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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “A”
Before: SHRI S.S.GODARA & DR. DIPAK P. RIPOTE
ORDER PER BENCH: This appeal filed by the Assessee is directed against the order of ld.Commissioner of Income Tax(Appeals), NFAC, dated 30.06.2021 emanating out of proceedings under section 143(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter also called as „the Act‟) for the Assessment Year 2018-19. The assessee has raised the following grounds of appeal:
1. On the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the CIT has erred in disallowing employees contribution to PF and ESIC u/s 36(1)(v)(a) though the same are paid before filing of return of income.
A.Y. 2018-19 Allied Resource Management Services (India) Pvt. Ltd. vs.ADIT, CPC, Bangalore
2. The appellant craves for leave to add, alter & amend the ground of appeal before or at the time of hearing of the appeal.
In the present appeal, the question involved is allowability of employees‟ contribution of ESIC and PF, which was deposited beyond time mentioned in the respective Statutes but before filing income tax return u/s 139(1) of the Act.
No one has appeared on behalf of the appellant-assessee. We heard ld. DR, perused the records. In this case, the ADIT (CPC), Bengaluru vide an order u/s 143(1) of the Act dated 16.02.2020 disallowed an amount of Rs.1,33,90,867/- by giving following reasons: “Any sum received from employees as contribution to any provident fund or superannuation fund or any fund set up under ESI Act or any other fund for the welfare of employees to the extent not credited to the employees account on or before the due date [36(1)(va)]”.
From the plain reading of the order u/s 143(1), it is not clear whether any opportunity was provided before making the disallowance by the ADIT (CPC), Bengaluru. As it is mentioned in the order “Please refer to this office communication dated and 06- DEC-19 sent to the email ID and netrasalvi@yttf.co.in. As there has been no response/the response given is not acceptable the adjustments(s) as mentioned below are being made to the total A.Y. 2018-19 Allied Resource Management Services (India) Pvt. Ltd. vs.ADIT, CPC, Bangalore income as per the provisions of section 143(1)(a).” Aggrieved by the same, an appeal was filed before the CIT(A). The CIT(A) dismissed the appeal of assessee.
Hon‟ble Rajasthan High Court in the case of Rajasthan State Beverages Corpn. Ltd vide order dated 4/8/216 has held as under: Quote “This court in the aforesaid case has also allowed the claim of the assessee, in so far as payment of PF & ESI etc. is concerned, on the finding of fact that the amounts in question were deposited on or before the due date of furnishing of the return of income and taking in consideration judgment of this Court in CIT v. State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur [2014] 363 ITR 70/43 taxmann.com” Unquote
The SLP filed against the said decision has been dismissed by Hon‟ble SC.
Hon‟ble Jurisdictional High Court held in the case of CIT vs Ghatge Patil Transports Ltd, IT APPEAL NOS. 1002 & 1034 OF 2012 vide order dated 14/10/2014 as under : Quote , “ In this manner, the amendment provided by Finance Act, 2003 put on par the benefit of deductions of tax, duty, cess and fee on the one hand with contributions to various Employees' Welfare A.Y. 2018-19 Allied Resource Management Services (India) Pvt. Ltd. vs.ADIT, CPC, Bangalore Funds on the other. All this came up for consideration before the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Alom Extrusions Ltd. (supra). The Tribunal in the case at hand relied upon the said judgment. There is no reason to fault the order passed by the Tribunal. We are of the view that the decision of the Supreme Court in Alom Extrusions Ltd. (supra) applies to employees' contribution as well as employers' contribution. Question Nos.2, 3 & 4 are accordingly answered in favour of the assessee and against the revenue. ” Unquote. Thus respectfully following the Hon‟ble High Courts it is held that the payment of employee‟s contribution beyond the due date mentioned in the relevant statute but before the due date of filling the return of income u/s 139(1) is allowable expenditure.
In the result, the assessee‟s appeal is allowed.