TATA MOTORS LTD.,MUMBAI vs. DCIT (LTU)-2, MUMBAI

This appeal is filed by the assessee against order of Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)–1, Mumbai [hereinafter in short “Ld.CIT(A)”] dated 05.02.2019 for the A.Y: 2014-15.

Assessee in its appeal has raised following grounds: - “1. Computation of set-off of MAT credit u/s 115JAA of the Act excluding surcharge and cess resulting short grant of MAT credit of Rs. 21,70,98,794/-

We have heard rival submissions, perused the orders of the authorities below. The only issue to be decided is as to MAT credit granted u/s. 115JAA of the Act should be inclusive of surcharge and cess. This issue is decided in favour of the assessee in the following decisions: - (i). Srei infrastructure Finance Ltd., v. DCIT [395 ITR 291 (Calcutta)] (ii). M/s. Scope International Pvt. Ltd., (TCA No. 588 of 2019) dated 16.08.2019. (iii). Consolidated Securities Ltd., v. ACIT [172 ITD 163] (iv). Virtusa (India) (P.) Ltd., v. DCIT [157 ITD 1160] (v). Bhagwati Oxygen Ltd., v. ACIT [167 ITD 645] (vi). SI Group India Pvt. Ltd., v. DCIT in ITA.No. 2348 & 2350/Mum/2017 dated 11.10.2018. (vii). M/s. Savita Oil Technologies Ltd., v. ACIT in ITA.No. 3066/Mum/2015 dated 07.02.2017.

In the case of M/s. Scope International Pvt. Ltd., (supra) the Hon'ble Madras High Court considering the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of CIT v. K. Srinivasan [83 ITR 346] held that MAT credit has to be given including the amount of surcharge and education cess.

The Hyderabad Bench of the Tribunal in the case of Virtusa (India) (P.) Ltd., v. DCIT (supra) taking note of the decision of the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of CIT v. K. Srinivasan (supra) wherein the Hon'ble Apex Court held that the word “Income-tax” would include surcharge and additional surcharge”. The Tribunal held that the eligible MAT credit available to set off for the company during the captioned assessment year needs to be arrived at by comparing difference between the tax liability (inclusive of surcharge and cess) computed under normal provisions of the Act and the tax liability (inclusive of surcharge and cess) computed under the provisions of section 115JB of the Act.

In the case of M/s. Savita Oil Technologies Ltd., v. ACIT (supra) the Bombay Bench of the Tribunal held as under: “4. We have gone through the facts of this case. We have been called upon to decide in this case the correct manner of computing tax liability and also amount of credit available u/s 115JA keeping in view levy of surcharge and education cess in the process. We have examined the entire scheme of the Act containing provisions with regard to payment of MAT u/s 115JB as well as availability of credit available u/s 115JAA. It is noted that it was held by the Hon’ble Allahabad High Court in the case of CIT vs Vacment India, (supra) that methodology of computation of tax liability and granting credit of MAT should be similar to the methodology provided in the prescribed form of filing of income-tax return i.e. ITR-6. But subsequently, Hon’ble Calcutta High Court in the case of M/s Srei Infrastructure Finance Ltd, supra examined this issue in detail and (A.Y: 2014-15) M/s. Tata Motors Ltd., held that computation of tax liability and setting off of tax credit available should be done in accordance with law and not on the basis of ‘inappropriate’ form prescribed under the rules inadvertently. It is noted that Hon’ble Calcutta High Court has held that for the purpose of section 115JB, surcharge and cess are part of income-tax payable in accordance with provisions of section 115JB. Therefore, when the tax is paid u/s 115JB along with surcharge and cess, then entire amount would be considered for carry forward of the credit available u/s 115JAA and accordingly the entire amount would be available for the benefit of set off in the subsequent years from the amount of gross tax payable by the assessee. During the course of hearing before us, Ld. Counsel submitted before us three types of work sheets wherein tax payable after setting off amount of credit available u/s 115JAA was worked out in three different methods. We find that the following working shows the appropriate method of computing tax liability and setting off amount of credit available u/s 115JAA:- COMPUTATION OF TAX LIABILITY ON TOTAL INCOME AS PER INCOMETAX ACT, 1961 1 Total Income Rs. 1,093,157,260 2 Tax Payable on total income a Tax at normal rates Rs. 327,839,585 b Tax at special rates - c Tax payable on total Rs. 327,839,585 income 3 Surcharge on 2c Rs. 32,783,959 4 Education cess on Rs. 10,818,706 (2c+3) 5 Credit under section HSJAAof tax paid in earlier years a Income-tax Rs. 25,976,115 b Surcharge Rs. 2,597,612 c Education Cess on (5a + Rs. 857,212 Rs. 29,430,939 5b) Tax payable after credit Rs. 342,011,311 under section 115JAA During the course of hearing, the Ld. DR also fairly submitted that it would be a correct method of computing tax liability and credit available u/s 115JAA. It is noted from the above working that first of (A.Y: 2014-15) M/s. Tata Motors Ltd., all tax amount has been computed on the total income of the assessee. Thereafter surcharge and education cess has been worked out upon the tax liability. Then, from the gross amount so arrived at, the amount of credit available u/s 115JB on account of income-tax, surcharge and education cess (all combined together) have been deducted and accordingly, net tax payable after setting off credit available u/s 115JB has been worked out. In our view, this is the correct method of computing tax liability as well as credit available u/s 115JAA. Accordingly, we direct the AO to verify the facts as have been given in the aforesaid working and compute the tax liability accordingly and allow the necessary relief to the assessee.”

We further observe that the decision of Coordinate Bench of the Tribunal in the case of SI Group India Pvt. Ltd., v. DCIT (supra) is emanating from the order passed by the Assessing Officer u/s. 154/143(1) of the Act.

On a perusal of the order of the Ld.CIT(A) we noticed that Ld.CIT(A) denied claim of the assessee for the reason that there is a contrary view taken by the Delhi Tribunal in the case of Richa Global [54 SOT 185] and therefore the issue is debatable. We observed that this decision of the Delhi Bench of the Tribunal was rendered for A.Y. 2010-11. However, in the case on hand the assessment year involved is A.Y. 2014-15 and this decision of the Delhi Bench of the Tribunal is not applicable to the facts of the assessee’s case for the reason that the Format of ITR-6 prior to A.Y. 2012-13 was designed in such a manner that the tax liabilities in (A.Y: 2014-15) M/s. Tata Motors Ltd., Part B-TTI (i.e. Total taxable income) both under normal provisions and under MAT provisions was computed without surcharge and cess and on the net amount (i.e. after grant of MAT credit) surcharge and cess was levied. We noticed that the Format ITR–6 was amended from A.Y. 2012-13 wherein the tax liability in Part-B –TTI both under normal provisions and under MAT provisions computed including surcharge and cess. MAT credit is computed automatically using the prescribed algorithm which is nothing but the balancing figure i.e. different between tax liability and MAT liability including surcharge and cess. Therefore, post A.Y. 2012-13 as the format of ITR-6 is so designed to compute MAT credit automatically using the prescribed algorithm i.e. difference between tax liability and MAT liability including surcharge and cess is a balancing figure. In our view there cannot be any debate as to the exclusion of surcharge and cess. Therefore, the observation of the Ld.CIT(A) that the issue is debatable one is not sustainable. Further, we observe that majority of the decisions including the decisions of the Hon'ble Calcutta High Court and Hon'ble Madras High Court are in favour of the assessee and therefore it cannot be said that it is a debatable issue. In the circumstances, respectfully following the above said decisions allowing the grounds of appeal of the assessee, we direct the Assessing Officer to allow

In the result, appeal of the assessee is allowed as indicated above.