STANDARD CHARTERED BANK vs. DDIT, CIRCLE-2(2),,

PER SUDHANSHU SRIVASTAVA, JM: The above captioned cross appeals filed by the

assessee and the revenue pertain to Assessment Years (AY) 1999-

2000 and 2000-2001 and as the issues involved in both the appeals

are common, they were heard together and are being hereby

disposed off vide this consolidated order for the sake of convenience.

2.0 The Ld. Authorised Representative (AR), at the

outset, submitted that the issues involved in these appeals are

covered by the order of this Tribunal (ITAT) in assessee’s own case

for AYs 1997-1998 and 1998-1999. She also filed a paper book

containing chart of issues and orders of the ITAT from which they

are covered. It was accordingly submitted that appeals raised may

be decided in the light of the earlier orders of the Tribunal.

3 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

3.0 The Ld. Departmental Representative (DR) on

the other hand did not dispute the factual position to this effect and

stated that grounds being raised in the cross appeals are identical

to that dealt with by the ITAT in earlier years.

4.0 Assessment Year 1999-2000 - Assessee’s

appeal (ITA No. 2238/Del/2006) : The appeal filed by the

assessee is against the order passed u/s 250 of the Income Tax Act,

1961 (hereinafter called ‘the Act’) by the Ld. Commissioner of

Income Tax (Appeals)-XXIX, New Delhi {CIT (A)} vide order dated

26/04/2006.

4.1 The assessee has raised the following grounds

of appeal:

“1. The learned CIT (A) had erred in law and on facts in surmising that 20% of NRI expenses amounting to Rs. 27,43,010 incurred on personnel, telephone and travelling were in the nature of head office expenses, and hence disallowable. 2. The learned CIT(A) had erred in sustaining the dis- proportionate and excessively exaggerated estimate of indirect expenses attributable to earning income on

4 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

foreign currency loans taxable u/s. 115A of Rs. 2,71,28,450/- despite the fact that a properly allocated amount was already offered to tax by the appellant u/s. 115A(3) of the Act. 3. The learned CIT(A) had erred in law and on facts in upholding an estimated disallowance of managerial and administrative expenses of Rs. 1,20,000/- for earning dividend income by treating this as tax free income, whereas dividend income is actually subject to tax at source before distribution by the company which pays the dividends. 4. The learned CIT(A) had erred in law and on facts in upholding an ad hoc addition of Rs. 35,00,000/- on account of expenses incurred on earning foreign currency syndicated term loans. 5. The appellant craves leave to add, alter and. or amend all or any of the grounds in appeal at the time hearing.”

4.2.0 Ground no. 1 is directed against 20% disallowance

of NRI expenses as confirmed by the Ld. CIT (A). It is noted that the

Assessing Officer (AO) considered the disallowance of Rs.

1,74,64,029/- in respect of claim of NRI expense incurred outside

India for soliciting and mobilizing of deposits in foreign currency on

the ground that these expenses were not booked in the Profit &

5 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

Loss a/c. Further, the assessing officer also held that the deduction

in respect of these expenses has already been allowed u/s 44C of

the Act. The Ld. first appellate authority allowed 80% of the

expenses and upheld the balance 20% in respect of personnel,

telephone and travelling expenses.

4.2.1 We have considered the rival submissions and

have gone through the material available on record. We find that

this issue had earlier come up for consideration before the

Coordinate Bench in appeals for immediately preceding year (AY

1998-1999) in ITA No. 2180/Del/06 and 1459/Del/2006 vide order

dated 28.02.2018 wherein the matter was set-aside to the file of the

assessing officer after following the earlier order of the ITAT for AY

1996-1997. The relevant finding recorded by Tribunal in AY 1998-

1999 is reproduced hereunder:

“7. After hearing the rival submissions and perusing the relevant material on record, we find that this issue has been decided by the Tribunal in its order for the immediately preceding assessment year. Relevant discussion has been made in para 15. The Tribunal followed its earlier order passed for the assessment year 1996-97, in which the matter was

6 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

remanded to the file of Assessing Officer with a direction to the assessee to furnish details as to what was the amount of deposits raised and how the same was brought into India and, thereafter, the Assessing Officer was directed to examine the details of expenses and the basis of allocation of such expenses for considering the allowability of the same. Such direction given by the Tribunal has been reproduced on page 12 of the Tribunal order for the immediately preceding assessment year. In the absence of any distinguishing facts and circumstances, respectfully following the precedent, we set aside the impugned order on this score and send the matter back to the file of the Assessing Officer for deciding it in conformity with the directions given by the Tribunal for the assessment year 1996-97, which have been extracted verbatim on page 12 of the Tribunal order for the immediately preceding year.”

4.2.2 Respectfully following the order of the

Coordinate Bench, we hereby set-aside and restore this issue to the

file of the assessing officer to decide the matter in the light of the

directions given by the ITAT in AY 1996-1997 after giving due

opportunity to the appellant. Accordingly, Ground No. 1 is allowed

for statistical purposes.

7 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

4.3.0 Ground No. 2 is directed against the order of

the Ld. CIT (A) confirming the disallowance of administrative

expenses to the extent of Rs. 2,71,28,450/- u/s 115A(3) of the

Income Tax Act, 1961. The assessee, during the year, earned

interest income of Rs. 9,16,35,000/- on foreign currency loan which

was taxable on special rate u/s 115A of the Act. The assessing

officer was of the view that disallowance of interest outgo, as made

by the assessee in terms of provisions of section 115A (3), is

understated and that the claim of administrative expenses also

needs to be disallowed. The disallowance was computed in ratio of

expenditure to gross receipt (87%) as per Profit & Loss a/c.

4.3.0 We have considered the facts of the case and

gone through the orders passed by the ITAT in assessee’s own case.

The Coordinate bench, while deciding the appeals for AY 1997-1998

in ITA No.1106/Del/2006 and 1345/Del/2006, vide order dated

30/11/2017 has adjudicated with this very issue and the matter

was set-aside to the file of assessing officer with specific directions.

The said observations of the Tribunal are extracted hereunder:

8 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

“42. The issue for our adjudication relates to the disallowances to be worked out for indirect expense incurred by the assessee in relation to such impugned income of interest. On perusal of the AO order we observed that he has made the disallowance on proportionate basis between the total operating expenses viz a viz gross receipt of the assessee. In our considered view the method adopted by the AO suffers from several infirmities as detailed below:- i) The lower authorities have worked out the ratio between total expenses viz a viz total receipt and that ratio has been applied to the impugned interest income on the same gross revenue. (ii) The product of foreign currency loan was in operation only for four months effective from December 96 to March 97 for the year under consideration. (iii) There are certain costs which are fixed in nature and therefore all such costs cannot be attributable to this product. 43. In view of above, we direct the AO to adopt the following method for working out the disallowance of indirect expenses incurred in relation to such impugned interest income. i) Work out the ratio between the total revenue viz a viz the gross income earned by the assessee on foreign currency loan. (ii) Based on the above ratio the indirect expenses will be determined for four months for the purpose of disallowance u/s 115A of the Act. 44. We further find that there is no dispute with regard to the expenses already disallowed by the assessee in its income tax

9 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

return. In view of the above we direct the lower authorities to make the disallowance u/s 115A of the Act in the light of above discussion. Thus the ground of appeal of the assessee is allowed for statistical purpose.”

4.3.1 The Tribunal has passed similar order in

appeal for immediately preceding AY 1998-1999. We find no reason

to deviate from the directions given by the Coordinate bench and

respectfully following the same, we remand back this issue to the

file of assessing officer with the direction to work out the

disallowance in accordance with order of ITAT in AY 1997-1998.

This ground is allowed for statistical purpose.

4.4.0 Ground No. 3 is against the upholding of

disallowance of Rs. 1,20,000/- u/s 10(33) of the Act. The assessee

has claimed exempt dividend income to the extent of Rs.

15,26,663/- in respect of which the assessing officer has computed

disallowance of Rs. 1,20,000/- on account of

management/administrative expense on estimate basis.

4.4.1 The Ld. AR disputed the disallowance on the

ground that since the dividend paid by the company are post tax,

10 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

the exemption in the hands of receipt u/s 10(33) is merely to avoid

double taxation and as such there is no question of any

disallowance.

4.4.2 The Ld. DR supported the order of the Ld. CIT

(A) and argued that as per the express provisions of section 14A,

the assessing officer has rightly made the disallowance of

administrative expenses.

4.4.3 We have considered the rival submissions and

have perused the orders passed by lower authorities. We find that

provisions of section 14A were introduced vide Finance Act, 2001

with retrospective effect from 01/04/1962. It clearly means that the

Statute does not intend to allow claim of expenses incurred in

relation of exempt income earned by the assessee. In the present

case, the assessee has failed to demonstrate any infirmity with the

estimation of disallowance of Rs. 1,20,000/- made by the assessing

officer which, in our view, is reasonable. Accordingly, we uphold the

disallowance and reject ground No.3 of the assessee’s appeal.

4.5.0 Ground No. 4 of the assessee’s appeal is

directed against the upholding of disallowance of expenses to the

11 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

tune of Rs. 35,00,000/- in terms of provisions of section 10(15)(iv)

of the Act. The assessee has claimed exempt income aggregating to

Rs. 3,22,21,592/0 u/s 10(15)(iv) of the Act being fee in respect of

foreign currency loans. The assessing officer considered

disallowance of Rs. 35,00,000/- on estimate basis. The Ld. CIT (A)

has concurred with the order of assessing officer.

4.5.1 We find that that similar issue has been

decided by the Coordinate bench in the immediately preceding AY

1998-1999 wherein it was held that as per provisions of section

14A, certain disallowance is required to be made in the hands of the

assesssee. However, the issue was set-aside to the file of the

assessing officer for computing disallowance on a reasonable basis.

The finding of the Tribunal is as under:

“12. We have heard both the sides and perused the relevant material on record. There is no dispute that the assessee claimed exemption of the gross amount u/s 10(15)(iv) of Rs.4.59 crore. It is, but, natural that the expenses incurred in respect of such exempt income cannot be allowed u/s 14A of the Act. The assessment year under consideration is 1998-99. Hence, the provisions of Rule 8D cannot be invoked for computing the amount of disallowance u/s 14A. Under these circumstances,

12 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

we are of the considered opinion that it would be in the fitness of things if the impugned order is set aside and the matter is restored to the file of Assessing Officer for determining the amount disallowable u/s 14A on some reasonable basis. It is, however, made clear that such fresh disallowance in the consequential proceedings should not exceed the amount disallowed in the original order.”

4.5.2 The facts of the present case are identical to that in

AY 1998-1999 except for the quantum of disallowance which is Rs.

35,00,000/- in the year under consideration as against Rs.

50,00,000/- in that year. It is further noted that the assessing

officer has not given any justifiable basis for estimating

disallowance of Rs. 35,00,000/- and as such we deem it proper to

restore back this issue to the file of the assessing officer to work out

the disallowance in accordance with the direction of the ITAT in AY

1998-1999 after giving due opportunity to the assessee. Thus,

Ground No. 4 is allowed for statistical purpose.

5.0 Assessment Year 1999-2000 – Revenue’s

appeal (ITA No. 2381/Del/2006): The revenue has challenged

the order of the Ld. CIT (A) on the following grounds:

13 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

“1. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case, ld. CIT (A) has erred- (i) in deleting the expenses of Rs. 1,39,71,223/- incurred by various units outside India for mobilization of NRI deposits for the purpose of assessee’s business in India. (ii) in deleting the addition of Rs. 10 crores on account of commission earned by foreign branches of ANZ Grindlays Bank on their Credit Card business overseas where transactions were completed in India. (iii) in disallowing the expenditure of Rs. 35.31 lakhs on the payments made to clubs. (iv) in disallowing the provision made for bad and doubtful debts in accordance with section 36(1)(vii)(a) of the Act, 1961 amounting to Rs. 15,97,20,374/-. 2. The appellant prays for leave to add, alter, amend or vary from the grounds of appeal at or before the time of hearing.”

5.1.0 Ground No. 1(i) of the revenue’s appeal is

against deletion of 80% disallowance of claim of expenses incurred

for soliciting and mobilizing of deposits in foreign currency from

NRIs. This ground is connected with Ground No. 1 of the assessee’s

appeal. As we have set-aside this entire issue to the file of assessing

14 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

officer for fresh determination of disallowance, accordingly, this

ground of the revenue also stands allowed for statistical purposes.

5.2.0 Vide Ground no.1(ii), the revenue is aggrieved

against order of the Ld. CIT (A) deleting addition of Rs.

10,00,00,000/- in respect of taxation of commission earned by

foreign branches on credit cards issued outside India. The

assessing officer on the basis of findings recorded in AY 1998-1999

was of the view that commission on transactions done in India on

credit cards issued outside India is taxable under the provisions of

Income Tax Act, 1961. However, in absence of any detail, the

addition of Rs. 10,00,00,000/- was made on estimate basis. The Ld.

CIT (A) deleted the addition.

5.2.1 We have considered the facts of the case and

material available on record. It is noted that the assessing officer

has based the disallowance on the basis of assessment order

passed for AY 1998-1999. We find that in AY 1998-99, this issue

came up for consideration before the Coordinate bench and after

referring to the order of Tribunal for AY 1996-1997 in ITA No.

4988/Del/2003, the issue was decided in favour of the assessee by

15 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

holding that the commission earned by branches is not taxable in

India. The finding recorded by Tribunal for AY 1996-1997 is

reproduced hereunder:

“We have considered the rival submissions. We are in agreement with the finding of the learned CIT (A). Where the foreign branch has issued credit card and even if the transaction takes place in India, the credit is given to the customer outside India and the debt has also arisen outside India. The merchant shipment in India may receive the payment but the merchant shipments do not incur any debt. They merely receive charges for the goods sold or services rendered. However, the charges are received by foreign branches for providing credit to their card holders outside India. The amount payable by the card holders who have acquired the credit card from branches outside India incur the debt outside India. Therefore, the fees in respect of such transaction are not taxable in India. We, therefore, uphold the deletion of addition of Rs. 10 crores”

5.2.2 In absence of any distinguishing fact, we

respectfully follow the order of the coordinate bench for AY 1996-

1997, 1997-1998 and 1998-1999 and uphold the order of the Ld.

16 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

CIT (A) deleting the addition of Rs. 10,00,00,000/-. Accordingly,

Ground no. 1(ii) of the revenue’s appeal is dismissed.

5.3.0 Ground No. 1(iii) is directed against deletion of

disallowance of Rs. 35,31,343/- being charges paid for membership

of various clubs. The assessing officer considered the disallowance

on the ground of lack of business expediency.

5.3.1 We find that it is a recurring disallowance

made year after year and the matter has travelled to the ITAT in

earlier years. The coordinate bench has deleted the disallowance in

all the earlier years including immediately preceding AY 1998-1999

and there is no change in facts in the year under consideration

warranting us to take different view. Thus, respectfully following the

precedent, we uphold the deletion of disallowance by the Ld. CIT

(A). The Ground No. 1(iii) is dismissed.

5.4.0 The last ground (Ground No. 1(iv)) is against

deletion of disallowance of provisions for bad and doubtful debts of

Rs. 15,97,220,374/- under section 36(1)(viia) of the Act. The

assessing officer considered the disallowance by relying on the

assessment order passed for AY 1998-1999. However, no

17 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

independent finding with regard to facts of the current year has

been recorded by the assessing officer. The Ld. CIT (A) allowed the

claim of the assessee.

5.4.1 We have heard the rival submissions and gone

through the orders passed by lower authorities and coordinate

bench of the ITAT in assessee’s own case. The Tribunal, while

deciding the appeal for AY 1997-1998 and 1998-1999, has restored

back this issue to the file of the assessing officer to re-examine the

claim in the light of provisions of section 36(1)(viia) of the Act. In the

impugned order, the Ld. CIT (A) has directed the assessing officer to

allow the claim of provisions for bad and doubtful debts subject to a

ceiling of 5% of total income as per section 36(1)(viia) of the Act. The

finding and direction of Ld. CIT (A) is in line with the order passed

by the Tribunal for AY 1997-1998 and 1998-1999. Accordingly, we

find no reason to interfere with the order of the Ld. CIT (A). Thus,

Ground No. 1(iv) is also dismissed.

5.5.0 As a result, cross appeals in ITA No.

2238/Del/2006 and 2381/Del/2006 are partly allowed.

18 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

6.0 Assessee’s Appeal (ITA No. 2239/Del/2006)

Assessment Year 2000-01: The grounds raised are:

“1. The learned CIT (A) had erred in law and on facts in surmising that 20% of NRI expenses amounting to Rs. 18,03,764 incurred on personnel, telephone and travelling were in the nature of head office expenses, and hence disallowable. 2. The learned CIT(A) had erred in sustaining the dis- proportionate and excessively exaggerated estimate of indirect expenses attributable to earing income on foreign currency loans taxable u/s. 115A of Rs. 2,24,18,955/- despite the fact that a properly allocated amount was already offered to tax by the appellant u/s. 115A(3) of the Act. 3. The learned CIT(A) had erred in law and on facts in upholding an estimated disallowance of managerial and administrative expenses of Rs. 10,00,000/- for earning dividend income by treating this as tax free income, whereas dividend income is actually subject to tax at source before distribution by the company which pays the dividends. 4. The learned CIT(A) had erred in law and on facts in upholding an ad hoc addition of Rs. 10,00,000/- on

19 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

account of expenses incurred on earning foreign currency syndicated term loans. 5. The appellant craves leave to add, alter and. or amend all or any of the grounds in appeal at the time hearing.”

7.0 Revenue’s Appeal (ITA No.2382/Del/2006) –

Assessment Year 2000-2001: The grounds raised are:

“1. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case, ld. CIT (A) has erred- (i) in deleting the expenses of Rs. 87,12,458/- incurred by various units outside India for mobilization of NRI deposits for the purpose of assessee’s business in India. (ii) in deleting the addition of Rs. 10 crores on account of commission earned by foreign branches of ANZ Grindlays Bank on their Credit Card business overseas where transactions were completed in India. (iii) in disallowing the expenditure of Rs. 7.73 lakhs on the payments made to clubs. (iv) in disallowing the provision made for bad and doubtful debts in accordance with section 36(1)(vii)(a) of the Act, 1961 amounting to Rs. 23,52,79,666/-. 2. The appellant prays for leave to add, alter, amend or vary from the grounds of appeal at or before the time of hearing.”

20 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

8.0 It is seen that the grounds of appeals for AY

2000-2001 are verbatim the grounds raised in appeals for AY 1999-

2000 in ITA No. 2238/Del/2006 and 2381/Del/2006). Further,

both the parties before us submitted that the issues involved in AY

2000-2001 are exactly same to that involved in cross appeals for AY

1999-2000.

8.1 In view of the above, it is ordered that the

finding recorded and directions contained in aforesaid Para, while

deciding the cross appeals for AY 1999-2000, are applicable mutatis

mutandis to the grounds raised in appeals filed by assessee and

revenue for AY 2000-2001 with an exception to Ground No. 3 of the

assessee’s appeal in ITA 2239/Del/2006 which we are adjudicating

separately hereunder.

8.2 Ground No. 3 is against upholding of

disallowance to the extent of Rs. 10,00,000/- u/s 10(33) on ad-hoc

basis by the Ld. CIT (A). The assessee has earned exempt dividend

income of Rs. 82,28,000/- u/s 10(33) of the Act. It is noted that

this ground is pari materia to corresponding ground in assessee’s

appeal for AY 1999-2000. However, there is a change in method

21 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

adopted by the assessing officer in making the disallowance. It is

noted that the assessing officer has computed disallowance to the

extent of Rs. 72,14,310/- by applying ratio of expenditure to gross

receipt (87.68%) as per Profit & Loss a/c to the dividend income in

order to derive the figure of inadmissible expenses. The Ld. CIT (A)

reduced the disallowance to Rs. 10,00,000/- on estimate basis. The

methodology adopted by the assessing officer in the year under

consideration is at variance with AY 1999-2000 wherein the

assessing officer estimated disallowance at Rs. 1,20,000/- without

applying any formula which has been upheld by us in view of the

spirit and purpose of section 14A of the Act. Accordingly, we feel

that the conclusion reached by us in AY 1999-2000 cannot be

applied to the year under consideration. We find that disallowance

computed by the assessing officer cannot be considered as

reasonable as we fail to find any rationale behind the formula used

for determining inadmissible expenses from dividend income. We

are also aware of the fact that Rule 8D cannot be applied in the year

under consideration as same was made effective from AY 2008-

2009. Further, the ad-hoc disallowance upheld by the Ld. CIT (A) is

22 ITA Nos.2238, 2239, 2381 & 2382 /Del/2006 Standard Chartered Grindlays Ltd. vs. DDIT

excessive and not in conformity with past history. In these

circumstances, we deem fit that the ends of justice will be met if the

disallowance is restricted to Rs. 2,00,000/-. Accordingly, the

disallowance to the extent of Rs. 8,00,000/- is deleted. Thus,

ground no. 3 is partly allowed.

9.0 As a result, the cross appeals in AY 2000-2001

are partly allowed.

10.0 In the final result, all the four appeals stand

partly allowed.

Order pronounced on 2nd March, 2021.

Sd/- Sd/- (O.P.KANT) (SUDHANSHU SRIVASTAVA) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER Dated: 02/03/2021 *Dragon* Copy forwarded to: 1. Appellant 2. Respondent 3. CIT 4. CIT(Appeals) 5. DR: ITAT

ASSISTANT REGISTRAR ITAT NEW DELHI