ACIT, NEW DELHI vs. M/S. QUIPPO ENERGY (P) LTD., NEW DELHI

per the balance sheet of the assessee, were secured and term loans amounting to Rs.46,63,34,000/-. The Assessing Officer was of the view that these loans were taken to finance future assets of company. A query was raised to the assessee in this regard. In response to the query of the Assessing Officer, the assessee filed its reply vide letter dated 21.12.2011. Further, submission was made vide letter dated 23.12.2011 in this regard. The Assessing Officer however, did not accept the explanation of the assessee. He proceeded to make disallowance of interest of Rs.1,49,86,193/- out of the total interest claimed by the assessee, as being the amount of expense which was of capital nature. As per Assessing Officer, it ought to have been capitalized alongwith work in progress as loan on which this interest had been paid, was for creation of fixed assets which was yet to be capitalized. Further, the Assessing Officer disallowed the unpaid bonus of Rs.9,15,250/-, provision of leave encashment of Rs.6,30,381/- and amount deduction of tax of Rs.1,34,545/- and further disallowance of Rs.1,49,535/-.

Details of above creditors were sought by the AO only at the fag end of assessment proceedings. 1.2 During the course of hearing before the Ld. ClT(Appeals), the assessee submitted confirmations obtained from creditors. Subsequently, a remand report was sought from the AO on the evidences [being confirmation from parties] filed by the appellant. In the remand report, the AO prayed not to accept additional evidences and failed to give any comments on the merits of the issue as well as on confirmations submitted [Para 5.3 of CIT(A)’s order]. The assessee filed its response to the remand report vide reply dated 13-03-2015. 1.3 The Ld. CIT(Appeals) deleted the addition made by the AO towards balances of Symatic Engineering (P) Ltd (Rs.11,70,000/-) and Surya Industries (Rs.11,44,415/-) on the contention that the balances with respect to them are confirmed and verified and there is no basis to sustain the additions made by AO. [Para 5.5 at Pg. 4-5 of the CIT(A)'s order]. The addition on account of Clarke Energy Ltd. (Rs. 2,57,41,795/-) was confirmed. 1.4 The Ld. CIT(Appeals) admitted the additional evidence only after providing opportunity to the AO and obtaining his response. Hence, order of the CIT(A) is liable to be confirmed. Hon'ble Jurisdictional ITAT in ACIT -vs.- Dentsply India (P) Ltd (IT A No. 31/Del/2011) (Del ITAT) held as under: "The powers of the CIT(A) to admit additional evidence are not only in situations where the evidence could not be produced before lower authorities owing to lack of adequate opportunity but also in situations where the fresh evidence would enable the CIT(A) to dispose of the appeal or for any other substantial cause." Similar view has been given in following decisions: - ITO -vs.- M/s.Xo Infotech Ltd. (ITA No.3342/DeV2013)(Ahd. ITAT) - CIT -vs- Virgin Securities & Credits (P) Ltd. (2011) 332 ITR 396 (Del ITAT)

1.5. As regards the above sundry balances, the brief facts of the same is as under: Symatic Engineering (P) Ltd (Rs. 11,70,000/-)-The balance outstanding on 31-03-2009 represents advances for purchases paid by cheque during the year, against which purchases have been made in the subsequent year. Debit balances of creditors on account of advances for purchases made to suppliers cannot treated as income as held by Hon'ble Mumbai ITAT in DCIT -vs.- M/s Charak Pharmaceuticals (ITA No. 4667/Mum/2010). Surya Industries (Rs.11,44,415/-) - The balance outstanding on 31- 03-2009 represents sum payable on account of purchases made during the year. The said sum was paid in the subsequent year. 1.6 Ledger accounts and confirmations for both these above parties were verified by the Ld. CIT(Appeals) and granted partial relief. Hence, the grounds raised by the department is liable to be dismissed.”

5.5. “The Ld. AR has stated that copy of letter confirming the balance from Clarke Energy Ltd. is filed as per page 112 of the written submission. I have perused the said confirmation. There is no reference of any amount payable by the appellant company to creditor MIs Clarke Energy Ltd. As the balance is not verified and no confirmation is furnished with respect to MIs Clarke Energy Ltd. no interference is called for in the addition made by AO of Rs.2,57,41,795/- which is confirmed. In so far as credit appearing in the name of M/s Symatic Engineering (P) Ltd. and Surya Industries is concerned, ledger account of the said vendors and confirmations have been duly furnished. As the balance with respect to these creditors are confirmed and verified there is no basis to sustain the additions made by the Assessing Officer with respect to these entities at Rs.11,70,000/- and Rs.11,44,415/- respectively, which is directed to be deleted. This ground of appeal is partly ruled in favour of the appellant.”

10. It is stated on behalf of the assessee that the evidences in the form of confirmation were forwarded to the Assessing Officer for his Remand Report, therefore, due opportunity was given to the Assessing Officer.

11. Having perused the material available on record, we do not see any infirmity in the order of Ld.CIT(A) as the assessee has filed confirmation which has been verified by Ld.CIT(A) hence, Ground No.1 raised by the Revenue is dismissed.

12. Ground No.2 raised in the Revenue’s appeal is against the deletion of addition of Rs.1,47,85,097/-, the expenses which were treated as capital in nature.

The submissions of the assessee are reproduced herein below for ready- reference:-

2.0 “Deletion of disallowance of interest expenditure which is of capital nature (Rs. 1,47,85,097/-) [Ground No.2 of Departmental appeal] 2.1 The assessee has debited to Profit & Loss Account an amount of Rs. 5,00,20,327/- towards interest expenses. In the order u/ s 143(3), the AO made disallowance of interest on unscientific proportionate basis at Rs.1,49,86,193/- allocating the interest towards capital work in progress [Para 7 at Pg. 4 & 5 of the AO's order] 2.2 Out of total interest of Rs. 500,20,327/-, interest expenses to the tune of Rs. 3,94,80,262/ - pertains to opening balance of loans from OBC, IDFC and SIFL which were transferred to the assessee under duly approved scheme of arrangement. Further, out of this interest expenses, an amount of Rs. 26,74,988/- pertains to loan from OBC & SIFL sanctioned for specific purchases and capitalized in the books of accounts. Accordingly, balance interest amount of Rs. 3,68,05,274/- (Rs. 3,94,80,262/-less Rs. 26,74,988/- ), being revenue expenditure was claimed as deduction u/s 36(1)(iii) of the Act. Further, balance interest amounting to Rs. 1,05,40,065/- [Rs. 500,20,327/- less Rs. 3,94,80,262/-] pertains to secured and unsecured loans of Rs. 35,70,13,698/- & Rs. 6,64,83,348/- respectively from Srei Infrastructure Finance Ltd. obtained during the year and utilised for business. 2.3 The Ld. CIT(Appeals) examined all the details, balance sheet, loan agreements and correctly considered investment in fixed assets and CWIP before deducting depreciation at Rs.83,17,32,000/- (Rs. 60,47,76,000/- plus Rs 22,69,56,000/ -) instead of erroneous amount considered by the AO [Para 8 at Pg. 5 of the AD's order). 2.4 The Ld. CIT(A) at Para 6.4 at Pg 8-9 of its order, re-computed the disallowance at Rs. 28,76,084/ - which pertains to Capital work in progress. Since Rs. 26,74,988/ - was already capitalized by the assesse, balance disallowance of Rs. 2,01,096/ - was duly confirmed. Relevant extracts of the CIT(Appeals)'s order is as under (Para 6.4, Page 9 of the CIT(A)'s order): In the light of these facts, computation made by the AD by considering the entire interest expenditure and the incorrect figure of the fixed assets and WIP is not in order. The correct computation would be as under: (Interest during the year x WIP)/WIP (1,05,40,065 x 22,69,56,000)/83,17,32,000 = Rs. 28,76,084/- As the appellant company has capitalised Rs. 26,74,988/- out of the interest payment during the year, the proportionate disallowance would work out to Rs.2,01,096/- (28,76,084 - 26,74,988). The balance disallowance i.e. Rs. 1,49,86,193 - Rs. 2,01,096 = Rs. 1,47,85,097 is directed to be disallowed. 2.5 The CIT(Appeals) after due verification of the facts and documents, has recomputed the disallowance and granted partial relief to the assesse. Further, the error made by the AO in applying unscientific and baseless calculation of disallowance of interest was duly rectified. In the absence of any error in the calculation made by the Ld. CIT(Appeals), the grounds raised by the department is liable to be dismissed.”

6.4. “I have considered the assessment order and the submissions furnished by the Ld.AR. The statement of loans and interest payment clearly shows that out of the total interest payment of Rs.5,00,20,595/- claimed by the appellant company, interest of Rs.3,94,80,262/- was on account of opening balances of loans pursuant to scheme of arrangement between the appellant company with M/s. Quippo Infrastructure Equipment Ltd. (QIEA) and M/s. Quippo Construction Equipment Ltd. (QCEL) approved by the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi and the Hon'ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh vide their orders dated ….11.2008 and 05.12.2008 respectively.

The said arrangement became effective from 01.04.2008. Pursuant to the said scheme, secured loan of Rs.28,42,96,628/- and unsecured loan of Rs.3,40,17,OOO/- stood transferred from QIEL w.e.f. 01.04.2008 to the appellant company. The total interest payment on loans obtained during the year is Rs.1,05,40,065/-. There is therefore, merit in the contention of the ld. AR that interest on opening balance of loans should not be considered for computing the proportionate disallowance. It is also noted from the computation of interest disallowance made by the AO that he has considered the investment at Rs.75,75,35,000/- (Rs.53,05,79,000/- Fixed Assets + Rs.22,69,56,000/- WIP) instead of Rs.83,17,32,OOO/- (Rs.60,47,76,0001- Fixed Assets+ Rs.22,69,56,0001- WIP) which is evident from schedule 4 fixed assets of the audited accounts annexed at page 44 of the written submission. The appellant company has capitalized Rs.26,74,988/- out of the interest expense of the Rs.105,40,065/- as per annexure D of the tax audit report filed and annexed as page 77 of the written submissions. In the light of these facts, the computation made by the AO by considering the entire interest expenditure and the incorrect figure of the fixed assets and WIP is not in order. The correct computation would be as under: Interest during the year x WIP 1,05,40,065 x 22,69,56,000=Rs.28,76,084/- Fixed assets 83,17,32,000

6.5. As the appellant company has capitalized Rs.26,74.988/- out of the interest payment during the year, the proportionate disallowance would work out to Rs.2,01.096/-(28,76,084-26,74,988). The balance disallowance i.e. Rs.1,49,86,193 - Rs.2,01,096 = Rs.1,47,85,097/- is directed to be deleted. This ground of appeal is partly ruled in favour of the appellant.”

16. Ld.CIT(A) has pointed out that from the computation of interest disallowance, the AO had considered investment of Rs.75,75,35,000/- against Rs.83,17,32,000/-. This fact is not rebutted by the Revenue. It is seen that Ld.CIT(A) has computed the income at Rs.28,76,084/- against computation made by the Assessing Officer at Rs.1,49,86,193/-. The Revenue could not point out any error in the computation by Ld.CIT(A). Therefore, we do not see any infirmity into the finding of Ld.CIT(A), the same is hereby affirmed. Ground No.2 raised by the Revenue is, thus rejected.

17. Ground No.3 raised by the Revenue is against the deletion of disallowance made on account of short payment of TDS.

For the sake of clarity, written submissions of the assessee are reproduced as under:-

3.0. “Deletion of disallowance on account of short payment of TDS (Rs. 1,34,545/-) [Ground No.3 of Departmental appeal]

3.1 The assessee has paid legal and professional charges of Rs. 3,00,000/- to M/ s Gensol Consultants Pvt Ltd. In the order u/ s 143(3), the AO made ad-hoc disallowance u/ s 40(a)(ia) of the Act as follows [Para 12 at Pg. 5-6 of the AO's order] :

Particulars Amount (Rs.) TDS Deducted (A) Rs. 17,042/- Rate of TDS (B) 10.3% Amount on which correct TDS deducted (C=A/B) Rs. 1,65,455/- Total expenses (D) Rs. 3,00,000/- Balance (E=D-C) Rs. 1,34,545/-

3.2 The Ld. CIT(Appeals) deleted the disallowance made by the AO holding that TDS deduction made in earlier year by transferor company has not been considered by the AO [Para 9.3 & 9.4 at Pg. 16-17 of the CIT(A)'s order].

3.3 The details of impugned professional charges and TDS deducted thereon are as below:-

Sl.No. Amount of Service Total Date of Amount TDS expense Tax (Rs.) (Rs.) payment of TDS Deductor 1. 1,50,000 18,540 1,68,540 16-08-2007 17,360 QIEL (AY 08-09) (Demerged company) 2. 1,50,000 15,450 1,65,450 23.03.2009 17,042 Assessee (AY 09-10) (Resulting company) Total 3,00,000 34,402

The amount paid by QIEL has been transferred to the assessee under duly approved scheme of demerger which has been claimed by assessee as expenses in its books of accounts. See. 40(a)(ia) provides that expenditure shall be disallowed in case tax has not been deducted thereon or after deduction has not been paid. In the instant case, TDS of Rs. 17,360/- and Rs. 17,042/- on entire amount of Rs. 3,00,000/- has been duly deducted and deposited. Hence, disallowance u/ s 40(a)(ia) for expenses in the nature of reimbursements is not sustainable.

3.4 Without prejudice, Section 40(a)(ia) isn't applicable to short deduction of TDS as held in following decisions:

- M/s Neemrana Hotels Pvt Ltd. -vs.- DCIT [ITA No.98/Del/2017) - UE Trade Corporation (India) Ltd -vs.- DCIT [ITA No.2303/Del/2011) (Del ITAT) - CIT -vs.- S. K. Tekriwal (ITA No. 183/Kol/V2012) (Cal HC).”

Above decision was pronounced on conclusion of Virtual Hearing in the presence of both the parties on 23rd August, 2021.