M/S B.J.SERVICE CO.AS AGENT OF MR FARAJI M. vs. INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL and ORS.

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ITA/44/2004HC UttarakhandUKHC01003814200405 September 20052 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court of Uttaranchal at Nainital dismissed the appeal. The Court followed its own previous judgment in the case of Commissioner of Income Tax and another Vs. Sedco Forex International Drilling Co. Ltd. and connected cases, reported in (2003) 264 ITR 320. In that precedent, a Division Bench of the same Court had held that payment of salary for an "off period" constituted income earned in India, i.e., for services rendered in India, under Section 9(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and was therefore taxable. The High Court found that the present appeal was squarely covered by this earlier decision. Therefore, the Tribunal's decision to treat the "off period" payment as income earned in India was upheld. The operative direction was to dismiss the appeal.

What were the facts?

The appellant, M/s B J Services Co. Middle East, acting as an agent for Mr. Faraji M., filed an appeal against an order dated February 3, 2004, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Delhi Bench ‘D’. The dispute pertains to the Assessment Year 1997-98. The core of the dispute involves the taxability of amounts paid for an "off period" as income earned in India. The appellant contended that no services were rendered in India during this off period. The revenue's position, as reflected in the Tribunal's order, treated this amount as income earned in India. The procedural history indicates the matter reached the High Court of Uttaranchal at Nainital.

What were the issues?

1. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was legally justified in treating the amount paid for the "off period" as income earned in India, in view of the explanation to section 9(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, when admittedly no service was rendered during the off period in India? 2. Whether the subsequent amendment to the explanation to section 9(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, effective from April 1, 2000, which regards amounts paid for "off period" or leave period as income accrued in India only from that date, supports the assessee's contention? Assessee's Contentions: The assessee argued that the amount paid for the "off period" should not be treated as income earned in India because no services were rendered in India during that period. They further contended that the amendment to the explanation to section 9(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, effective from April 1, 2000, which specifically addresses the taxability of "off period" payments, supports their position for the assessment year in question. Revenue's Contentions: The judgment does not explicitly record the revenue's contentions. However, it is implied that the revenue, through the Tribunal's order, treated the "off period" payment as income earned in India.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 9(1)(ii)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
IN THE HIGH COURT OF UTTARANCHAL AT NAINITAL Income Tax Appeal No. 44 of 2004 M/s B J Services Co. Middle East as agent of Mr. Faraji M., Vikas Centre, 2nd Floor, S.V. Road, Santacruz (W) Mumbai. ……Appellant Versus 1. Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Delhi Bench ‘D’ New Delhi. 2. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) Dehradun. 3. Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Special Circle, Dehradun …Respondents Mr. V.K. Bist, Senior Advocate/Mr. A. Chatterjee, Advocate for the appellant. Mr. S.K.Posti, Advocate for the respondents. Coram: Hon. Cyriac Joseph, C.J. Hon. J.C.S. Rawat, J.

JUDGMENT

CYRIAC JOSEPH, C.J. (Oral)

1.

This appeal is filed against the order dated 03.02.2004 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Delhi Bench ‘D’, New Delhi in I.T.A. No. 50 to 81/ Del/ 2000. The appellant is the assessee. The dispute relates to the Assessment Year 1997-98. 2. The substantial question of law raised in the appeal is as follows:

“Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, Tribunal is legally justified in treating the amount paid for the “off period” as the income earned in India in view of the explanation to section 9(1)(ii) while admittedly no service has been rendered during off period in India and inasmuch as, the subsequent amendment made in the explanation w.e.f. 01.04.2000 shows that the amount paid for “off period” or leave period is regarded as the income accrued in India only w. e. f. 01.04.2000?”

3.

In Commissioner of Income Tax- and another Vs. Sedco Forex International Drilling Co. Ltd. and connected cases reported in (2003) 264 ITR 320, a Division Bench of this Court held that the payment of salary for “off period” was income earned in India i.e. for services rendered in India under Section 9(1)(ii) and that “off period salary” was taxable under section 9(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. 4. Following the above mentioned judgment of a Division Bench of this Court, this appeal is dismissed.

(J.C.S. Rawat, J.) (Cyriac Joseph, C.J.)

14.09.

2005 14.09.2005 A

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