COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX vs. LIMITED

These appeals under Section 260(A) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 ('Act') are directed against the common order dated 31st May, 2006 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal ('Tribunal') Delhi Bench “C”, New Delhi in ITA No. 191 & 184/Del/2003 for the Assessment Year 1995-96.

The Assessee company which was incorporated on 17th March, 1992, is in the business of setting up satellite business communication systems for which a very small aperture terminal (' VSAT') equipment is used. As per the objects of the 2007:DHC:1114-DB

The Assessee placed a purchase order dated 28th July, 1994 with M/s. Hughes Network Systems, USA for the purchase of the VSAT equipment. This purchase order was placed consequent upon the Bank of America, by its letter dated 3rd June, 1994 addressed to the Assessee expressing interest in purchasing and installing four VSAT PES modules in their branches to be located at Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi and Kolkata.

In its return for the assessment year in question, that is 1995-96, the Assessee claimed an expenditure of Rs.28,96,269. The Assessee considered its business as having commenced in the month of March, 1995 and therefore, capitalized the expenses. However, in a revised return it claimed the said expense as revenue expense and therefore, claimed as a deduction. The Assessee explained this change by pointing out that it had placed a purchase order on M/s. Hughes Network Systems, USA on 28th July, 1994 for purchase the VSAT equipments and therefore, it was this date that should be reckoned as date of which the business has been set up. Any expenditure incurred thereafter must therefore, be considered as revenue expenditure that did not require to be capitalized. On the other hand, the Revenue contended that the Assessee had begun receiving the satellite signals only in the month of February 1995 and Further since the installation was complete only on 15th March, 1995 it could be said that the business of the Assessee had been set up only on 5th March, 1995.

The Assessing Officer rejected the explanation of the Assessee and held that the claim for deduction of Rs.28,96,269/- as revenue expenses cannot be permitted. However, the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) ['CIT(A)'] disposed of the appeal filed by the Assessee by holding that the formal order by the Bank of America on the Assessee was placed only on 6th October, 1994 and therefore, this was the date on which the Assessee had set up its business.

Aggrieved by the decision of the CIT(A), the Revenue and the Assessee both filed appeals before the Tribunal. Relying on the judgment of M/s. Western India 2007:DHC:1114-DB

it is contended by Ms. Prem Lata Bansal, learned senior standing counsel appeared on behalf of the Revenue that the business of the Assessee obviously could not be said to have commenced till such time the satellite signals were not available to its customers. This required the Assessee to have a licence from the DOT. The installation of equipment was completed only in the month of March 1995. In the circumstances, the Assessing Officer was right in concluding that the business of the Assessee could be held to have been set up only in March 1995. Consequently all the expenses incurred prior to this date were required to be capitalized and could not have been allowed to be deducted as revenue expenditure.

Appearing for the Assessee, Mr. Ajay Vohra, learned counsel referred to the proviso to Section 3(1) of the Act to contend that it only refers to the date of setting up of the business. He then referred to the date of setting up of the business in the present case was even earlier to the actual commencement of the business and therefore the Tribunal's conclusion required no interference.

Section 2(34) of the Act which defines 'previous year', in turn refers to Section 3(1) which reads as under: Section 3(1) “Previous year”defined- (1) Save as otherwise provided in this section, 'previous year' for the purposes of this Act, means the financial year immediately preceding the assessment year:

A plain reading of the above provision shows that for a new business the previous year is the period beginning with the date of setting up of the business. As 2007:DHC:1114-DB

The Bombay High Court, which was in this case dealing with the corresponding provision of the Indian Income Tax Act, 1922, then explained the distinction between the concepts of “commencement” and “setting up” of a business (ITR, pp. 158-159): “It seems to us, that the expression “setting up” means, as is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary, “to place on foot” or “to establish,” and in contradistinction to “commence”. The distinction is that when a business is established and is ready to commence business then it can be said of that business that it is set up. But before it is ready to commence business it is not set up. But there may be an interregnum, there may be an interval between a business which is set up and a business which is commenced and all expenses incurred after the setting up of the business and before the commencement of the business, all expenses during the interregnum would be permissible deductions under Section to 10 (2).”

Turning the facts of the present case, it is clear that the business of the Assessee involved different activities in which the first step was the purchase of the VSAT equipment. There was no question of Assessee having to place a purchase order with M/s. Hughes Network Systems, USA for a purpose other than that of it's business. The said purchase order was placed on 28th July, 1994. The application to DOT for licence and the receipt of the satellite signals were the consequential stages. The signals were to be received after the VSAT equipment was installed in the premises of the customer. In the circumstances, we are of the view that the business of the Assessee should be held to have been set up on 28th July, 1994. This is the 2007:DHC:1114-DB

No ground for interference with the judgment of the Tribunal is made out. No substantial question of law arises in these appeals. Accordingly, the appeals are dismissed.