INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL LTD.,NEW DELHI vs. DCIT, NEW DELHI

Date of hearing 28.09.2021 Date of pronouncement 14.10.2021 ORDER PER O.P. KANT, AM:

This appeal by the assessee is directed against order dated 13/12/2016 passed by the learned Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals)-19, New Delhi, for assessment year 2011-12, raising following grounds:

1. That the impugned order dated 13.12.2016 passed by the CIT(A) is bad in law and wrong on facts.

2. That CIT(A) erred both on facts and in law in confirming the non- deduction of a sum of Rs.67,69,460/- on account of bad debts written off against provision created in earlier years, in computation of book profits u/s 115JB of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

3. That CIT(A) has erred both on facts and in law in confirming the non-deduction of a sum of Rs.67,69,460/- on the ground that the appellant is not permitted to make any adjustment to the book profit except which has been specifically provided therein, without realizing that these bad debts written off were adjusted during the year against provision for doubtful debts created in earlier years and have been adjusted in computation of book profits under clause (i) of Explanation 1 of section 115JB.

4. The appellant reserves to itself, the right to add, alter, amend, substitute, withdraw and/or any Ground(s) of Appeal at or before the date of hearing.

2. Briefly stated facts of the case are that the assessee company is engaged in the business of running a multispecialty hospital under the brand name of “Fortis Hospital”. The assessee filed its return of income for the year under consideration on 29/11/2011, declaring nil income. The return of income filed by the assessee was selected for scrutiny assessment and statutory notices were issued and complied with. The Assessing Officer in his assessment order dated 23/03/2015 assessed income under regular provisions of the Income-tax Act,1961 (in short ‘the Act’) as well as under section 115JB of the Act after making addition of disallowance under section 14A of ₹ 13,65,85,862/- and disallowance of bad debt of ₹ 67,69,460/-. In this manner, total ₹ income under regular provisions was assessed at 14,33,55,322/- and under the provisions of section 115JB assessed at ₹ 41,58,21,022/-. 2.1 Aggrieved, the assessee filed appeal before the Ld. CIT(A), who partly allowed the appeal of the assessee, however, the addition of bad debt amounting to ₹ 67,69,460/- under section 115JB was retained. Aggrieved with said finding of the Ld. CIT(A), the assessee is in appeal before the Tribunal raising the grounds as reproduced above.

12. I havegone through the various details. The appellant has also provided a copy of provision for bad debts account since Assessment Year 2008-09 which shows the various entries in respect of provisions made, the bad debts written off, and further provision made in the ensuing year. The appellant has show that provision for doubtful debts has been disallowed in the earlier years and deduction is being claimed only in respect of actual bad debts. However, the amount does not appear in the Profit & Loss Account since it is squared off from the provision account. The deduction is claimed when the debtors are actually written off.

13.During the year under consideration, instead of claiming a separate deduction in the computation of income, the appellant 'had netted off this amount against the provision created during the year and only the net amount has been added back. There would not have been any confusion had the entire amount of provision made during the year been added to the income and deduction claimed in respect of actual bad debts of Rs. 69,69,460/-. In view of above discussion, bad debts claimed are allowed under section 336(1)(vii) of the Act in accordance with the decision of Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of TRF Limited (323 ITR 397).”

4.1 However, as regard to claim of bad debt written off under section 115JB for computation of the book profit was rejected by the learned CIT(A). The detailed finding of the learned CIT(A) in Para 18 to Para 22 after considering the submission of the assessee is reproduced as under: “18. As far as the provision for doubtful debts is concerned, the appellant in his computation of income has added back a sum of Rs. 80,49,390/-. The Profit & Loss Account of the appellant, however, shows that appellant had made a provision of Rs. 1,47,98,850/- in the Profit & Loss Account. The same was, therefore, required to be added and not Rs. 80,49,390/-. In this regard, the appellant in its submissions has explained as under:-

Following accounting entries are passed relating to Provision for Doubtful Debts and Advances: (A) Provision for doubtful debts & advances: Dr.(Profit & Loss item) (B) Provision for doubtful debts & advances: Cr. (Balance Sheet item)

Note:

(A) is disclosed/included under the account head "Selling, General & Administrative Expenses " in the Profit and loss account. (B) is disclosed as netting off item in the balance sheet from the respective debtors/advances Provision for doubtful debts & advances - Profit 41 Loss item is offered for tax in the computation of income.

Accounting Entries Passed for Bad Debts written off - Following entries are passed relating to Bad Debts written off:

Entry No. – 1 , (A) Bad Debts Written off (Profit & Loss item): Dr. Rs.100 (B) To Sundry Debtors: Cr. Rs.100 Entry No. – 2

(C) Provision for doubtful debts & advances: Dr. (Balance Sheet item) : Rs.100 (D) To Provision for doubtful debts and advances: Cr. (Profit & Loss item) : Rs.100 The above entries are passed in order to reverse Provision for Doubtful Debts & Advances made in earlier years and to write off the Bad debts, out of provisions made in earlier years.

Thus, in the year of write off Profit & Loss account does not disclose any expenses. Such balances which have been written off during the year (as per entry 1 above) are separately claimed in the tax computation. The same are allowable in view of section 36(l)(vii) as such debt has been written off in the books of account during the year.

Accounting Entries Passed for Provision for Doubtful Debts and Advances Following accounting entries are passed relating to Provision for Doubtful Debts and Advances:

Entry No. 1 –

(E) Provision for doubtful debts & advances: Dr 1,47,98.850/- (Refer Schedule 20 of the Balance Sheet ) (F) To Provision for doubtful debts & advances: Cr. 1,47,98,850/- (lncluded in Rs.2,40,64,755/- appearing in Schedule 9 of the Balance Sheet) Note: (A) is disclosed/included under the account head “Selling, General & Administrative Expenses " in the Profit and loss account. (B) is disclosed as netting off item in the balance sheet from the respective debtors/advances Provision for doubtful debts & advances - Pro fit & Loss item is offered for tax in the computation of income.

Accounting Entries Passed for Bad Debts written off Following entries are passed relating to Bad Debts written off:

Entry No. - 2 (C) Bad Debts Written off (Profit & Loss item): Dr.67,49,460/- (D) To Sundry Debtors: Cr.67,49,460/- (Refer to the movement of provision for doubtful debts attached) The above entries are passed to write off bad debts, out of provisions made in earlier wars.

Thus, in the year of write off Profit & Loss account does not disclose any expenses on account of bad debts. Accordingly, since such bad debts written off during the year have been adjusted against provision for doubtful debts created during the earlier years, no separate expense is appearing during the year. Such balances which have been written off during the year (as per entry 2 above) are separately claimed in the tax computation. The same arc allowable in view of section 36(i)(vii) as such debt has been written off in the books of account during the year.

This has reference to the on-going appellate proceedings. During the course oj last hearing, your good self have asked to further explain the claim of provision of doubtful debts written back in the Book Profit computed u/s 115JB of the I. T. Act.

In this connection, your kind reference is invited to sub-section (2) of Explanation (I) to Section 115JB being reproduced as under:

Explanation [1] - For the purposes of this section, 'book profit’ means (he net profit us shown in the profit and loss account for the relevant previous year prepared under subsection (2) as increased by - (a) ........................................ (b) ................... ........................ (c) ................. ...................... (d) ........................................ (e)……………………………. ... (f) ........................................ (g) ........................................ (h) ........................................ (i) the amount or amounts set aside as provision Jbr diminution in the value of any asset (k)……………………………… if any amount referred to in clauses (a) to (i) is debited to the profit and loss account or if any amount referred to in clause (j) is not credited to the profit and loss account, and as reduced by – (i) the amount withdrawn from any reserve or provision (excluding a reserve created before the 1st day of April, 1997 otherwise than by way of a debit to the profit & loss account), if any such amount is credited to the profit and loss account In view of the above, Provision for doubtful debts created in earlier years, written back and credited to Profit & loss account during the year under reference amounting to Rs. 67,49,460/- is to be reduced from the Book Profit determined under the provisions of Section 115.JB of the I. T. Act.

Your honour will appreciate that during the. year under reference, the appellant assessee has created further Provision for doubtful debts and advances amounting to Rs. 1,47,98,850/-, which has duly been added to for arriving at the Book Profit in view of provision made in Section 115JB of the Income Tax Act. Provision for doubtful debts and advances amounting to Rs.67,49,460/- have also been written back and credited to Profit and Loss account during the previous year and tax has been paid under MAT.

Pertinent to mention that such Write back/withdrawal of the amount from arty provision is to be reduced from Book Profit as per clause (i) to Explanation 1 to sub-section (2) of section 115JB of the Income tax Act.

The appellant assessee has however, netted of the above amounts of Rs.1,47,98,850/- and Rs.67,49,460/- and has added the resultant amount of Rs. 80,49,390/- in the Computation of Book Profit.

A fresh computation tax payable under provisions of MAT in view of the above submissions is enclosed for your kind reference. It may please be noted that there is no difference in the amount of Book Profit returned and the disclosure being produced now.

The object of introducing section 1I5J can be deduced from the Budget Speech of Finance Minister made in Parliament while introducing the said section.

The Speech shows that the income-tax authorities were unable to bring certain companies within the net of income-tax because these companies were adjusting their accounts in such a manner as to attract no tax or very little tax. It is with a view to bring such of these companies within the tax net that section 1I5J was introduced in the Income-tax Act with a deeming provision which makes the company liable to pay tax on at least 30 per cent of its book profits as shown in its own accounts. For the said purpose, section 115J makes the income reflected in the companies ' hooks of account as deemed income for the purpose of assessing the fax. If one examines the said provision in the above background, one notices that the use of the words in for the limited purpose of empowering the assessing authority to rely upon the authentic statement of accounts of the company. While so looking into the accounts oj the company, an Assessing Officer under the Income-tax Act has to accept the authenticity of the accounts with reference to the provisions of the Companies Act which obligates the company to maintain its account in a manner provided by the Companies Act and the same to be scrutinized and certified by statutory auditors and will have to be approved by the company in its General Meeting and thereafter to be filed before the Registrar of Companies who has a statutory obligation also to examine and satisfy that the accounts of the company are maintained in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act. In spite of all these procedures contemplated under the provisions of the Companies Act, it is difficult to accept the argument of the revenue that it is still open to the Assessing Officer to re-scrutinized the accounts and satisfy himself that these accounts have been maintained in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act. Reliance placed by the revenue on sub-sect ion (I A) of section 115J in support of the above contention was misplaced. Sub-section (I A) of section 115.1 does not empower the Assessing Officer to embark upon a fresh inquiry in regard TO the entries made in the hooks of account of the company. The said sub-section, as a mailer of fact, mandates the company to maintain its account in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act which mandate is bodily lifted from the Companies Act into the income-tax Act for the limited purpose of making the said accounts so maintained as a basis for computing the company’s income for levy of income-tax. Beyond that, the said sub-section does not empower the authority under the Income-tax Act to probe into the accounts accepted by the authorities under the Companies Act. If the statute mandates that income prepared in accordance with the Companies Act shall be deemed income for the purpose of section 115J, then il should be that income which is acceptable to the authorities under the Companies Act. '['here cannot be two incomes one for the purpose of Companies Act and another for the purpose of Income-tax Act. If the Legislature intended the Assessing Officer to reassess the company's income, then it would have stated in section 115 J that 'income of the company as accepted by the Assessing Officer. In the absence of the same and on the language of section 115.1, the view taken by the Tribunal was correct and the High Court had erred in reversing the said view of Tribunal. Therefore, the Assessing Officer while computing the income under section J15J has only the power of examining whether the books of account are certified by the authorities under the Companies Act as having been properly maintained in accordance with the Companies Act. The Assessing Officer thereafter has limited power of making additions and reductions as provided for in the Explanation to the said section. To pin it differently, the Assessing Officer does not have the jurisdiction to go behind the net profit shown in the profit and loss account except to the extent provided in the Explanation to section 115J.

Explanation [1] - For the purposes of this section. 'book profit’ means the net profit as shown in the profit and loss account for the relevant previous year prepared under subsection (2) as increased by - (a) ............................................ (b) ................................................ (c) ................................................ (d) ............................................ (e) ............................................ (f) ............................................ (g) ............................................ (h) .............................. ............. (i) the amount or amounts set aside as provision for diminution in the value of any asset (k) ........................................... if any amount referred to in clauses (a) to (i) is debited to die profit and loss account or if any amount referred to in clause (j) is not credited to the profit and loss account, and as reduced by – (i) the amount withdrawn from any reserve or provision (excluding a reserve created before the Ist day of April, 1997 otherwise than by way of a debit to the profit and loss account), if any such amount is credited to the profit, and loss account.

4.2 Before us, the Learned Counsel of the assessee referred to paper-book and submitted that assessee is following regular practice of adding the provision for doubtful debts created during the year to the opening balance and after reducing bad debts written off closing balance is taken to next financial year. The Learned Counsel referred to pages 8, 26, 43 and 60 for showing computation of net amount of provision of doubtful debt. Under the provisions of the Act book profit is computed after making adjustment mentioned in the section 115JB of the Act. In view of the settled position in the case of Apollo Tyres Ltd. (supra) and Malyalam Manorama (supra), the assessee or the Assessing Officer is not permitted to make any adjustment to the book profit except which has been specifically provided therein and, therefore, the assessee was required to add back provision which has been provided in the books of accounts. 4.3 The Ld. CIT(A) has held that claim of bad debt actually incurred during the year did not appear in the profit and loss account and, therefore, same could not be added back since the same is not covered under Explanation 1 below section 115JB of the Act. Thus, as per the Learned CIT(A), the Assessee has not credited the amount in relation to the bad debt in the profit and loss account made on the basis of the books of account, whereas claim of the assessee is that effect of the bad debt written off has been taken into consideration in books of accounts. In our opinion, this is a matter of the verification with the books of account of the assessee. From the details filed before us prima facie it appears that the amount of bad debt written off has been reduced while computing the income as per provision of Act and, therefore, we feel it appropriate to restore this issue back to the file of the Assessing Officer for deciding after verification of the books of account and financial statement prepared thereon for the year under consideration. The Assessing Officer has to verify the amount of provision for doubtful debt in the books of accounts and book profit has to computed as per Explanation 1 below the section 115 JB of the Act. It is Needless to mention that the assessee shall be afforded adequate opportunity of being heard. The grounds of the appeal of the assessee are accordingly allowed for statistical purposes.