ACIT 2(2)(1), MUMBAI vs. MAHIMA STOCKS PVT. LTD., MUMBAI

Mahima Stocks Pvt Ltd., Mumbai. - 3 - statements found that the assessee company has filed the revised return of income for the A.Y 2015-16 with a total income of Rs.7,70,42,550/- under the normal provisions of the Act and the book profits computed u/s 115JB of the Act at Rs. 12,58,87,769/-.The assessee was called to furnish the details/ explanations for filing the revised return of income and reduction in computing the Book Profits. The assessee has filed a letter dated 27.09.2017 and the A.O has referred to the facts/details at page 3 of the assessment order.

Mahima Stocks Pvt Ltd., Mumbai. - 4 - of the Act. The A.O. observed that the book profits computation is as per profit and loss account as adjusted by explanation1 to Sec. 115JB of the Act and there is no provision under companies Act to compute the index cost of asset hence for the purpose of computing the capital gains only actual cost of the capital asset as per books of account to be considered and actual gain credited to profit and loss account. The A.O also dealt on the explanation 1 to Sec.115JB of the Act and judicial decisions and finally concluded that the deduction claimed by the assessee in the revised return of income of Rs.3,08,57,799/- on account of differential long term capital gain due to index cost is disallowed and was added back in the computation of book profits u/s 115JB of the Act. The A.O. computed the book profits u/s 115JB of the Act of Rs.15,67,45,568/- and passed the order u/s 143(3) of the Act dated 28.11.2017.

4. Aggrieved by the order, the assessee has filed an appeal with the CIT(A). Whereas the CIT(A) considered the grounds of appeal, submissions of the assessee and findings of the scrutiny assessment and the judicial decisions. Finally the CIT(A) relied on the decision of Mahima Stocks Pvt Ltd., Mumbai. - 5 - the Hon’ble Jurisdictional High Court of Karnataka and observed that the assessee is entitled for deduction of indexed cost of acquisition from the long term capital gains for the purpose of Section 115JB of the Act and allowed the assessee appeal. Aggrieved by the CIT(A) order, the revenue has filed an appeal before the Hon’ble Tribunal.

5. At the time of hearing, the Ld. DR submitted that the CIT(A) erred in granting the relief to the assessee by directing the reduction of indexed cost of acquisition from the long term capital gains for the purpose of computing book profits u/sec115JB of the Act. Further there is no provision in the Act to change the income criteria as per the audited profit and loss account and prayed for allowing the revenue appeal.

6. Contra, the Ld. AR supported the order of the CIT(A) and submitted that there are changes incorporated in the provisions of Sec.115JB of the Act. The decisions relied by the revenue are not on the applicable provisions U/sec 115JB of the Act and substantiated the submissions with factual paper book and judicial decisions.

Mahima Stocks Pvt Ltd., Mumbai. - 6 -

Mahima Stocks Pvt Ltd., Mumbai. - 7 - profit to arrive at the adjusted book profit.The Ld.AR supported the submissions with the following judicial decisions.

2.Karnataka State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corp Ltd. Vs. DCIT (ITAT Bangaluru)(2016) (76 taxmann.com360)

3. M/s Neha Home Builders Pvt Ltd. Vs. CIT (ITAT Mumbai).(ITA.No.2964/M/2016)

The above matter was taken up by the jurisdictional Karnataka High Court in the case of the M.S. R. & Sons Investment Ltd. Vs. DCIT (ITA No. 3189 of 2005), wherein the court upheld that the benefit of indexed cost of Mahima Stocks Pvt Ltd., Mumbai. - 8 - acquisition is to be considered for the purpose of computing tax liability u/s 115JB. The same issue was again confirmed by the Karnataka High Court in the case of the M/s Best Trading Agencies Ltd. VS. DCIT on 26.8.2020(ITA No.191 of 2011) wherein the Hon'ble High Court held as under:

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Bangalore Bench in KARNATAKA STATE INDUSTRIAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LTD. supra took note of decision of the coordinate Bench in 'MSR & SONS INVESTMENT LTD. VS. DY. CIT wherein it was held that while computing capital gains the benefit of indexed cost of acquisition is to be considered for the purpose of computing tax liability under Section 115JB of the Act. It was further held that the revenue challenged the aforesaid decision in an appeal before this Court and a division bench of this court vide order dated 14.09.2011 passed in upheld the order of the Tribunal and followed the decision rendered in the case of MSR & Sons Investment Ltd......

Section 115JB(5) of the Act reads as under:

"(5) Save as otherwise provided in this section, all other provisions of this Act shall apply to every assessee being a company, mentioned in this Section."

Thus, by virtue of sub-Section (5) of Section 115JB, the application of other provisions of the Act are open, except if specifically barred by the Section itself. The indexed cost of acquisition is a claim allowed by Section 48 of the Act to arrive at the income taxable under the income from capital

Mahima Stocks Pvt Ltd., Mumbai. - 9 - gains. The difference between the sale consideration and indexed cost of acquisition represents the actual cost of the assessee, which is taxable as per Section 45 of the Act at the rates provided under Section 112 of the Act. There is no provision in the Act to prevent the assessee from claiming indexed cost of acquisition on the sale of asset in case, where the assessee is subjected to Section 115JB of the Act. In any case, since, the indexed cost of acquisition is subjected to tax under a specific provision viz., Section 112 of the Act, therefore, the provisions of Section 115JB of the Act, which is a general provision cannot be made applicable to the case of the assessee. For yet another reason, the assessee has to be given the benefit of indexed cost of acquisition as considering the profits on sale of land without giving the benefit of indexed cost of acquisition results in taxing the income other than actual / real income. In other words, a mere book keeping entry cannot be treated as income...... In view of preceding analysis, the substantial questions of law framed in both the appeals are answered in favour of the assessee and against the revenue. In the result, the orders passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal to the extent it is against the assessee are hereby quashed. In the result, the appeals are disposed of.

In view of the above, the matter has been decided in favour of the assessee by the jurisdictional High Court of Karnataka that the assessee is entitled to the benefit of indexed cost of acquisition while calculating Capital Gains for the purpose of Section 115JB. In view of this, the appeal is allowed.

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Order pronounced in the open court on 24.08.2022.