READING and BATES DRILLING CO AGENT DANIEL GATES vs. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX DEHRADUN

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ITA/157/2004HC UttarakhandUKHC01004925200406 December 2005Author: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE P. C. VERMA3 pages
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What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that the off-period salary was not taxable in India. The Court relied on the Supreme Court's decision in "Sedco Forex International Drill Inc. and Others Vs. Commissioner of Income Tax, Dehradun and Another". The Supreme Court had held that the Explanation to Section 9(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, as amended by the Finance Act 1999, was prospective and could not be applied retrospectively. Since the assessment year in the present case (1998-99) was prior to the amendment, the assessee could not be taxed on the off-period salary. The appeal was allowed, and the question was answered in favour of the assessee. No order as to costs was made.

What were the facts?

The appellant, M/s Reading & Bates Exploration Co. as agent of Mr. Daniel Gates, is in appeal against the consolidated order dated 09.07.2004 of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (Bench 'B' New Delhi) for assessment year 1998-99. The assessee employed foreign technicians for offshore oil drilling, who were entitled to 28 days off in India after rendering services. The assessee claimed that salary for this off-period spent outside India was not taxable in India. The Assessing Officer (AO) calculated perquisites and added them to the income, also levying interest under Section 234B for non-payment of advance tax. The Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) affirmed the AO's order. The ITAT partly allowed the appeal.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the Tribunal was right in holding that off-period salary was not taxable under Section 9(1)(ii) read with the Explanation as it stood at the relevant time? Assessee's contention: The salary for the 28-day off-period, which the foreign technicians were entitled to spend outside India, was not liable to be taxed in India. Revenue's contention: The revenue argued that the off-period salary was taxable in India. The judgment does not explicitly record the revenue's specific arguments beyond this general stance, nor does it name any specific authorities, circulars, or precedents relied upon by either party for this particular issue, other than the Supreme Court's decision in the Sedco Forex case which was later discussed.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 9(1)(ii),Section 234B,Section 208

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

COURT NO. 2

IN THE HIGH COURT OF UTTARANCHAL AT NAINITAL

Income Tax Appeal No. 157 of 2004

M/s Reading & Bates Exploration Co. as Agent of Mr. Daniel Gates

………… Appellant

Versus

The Commissioner of Income Tax, Dehradun

……….… Respondent

Ms. Krishi Shukla, Advocate for the appellant. Mr. S.K. Posti, Advocate for the respondents.

Dated: December 6, 2005

Coram: Hon. P.C. Verma, J. Hon. J.C.S. Rawat, J.

Both the parties are ready to argue the matter today.

2.

This appeal has been preferred against the consolidated order dated 09.07.2004 for the assessment year 1998-99, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, (Bench ‘B’ New Delhi).

3.

Brief facts of the case-giving rise to this appeal are that the appellant during the year under consideration employed foreign technicians for carrying on the work off shore oil drilling. As per terms of employment and nature of operation carried on by these persons, they were entitled to spend 28 days out of India after rendering services in India. On the basis of this, it was the claim of the assessee’s that the salary for 28 days off period, which they were entitled to stay out of India was not liable to be taxed in India. The Assessing Authority worked out

value of perquisites at the rate of Rs.270/- to Rs.290/- per day and added the same to the income. The A.O. also levied interest under Sec.234-B of the Income-Tax Act, as the asseessees did not pay advance tax in terms of Sec. 208 of the Income Tax Act. On appeal, the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), Dehradun affirmed the order of the Assessing Authority. In the second appeal, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal partly allowed the appeal.

4.

The learned counsel for the parties agree that only the following question of law arises in the appeal for the determination and they do not press the rest of the questions framed in the appeal:-

Whether the Tribunal was right in holding that off- period salary was not taxable under Section 9(1)(ii) read with the Explanation as it stood at the relevant time?

5.

into Civil Appeal Nos.351-355 of 2005. The Hon’ble Apex Court in “Sedco Forex International Drill Inc. and Others Vs. Commissioner of Income Tax, Dehradun and Another, JT 2005(9) SC 639” has held that since the Explanation to Section 9(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 was amended by the Finance Act 1999 and was prospective, therefore, it could not be made applicable in the previous years i.e. to say that no retrospective effect can be given to the Explanation, if the assessment proceedings are pending after the said amendment and

accordingly the judgment of Division Bench of this Court was set aside as the assessment year in dispute was prior to 1999. 6. In the present case also, the assessment year is prior to 1999, thus the assessee cannot be taxed in view of the law laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court “Sedco Rajeev Dang

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