa, learned Standing Counsel for the respondent/Revenue. 3. 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 Page 3/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ Tax Case Appeal No.871 of 2017 17th March 2020. 4. We are informed by the learned counsel for the appellant/ assessee that the assessee had already been issued with Form-3 on 29.04.2021 and the learned counsel for the appellant seeks permission of this Court to withdraw the appeal. 5. In the light of the fact that the assessee has already availed the benefit under the Act, no useful purpose would be served in keeping the appeal pending. At the same time, the interest of the assessee in the event the order to be passed by the Department under the Act is not in favour of the assessee, is to be safeguarded. Accordingly, the Tax Case Appeal stands dismissed as withdrawn on the ground that the assessee has already been issued with Form-3 and the Department shall process the application at the earliest in accordance with the said Act and communicate the decision to the assessee at the earliest. As observed, the assessee is given liberty to restore the 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 Page 4/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ Tax Case Appeal No.871 of 2017 is made, the Registry shall entertain the prayer without insisting upon any application to be filed for condonation of delay in 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 Division Bench for orders. 6. With this observation, these Tax Case Appeal stands dismissed as withdrawn with the aforementioned liberty, and consequently, the Substantial Questions of Law are left open. No costs. [M.D., J.] [R.H., J.] 15.07.2021 (3/3)
Index : Yes/No
Internet : Yes
mkn To 1. Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras "D" Bench 2.The Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Company Cirlce – III (2), now Corporate Circle – 3(1), Chennai – 600 034. M. DURAISWAMY, J. Page 5/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ Tax Case Appeal No.871 of 2017 and R. HEMALATHA, J. mkn Tax Case Appeal No.871 of 2017
15.07.2021 (3/3) Page 6/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
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