VAN OORD DREDGING AND MARINE CONTRACTORS BV,MUMBAI vs. DCIT (IT) 4(3)(1), MUMBAI

failed to consider the following comparables for the purpose of TNMM a) Afcons Infrastructure Limited b) International seaport dredging c) KND Engineering Technologies Ltd. d) Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Ltd e) L&T S apura Offshore Pvt Ltd f) Seamec Ltd g) Stewarts & L loyds of India Limite Taxability of Management service fees of Rs 3,85,97,891 On the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the learned AO/DRP; 19. erred in treating the management service fees received by the Appellant as "Royalty" under Article 12(4) of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and the Netherlands as well as fee for technical services under Article 12(5) of India - Netherlands DTAA, thereby making an addition of Rs 3,85,97,891 to the income of the Appellant. 20. erred in not appreciating that for the services rendered by the Appellant to qualify as royalty, the same should provide know-how to the recipient. 21. erred in not appreciating that the services provided by the Appellant are in the nature of business support and administration services and are not in the nature of sharing information concerning industrial, commercial and scientific experience. 22. erred in not appreciating that that services rendered by the Appellant are in the nature of business support and administration services and not in the nature of technical or consultancy services; 23. erred in not appreciating that the services rendered by the Appellant do not “make available” any technical knowledge, experience, skill, know- how or processes and hence, is not taxable even as fees for technical services in view of Article 12(5) of the India-Netherlands DTAA. 24. erred in not appreciating that the management service fees received by the Appellant are without any markup and constitute pure allocation of cost which is neither taxable as Royalty nor taxable as Fees for Technical Services under the Act as well as under the India - Netherlands DTAA. Taxability of the reimbursements of salary received of Rs.1,23,75,980 On the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the learned AO/DRP: 25. erred in treating the reimbursement of salary amounting to Rs 1.23.75.000 received by the Appellant as fees for technical services under Article 12(5)(a) of the India Netherlands DTAA (ie technical services rendered in connection with the enjoyment of the right property or information) 26. erred in not appreciating the fact that the crew members provided on dredgers by the Appellant is neither sharing of any experience and information concerning industrial, commercial and scientific knowledge 5 Van Oord Dredging & Marine Contractors BV Vs. DCIT (IT)-4(3)(1) and experience gathered over the years by the Appellant nor in furtherance of sharing such experience and information. 27. erred in not appreciating the fact that the reimbursement of salary received by the Appellant does not have any nexus with the management services rendered by it to VOIPL. 28. erred in not appreciating the fact the reimbursement of salary received by the Appellant was without any markup and constitute pure reimbursements which are not taxable as fees for technical services under the Act. Levy of surcharge and education cess On the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the learned AO: 29. erred in levying surcharge and education cess on the income chargeable to tax under India- Netherlands DTAA; Levy of interest under section 234B of the Act On the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the learned AO: 30. erred in levying interest under section 234B of the Act to the Appellant, being a non resident company, without appreciating the fact that the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the Appellant's own case has dismissed the Special Leave Petition filed by the Department for levy of interest under section 2348 of the Act. Incorrect computation of interest under section 234D of the Act On the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the learned AO: 31. erred in computing the interest on excess refund granted from the date of intimation instead of the date of the cheque as contemplated under the provisions of section 234D of the Act. The above grounds of objections are distinct and separate and without prejudice to each other The appellant craves leave to add, alter, vary, omit, substitute or amend the above grounds of appeal

During the year the assessee has taken on lease dredgers from its associated enterprises. The assessee benchmarked the charter hire/lease rent paid to associate enterprises for hiring the dredgers on the basis of a valuation certificate obtained from VAN Woerkam Nobels & Ten-Veen and claimed charter hire/lease rentals paid to the associate enterprise to be at arm’s length. The TPO rejected the independent valuer certificate used by the assessee for benchmarking the transaction of charter hire of dredgers using cup as most appropriate method and proceeded to benchmark charter hire dredgers and payment to associate enterprises for sub-contract of specified dredging activities using TNMM and aggregating these transaction. The TPO compared the operating margins of the assessee i.e- 9.98% with the margin of dredging corporation of India ltd i.e 0.95% and accordingly made an adjustment to the total income of the assessee.

The DRP vide direction dated 29.11.2016 stated that TPO found that price paid for international transaction has not been determined in accordance with sub-section (1) and sub-section (2) of Section 92C of the Act and held that the action of the TPO using TNMM and comparing margin of the assessee (-) 9.98% with margin of dredging Corporation of India Ltd. i.e 0.95% and making of an adjustment was in accordance with law. The TPO selected Dredging Corporation of India a Government 7 Van Oord Dredging & Marine Contractors BV Vs. DCIT (IT)-4(3)(1) Company as a comparable to the assessee whose margin was 0.95% and made adjustment after considering assessee’s margin at (-)9.98%.

During the course of appellate proceedings before us at the outset the ld. Counsel submitted that identical issue on similar facts has been adjudicated by the coordinate bench of the ITAT, Mumbai, vide for A.Y. 2011-12 dated 31.03.2019. On the other hand the ld. Departmental Representative placed reliance on the decision of lower authorities. With the assistance of the ld. Representatives we have perused the decision of ITAT, Mumbai, as referred supra, the relevant part of the decision is reproduced as under:

It is relevant to observe, the assessee has been executing dredging contracts in India since long and it has determined the arm's length price of the hire charges / lease rentals of the dredgers hired from the AEs by applying the aforesaid methodology. As could be seen from the materials placed before us, in the assessment year 2002–03, the Assessing Officer while completing the assessment under section 143(3) of the Act had accepted the charter hire charges for dredger Sagar Manthan, which is also under hire in the impugned assessment year, by accepting the valuation as per VG Bouw norms to be a fair value. In the assessment year 2005–06, the Transfer Pricing Officer while accepting the valuation certificate obtained from the valuer on the basis of VG Bouw norms as a CUP had observed that the assessee had to furnish separate valuation certificates for dredging operation and mobilization and demobilization charges. Thus, the Transfer Pricing Officer had proceeded to make an adjustment of 15% on account of demobilization and mobilization period. Similarly, for the assessment year 2006–07, while completing the assessment under section 143(3) of the Act, the Assessing Officer, though, accepted the valuation as per VG Bouw 8 Van Oord Dredging & Marine Contractors BV Vs. DCIT (IT)-4(3)(1)

Interestingly, in the assessment year 2010–11, the assessee benchmarked the hire charges / lease rentals for charter hire of dredgers by applying the valuation certificate of the valuer as a CUP. However, in the course of proceedings before him, the Transfer Pricing Officer noticed that independent valuer has valued the hire charges by applying CIRIA norms of 2005. Therefore, the Transfer Pricing Officer vide letter dated 11th December 2013 called upon the assessee to value the charter hire charges of dredgers by applying the formula as per CIRIA Norms 2005. Ultimately, the Transfer Pricing Officer having found that charter hire charges paid by the assessee to the AEs is at arm's length as per CIRIA Norms 2009, made no further adjustment. It is relevant to observe, in case assessee’s Indian subsidiary, viz, Van Oord India Pvt. Ltd., the Transfer Pricing Officer has consistently accepted the benchmarking of charter hire charges as per valuation done on the basis of VG Bouw / CIRIA Norms, which is evident from the orders passed by the Transfer Pricing Officer for the assessment year 2011–12, a copy of which is placed in the paper book.

Interestingly enough, out of 10 dredgers hired by the assessee for the impugned assessment year, two dredgers were partly hired by the aforesaid Indian subsidiary and in the course of proceedings under section 92CA(3) of the Act, the Transfer Pricing Officer has accepted the valuation report of the independent value as a valid CUP and treated the international transaction relating to payment of charter hire charges to be at arm's length price. It is also relevant to observe, the Transfer Pricing Officer in both the cases is the same. Thus, from the aforesaid facts, it is evident that the valuation done by the independent valuer on the basis of VG Bouw / CIRIA Norms is accepted as valid CUP not only by the dredging industry but by the Department also.

It is further relevant to observe, in case of Boskalis International and Dredging International C.V. (supra), the Tribunal has accepted the computation of arm's length price of hire charges of dredgers by using VG Bouw valuation as a valid CUP. In the case of Ballast Nedam Dredging (supra), the Co–ordinate Bench has expressed similar view by holding that the valuation done by the valuer on the basis of VG Bouw norms can be accepted as a valid CUP. On a perusal of the valuation certificate issued by the independent valuer, it is noticed that the independent valuer has determined the value of charter hire charges by applying the standard formula prescribed under the CIRIA norms which was earlier known as VG Bouw norms. That being the case, the benchmarking done by the assessee applying the valuation certificate issued by the independent valuer as a CUP is valid. More so, when in the preceding assessment years, the Assessing Officer/Transfer Pricing Officer has accepted the valuation of charter hire charges as per VG Bouw / CIRIA norms. Though, the principle of res judicata does not apply to income tax proceedings, each assessment year being an independent unit, however, rule of consistency cannot also be given a complete go bye. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (supra), has held in the following manner:– “The decisions cited have uniformly held that res judicata does not apply in matters pertaining to tax for different assessment years because res judicata 9 Van Oord Dredging & Marine Contractors BV Vs. DCIT (IT)-4(3)(1) applies to debar Courts from entertaining issues on the same cause of action whereas the cause of action for each assessment year is distinct. The Courts will generally adopt an earlier pronouncement of the law or a conclusion of fact unless there is a new ground urged or a material change in the factual position. The reason why Courts have held parties to the opinion expressed in a decision in one assessment year to the same opinion in a subsequent year is not because of any principle of res judicata but because of the theory of precedent or the precedential value of the earlier pronouncement. Where facts and law in a subsequent assessment year are the same, no authority whether quasi judicial or judicial can generally be permitted to take a different view. This mandate is subject only to the usual gateways of distinguishing the earlier decision or where the earlier decision is per incuriam. However, these are fetters only on a coordinate bench which, failing the possibility of availing of either of these gateways, may yet differ with the view expressed and refer the matter to a bench of superior strength or in some cases to a bench of superior jurisdiction.”

The same view has been expressed in other decisions as well. In case of the present assessee also, the material facts permeating through different assessment years are more or less identical as the terms and conditions on which the dredgers are hired have not changed. That being the case, applying the rule of consistency, a different view cannot be taken in the impugned assessment year with regard to the benchmarking of lease rentals paid for charter hire of dredgers by applying CUP method. For the aforesaid reasons, we allow the grounds raised by the assessee with a direction to the Assessing Officer / Transfer Pricing Officer to accept the benchmarking done by the assessee under CUP method after verifying the fact that the independent valuer has made the valuation as per CIRIA norms. Grounds are allowed.”

Brief facts are, the assessee provides various services to group companies including the assessee, such as, general management, survey and engineering related functions, marketing and public relation, information technology, quality assurance, technical, financial and administrative, human resources and organization, etc. For providing such services to the Indian subsidiary assessee received a sum of` 9,72,01,066. While framing the draft assessment order, the Assessing Officer treated the aforesaid amount received by the assessee as royalty as per Article–12 of India– Netherland Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) and accordingly, brought it to tax. The assessee challenged the aforesaid addition before learned DRP.

Learned DRP relying upon its own decision in assessment year 2009–10, held that the amount is taxable as royalty / fee for technical services.

The learned Authorised Representative submitted, while deciding identical issue in assessee’s own case in assessment year 2009–10, the Tribunal has held that the management fee received by the assessee is neither in the nature of royalty nor fee for technical services as per Article–12 of India–Netherland Tax Treaty. Thus, he submitted, the issue is covered by the decision of the Tribunal. 23. The learned Departmental Representative, though, agreed that the issue has been decided in favour of the assessee, however, he relied upon the observations of learned DRP and the Assessing Officer. 24. We have considered rival submissions and perused the material on record. It is evident from the order of learned DRP that they have decided the issue relying upon their decision in assessee’s own case for the assessment year 2009–10. Notably, while deciding assessee’s appeal for the assessment year 2009–10 in Mum./2012, dated 7th October 2016, the Tribunal has held that the amount received is neither in the nature of royalty nor fees for technical services under Article–12 of India–Netherland Tax Treaty. That being the case, respectfully following the decision of the Co–ordinate Bench referred to above, we delete the addition made by the Assessing Officer.” It is also submitted that issue of taxability of salary received was also covered in favour of the assessee by the decision of the ITAT, Mumbai, in the case of the assessee itself as referred supra in this order. The relevant part of the operating para is reproduced as under:

The Assessing Officer in the course of assessment proceedings, held that the reimbursement of salary is in the nature of fees for technical services.

Learned DRP also concurred with the aforesaid view relying upon its own order for the assessment year 2009–10.

Having considered rival submissions, it is noticed that the Tribunal while deciding the issue in assessment year 2009–10 held that reimbursement of salary is not in the nature of fees for technical services as per Article– 12(5) of India–Netherland Tax Treaty. Therefore, respectfully following the aforesaid decision of the Co– ordinate Bench, we delete the addition made by the Assessing Officer. These grounds are allowed.”

Ground Nos. 1 – 3 filed by the assessee are general ground of appeal, therefore, the same not required any adjudication.

In the result, the appeal of the assessee is partly allowed.