M/S STRATERGIC CAPITAL CORPORATION PVT LTD,MUMBAI vs. ACIT CIRCLE 2(3)(2), MUMBAI

आदेश / O R D E R PER M. BALAGANESH (A.M):

M/s. Strategic Capital Corporation Pvt. Ltd.,

2.1. We have heard the rival submissions and perused the materials available on record. The assessee is a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) engaged in the business of financing. We find that the assessee during the year under consideration had derived interest on fixed deposits amounting to Rs 9,37,165/- and other interest income of Rs 17,230/-, both totaling to Rs 9,54,395/-. We find that the said interest income was offered to tax by the assessee under the head ‘income from business’ in the return of income. We find that the ld. AO had shifted the taxability of the said sum to ‘income from other sources’. While doing so, the ld. AO did not reduce the said sum under the head ‘income from business’ and simply proceeded to add the same again under the head ‘income from other sources’ thereby resulting in double addition. The ld. AR merely requested for direction to be given to the ld. AO to reduce the same sum of Rs 9,54,395/- from business income. Per contra, the ld. DR vehemently relied on the orders of the lower authorities. We find that the claim of the ld. AR is very fair and we direct the ld. AO to reduce the sum of Rs 9,54,395/- while computing business income as it would avoid double taxation. In our considered opinion, this would meet the ends of M/s. Strategic Capital Corporation Pvt. Ltd., justice. Accordingly, the first part of Ground No.1 raised by the assessee is allowed.

2.2. With regard to interest income of Rs 54,32,259/- earned by the assessee from securities, the assessee had claimed during the course of assessment proceedings that the same is not chargeable to tax. But the ld. AO applied the decision of Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Goetze India Ltd reported in 284 ITR 323 (SC) and denied the plea of the assessee. The ld. CIT(A) appreciated the contentions of the assessee and directed the ld. AO to verify the fact as to whether the said interest income earned from securities in the sum of Rs 54,32,259/- is exempt from tax or not and decide the issue in accordance with law. The ld. AR submitted that the ld. AO is not giving effect to the said directions of the ld. CIT(A) and hence prayed for similar directions to the ld. AO. This was fairly agreed by the ld. DR. Accordingly, we direct the ld. AO to give effect to the directions of the ld. CIT(A) to examine the taxability of interest on securities in accordance with law, while giving effect to this order of tribunal. The second part of Ground No. 1 is disposed of accordingly.

3.1. We have heard the rival submissions and perused the materials available on record. The ld. AR submitted that assessee apart from the business of financing, decided to get into a new line of business by way of opening a book store catering to high net worth individuals and foreigners

M/s. Strategic Capital Corporation Pvt. Ltd., and also venture into food business. He stated that this book stall has books mostly of international authors and most of the patrons are high net worth individuals and foreigners and the assessee company decided to diversify into different business such as opening a book store and food business, as the existing financing business was not yielding profits to them. The ld. AR stated that assessee did not incur any major traditional advertising expenses by giving advertisement in print media. However, the Managing Director of the assessee company had made possible efforts to reach out to customers through clubs to promote the new business of assessee company of opening a book store. Accordingly, the assessee company took membership in two clubs namely – Young President Organization (YPO) and United Service Club. The ld. AR submitted that YPO is an organization where the assessee had taken membership and this organization has got CEOs, promoters of various corporate and major High Net Worth individuals. Accordingly, the MD of the assessee company by visiting this club had developed contacts with High profile individuals which would in turn promote the business of assessee. Accordingly, the assessee paid membership fees and subscription to this club. Similarly in respect of United Service Club, the assessee company took membership in this club which was established in 1937, which also catered to High Net Worth Individuals. Accordingly, the assessee paid membership fees and subscription to this club. These submissions were not found to be false by the revenue. The assessee had duly furnished the entire bills with supporting evidences with regard to payments made to these two clubs and other fees and subscriptions totaling to Rs 2,20,657/-. We find that the nature of payment made by the assessee is not disputed by the revenue. The only grievance of the revenue is that the business of running a book store did not commence during the year under consideration and hence the above expenditure

M/s. Strategic Capital Corporation Pvt. Ltd., incurred by the assessee could not be construed to have incurred for business purposes. We are unable to pursuade ourselves to accept to this proposition of the revenue. When a new product is launched or a new book store is being opened by the assessee, it is the duty of the assessee to first bring to the knowledge of the general public about the store and the quality of books that would be available thereon. This is nothing but pure marketing expenditure incurred by the assessee. The ld. AR also placed on record various advertisements in the form of written articles being published in the monthly magazines of the aforesaid clubs about the book store of the assessee. Though no revenue has been generated by the assessee from book store during the year under consideration, we find that the book store had generated revenue of Rs 27,81,155/- in Asst Year 2016-17 ; Rs 59,65,810/- in Asst Year 2017-18 and Rs 60,09,405/- in Asst Year 2018-19. Hence we hold that the expenditure incurred on fees and subscription in the instant case would have to be construed as incurred wholly and exclusively for the purpose of business and accordingly allowable as deduction. Accordingly, the Ground No. 2 raised by the assessee is allowed.

4.1. We have heard the rival submissions and perused the materials available on record. It is not in dispute that the assessee company had paid a sum of Rs 12,00,000/- as professional fees to its Director Mr Pradeep Nair. The assessee during the course of assessment proceedings had stated that this was paid for rendering of services by Mr

M/s. Strategic Capital Corporation Pvt. Ltd., Pradeep Nair for designing / layout of the structure of book store ; for giving opinions, registration work, drafting /documentation of various departments, legal work , compliance of formalities with BMC , Excise department, Weight & Measure department , meeting with various books publishers and vendors, conducting events for starting new business of Book store. The ld. AO observed that since no revenue has been generated from Book store during the year under consideration, the aforesaid expenditure requires to be capitalized and hence not allowable as deduction u/s 37 of the Act. This action of the ld. AO was upheld by the ld. CIT(A).

4.2. Before us, the ld. AR vehemently argued about the capabilities of Mr Pradeep Nair stating his credentials and his contributions to the assessee company in the past and for the overall Strategic Group. He also submitted that in immediately preceding assessment year i.e Asst Year 2014-15, the same sum of Rs 12 lacs paid towards professional fees to Mr Pradeep Nair was allowed as deduction by the ld. AO. We find that the lower authorities had grossly erred in stating that the said expenditure would be fully capital in nature as it is incurred for services for designing / layout of structure of the book store. Eventhough book store business started generating revenue from Asst Year 2016-17 onwards, the assessee had set up the said business during the year under consideration. Moreover, we find that the professional fees is paid to Mr Pradeep Nair for rendering other services also in addition to designing /layout of structure of book store. Hence reading the explanation of the assessee partially and reaching to wrong conclusion by the lower authorities, is not in order. We find that the main grievance of the revenue is only that the assessee had not furnished the qualifications of Mr Pradeep Nair which would enable him to render the aforesaid services

M/s. Strategic Capital Corporation Pvt. Ltd., to the assessee company. This grievance of the revenue certainly requires to be appreciated and in our considered opinion, is a genuine concern. The ld. AR also fairly agreed before us for examination of this issue by the ld. AO. Hence we deem it fit and appropriate to remand this issue to the file of ld. AO for limited purpose of verification of qualification of Mr Pradeep Nair and his capabilities to render the aforesaid services to the assessee company. The assessee is at liberty to furnish fresh evidences, if any, in support of its contentions. We further hold that, on verification , if it is found that Mr Pradeep Nair is certainly capable of rendering the aforesaid services to the assessee company by taking into account his services rendered in the past and future, then the ld. AO has to allow deduction of Rs 12,00,000/- towards professional fees in the year under consideration. Accordingly, the Ground No. 3 is allowed for statistical purposes.

M/s. Strategic Capital Corporation Pvt. Ltd.,

Order pronounced on 23/08/2022 by way of proper mentioning in the notice board.