DCIT 8(2), MUMBAI vs. PANTALOON INDUSTRIES LTD, MUMBAI

The cross appeal is filed by the revenue and the assessee against the order of Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-17, Mumbai passed u/s 154 and 250 of the Act. We shall take up the assessee appeal in for the A.Y 2009-10 as lead case and the facts narrated. The assessee has raised the following grounds of appeal:

The brief facts of the case are that the assessee company is engaged in the business of manufacturing of readymade garments and trading of fabrics. The assessee has filed the return of income for the A.Y 2009-10 on 29.09.2009 disclosing a total loss of Rs. 48,66,08,173/- and the return of income was processed u/s 143(1) of the Act. Subsequently, the case was selected for scrutiny and notice u/s 143(2) and 142(1) of the Act are issued . In compliance to the notice, the Ld. AR of the assessee appeared from time to time and submitted the details and the case was & 5958//Mum/2014 M/s pantaloon Industries Ltd., Mumbai. - 4 - discussed. On perusal of the financial statements the A.O. found that the assessee has earned dividend income on shares of Rs.76,22,191/- and claimed exemption u/s 10(34) of the Act. However no expenditure was disallowed by the assessee for earning exempt income. The A.O. has issued notice, to explain why the expenses attributable to earning exempt income should not be disallowed U/sec14A r.w.r 8D of the I T Rules. The assessee has filed the explanations on 11.10.2011 mentioning that the assesse has not incurred any expenditure related to earning exempt income. (i) The A.O. was not satisfied with the submissions and prima-facie found that there are certain expenses which are directly relating to the assessee earning exempt income and invoked the provisions of sec14A r.w.r 8D(2)(iii) and computed the disallowance of Rs. 19,86,20,162/-.(ii) Similarly the A.O. found that the VAT was not paid before the due date u/sec139(1) of the Act and was disallowed U/sec43B of the Act of Rs. 8,815/-.(iii) the A.O. found that there are prior period expenses claimed and the assessee has not submitted the details and they are not forming part of the current year expenses and & 5958//Mum/2014 M/s pantaloon Industries Ltd., Mumbai. - 5 - made addition of Rs. 72,529/-.(iv) the A.O. found that as per the Form no 26AS and ITS, there is a difference in gross receipts reconciliation and made addition of Rs.1,45,916/-.Finally the A.O. has assessed the total loss of Rs. 287,760,750/- and passed the order u/s 143(3) of the Act dated 24.10.2011.

Subsequently, the A.O. has issued notice u/s 154 of the Act in respect of rectification of mistake apparent from record for not considering the disallowance u/sec14A r.w.r 8D2(iii) of the I T Rules in computing the Book Profits U/sec115JB of the Act. Whereas, the asssessee has filed a letter dated 21-03-2013 raising the objections on the claim. Finally the A.O. has passed the rectification order by determining the Book profits u/s 115JB of the Act including the disallowance u/s 14A of the Act which worked out to Rs9,98,01,440/- and passed the order u/s 154 of the Act dated 24.04.2013.

Aggrieved by the order u/s 154 of the Act the assessee has filed an appeal before the CIT(A). Whereas the CIT(A) considered the grounds of appeal, submissions of the assessee, findings of the A.O and & 5958//Mum/2014 M/s pantaloon Industries Ltd., Mumbai. - 6 - on the disputed issue with respect to disallowance u/s 14A of the Act, the CIT(A) has confirmed the action of the A.O in computing the Book profits u/s 115JB of the Act and granted relief in other grounds of appeal and partly allowed the assessee appeal. Aggrieved by the order of the CIT(A) on the disputed issue with respect to jurisdiction of the A.O. and sustaining the disallowance u/sec14A r.w.r 8D in computing the Book profits U/sec115JB of the Act the assessee has filed an appeal with the Honble Tribunal.

We rely on the ratio of Special Bench decision in the case of ACIT Vs. Vireet Investments Pvt Ltd (165 ITD 27) (Delhi) on this disputed issue. We do not agree with the observations of the CIT(A) with respect to disallowance made u/s 14A of the Act is part of book profits and is not sustainable. Accordingly, we direct the A.O. to exclude the disallowance U/sec14A r.w.r 8D2 of the I T Rules in computing the Book Profits U/sec115JB of the Act and allow the grounds of appeal of the assessee.

In the result, the appeal filed by the assessee is allowed.

We find the revenue has filed the appeal challenging the action of the CIT(A) in restricting the disallowance u/sec14A in computing the Book Profits u/sec115JB (f) of the Act. Whereas the assessee appeal U/sec14A r.w.r 8D2 of the I T Rules cannot be part of the Book profits calculated u/s 115JB of the Act. Since the disallowance u/sec14A of the Act is not a part of Book profits calculation duly & 5958//Mum/2014 M/s pantaloon Industries Ltd., Mumbai. - 9 - supported with the judicial decisions as discussed in the above paragraphs. The grounds of appeal raised by the revenue becomes infractus and dismissed.

In the result, the appeal filed by the revenue is dismissed and the assesse appeal is allowed.