SUCH MEDIA PUBLICATION P LTD ,CIT (A) NFAC DELHI vs. NFAC DELHI, DELHI

5. It emerged during hearing that the issue has already been decided by Hon’ble High Courts in following cases against assessee and in favour of revenue:

(i) Rohan Korgaonkar Vs. DCIT (2024) 159 taxmann.com 321 (Bombay HC): Page 2 of 12

Such Media Publication Assessment Year -2019-20 “2. This is an appeal under section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (IT Act) to challenge the orders made by the Assessing Officer, CIT (Appeals) and the ITAT, disallowing an adjustment under section 143(1)(a)(iv) read with section 36(1)(va) of the IT Act in respect of delayed remittance of employees' contributions to Employee State Insurance (ESI) and Provident Fund (PF) for the assessment year 2018- 2019.

4. In Checkmate Services (P.) Ltd. (supra), the Hon'ble Supreme Court considered the conflicting decisions on the subject and finally held that deductions or adjustments could be claimed only when the Assessee deposits the contribution before the due date provided under the Employees Provident Fund/Employee State Insurance Act. If the employees' contributions are deposited after the due date set out under the said Act, there is no question of deduction or adjustment on the ground that such contributions were deposited before the filing of returns under section 139(1) of the IT Act.

5. The ITAT has relied upon Chekmate Services (P.) Ltd. (Supra), and its reasoning is entirely consistent with the law laid down in Checkmate Services (P) Ltd. (supra). Therefore, no case is made to interfere with the AO, CIT (appeals), and ITAT decisions.

Such Media Publication Assessment Year -2019-20

8. Checkmate Services (P) Ltd. (Supra) holds that the deductions can be claimed or adjustments can be made under section 143(1)(a)(iv), read with section 36(1)(va) only when the employer deposits the contributions in the employees accounts on or before the due date prescribed under the Employees Provident Fund Employees State Insurance Act. In this case, admittedly, the contributions were deposited in the employees' accounts beyond the due date. The circumstance that the assessment order was made under section 143(1)(a) of the IT Act can make no difference.

9. Therefore, in our judgment, no substantial questions of law as proposed arise in this appeal. The concurrent decisions of the three authorities call for no interference.

10. This appeal is, accordingly, liable to be dismissed and is, hereby, dismissed with no order as to costs.” (ii) Synergies Castings Ltd. Vs. Assistant Commissioner of Income-

tax, 173 taxmann.com 503 (Telangana HC):

“3. This appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short the 'Act') has been filed against order dated 13.03.2024, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Hyderabad 'A' Bench, Hyderabad (for short 'the Tribunal').

4. The subject matter of the appeal pertains to the assessment year 2019- 2020.

5. Facts giving rise to filing of this appeal in a nutshell are that the appellant (hereinafter referred to as 'the assessee') filed returns of income for the assessment year 2019-2020 on 22.11.2019. In the returns, the assessee disclosed the income as NIL after claiming set off and brought forward the loss of Rs.16,60,58,649/-. Notice under Section 143(1)(a) of the Act was issued to the assessee proposing to disallow the deduction of a sum of Rs.1,85,76,482/- towards delayed payment of employees contribution to Provident Fund (PF) and Employees' State Insurance (ESI). In response, the assessee filed a reply wherein it was stated that delay in depositing amounts within the due dates prescribed under the respective Acts is due to reasons beyond the control. It was further pointed out that the amount due was paid before the date of filing of the return of income and therefore, requested for deduction of the said expenditure.

6. An intimation under Section 143(1) of the Act was issued to the assessee on 18.05.2020 by which a sum of Rs.1,85,76,482/- was disallowed on account of assessee's contribution under the ESI and PF and the total income of the assessee was determined at Rs.1,85,76,482/- and the tax payable on this income was computed at Page 4 of 12

Such Media Publication Assessment Year -2019-20 Rs.55,72,944/-. The credit of TDS of Rs.72,87,370/- was allowed and the refund was determined at Rs.11,61,797/-.

7. Being aggrieved, the assessee filed an appeal before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) (hereinafter referred to as 'CIT(A)'). The CIT(A), by order dated 18.12.2023, dismissed the appeal. The assessee thereupon approached the Tribunal. The Tribunal, by the impugned order dated 13.03.2024, inter alia held that the issue involved in the appeal is covered by a decision of the Supreme Court in Checkmate Services (P) Ltd. v. CIT 1 and held that since the assessee had not remitted the employees' contribution to PF and ESI within the statutory dates, the amount cannot be claimed as a deduction. It was further held that, admittedly, the assessee had not deposited the employees' PF and ESI within the statutory dates but has deposited the same beyond the statutory dates. Accordingly, the Tribunal dismissed the appeal preferred by the assessee. Hence, this appeal.

8. Learned counsel for the assessee submitted that the issue involved in the appeal has not attained finality and is debatable. Therefore, the appeal should be admitted.

Such Media Publication Assessment Year -2019-20 "income" amounts that were receipts or deductions from employees' income, at the time, payment within the prescribed time - by way of contribution of the employees' share to their credit with the relevant fund is to be treated as deduction (Section 36(1)(va)). The other important feature is that this distinction between the employers' contribution (Section 36(1)(iv)) and employees' contribution required to be deposited by the employer (Section 36(1)(va)) was maintained - and continues to be maintained. On the other hand, Section 43B covers all deductions that are permissible as expenditures, or out- goings forming part of the assessees' liability. These include liabilities such as tax liability, cess duties etc., or interest liability having regard to the terms of the contract. Thus, timely payment of these alone entitle an assessee to the benefit of deduction from the total income. The essential objective of Section 43B is to ensure that if assessees are following the mercantile method of accounting, nevertheless, the deduction of such liabilities, based only on book entries, would not be given. To pass muster, actual payments were a necessary pre-condition for allowing the expenditure."

Such Media Publication Assessment Year -2019-20 (iii) Diversified Services Vs. Income-tax Officer, 50 taxmann.com 384

(Gujrat HC):

“2.1 The appellant has framed and proposed following questions of law as substantial questions of law for this Appeal, urging to admit the Appeal for consideration of the said questions, reproduced below, "(a) Whether the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal erred in law and in facts in not appreciating that payment of C/TAXAP/1/2023 ORDER DATED: 28/03/2023 employee's contribution to PF/ESI having already been done by the appellant before due date of filing of return, the same ought to have been allowed as deduction under Section 36(1)(va) read with Section 43B of the IT Act? (b) Whether the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal erred in law and in facts in not appreciating that jurisdiction under Section 143(1)(a) of the IT Act is limited in nature and when different High Courts have taken different view on allowance of deduction under Section 36(1)(va) read with Section 43B of the IT Act with respect to payment of employee's contribution to PF/ESI having already been done by the appellant before due date of filing of return, the same cannot be termed as apparently incorrect claims from the information in the return? (c) Whether the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal erred in law and in facts in holding that amendment made Section 36(1)(va)and Section 43B of the Income Tax Act vide Finance Act, 2021 (No.13 of 2021) is applicable retrospectively? 3. Stating the basic facts in the background of which the aforesaid questions are proposed to be claiming to be substantial questions of law, the appellant is a firm engaged in providing manpower. The appellant has been depositing provident fund (PF) and Employee State Insurance (ESI) regularly, as per its case. For the Assessment Year 2019-20, the appellant filed return of income on 30.9.2019 declaring total income of Rs.56,640/-. The return was processed under Section 143(1) on 6.3.2020. While processing the return, the Assessing Officer made addition in the income of the appellant on the count of delayed deposit of employees' contribution of the PF and ESI, total amounting to Rs.8,85,284/-. 3.1 The appellant preferred Appeal before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) which by order dated 7.12.2021 upheld the view of the Centralized Processing Center which had added the income as above. The Appeal was dismissed on 7.12.2021. When the appellant approached the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, the Tribunal confirmed the order of the appellate authority as per its judgment dated 17.5.2022, impugned in the present Appeal.

Such Media Publication Assessment Year -2019-20

4. The case of the appellant was that once the contribution amount was paid even if with delay, the same could not have been charged as income of the appellant since the amount was not retained by the appellant for its benefit. It was also the contention that the income tax authority including the appellate tribunal erred in appreciating the scope of Section 36(1)(va) and Section 43B of the Income Tax Act, 1961 introduced in the Finance Act, 2021. 4.1 On the other hand, the stand of the department was that in light of Section 36(1) read with Section 43B of the Act, the direction in respect of the employees' contribution should be allowed only the amount is paid within the rates prescribed in the relevant welfare funds. It has been the case of the department that once there is a delay in payment of the contribution beyond the rates prescribed in the concerned statutory funds, the same would cease to be allowable as deduction and is liable to be treated as income.

Such Media Publication Assessment Year -2019-20 retain the separate character of these two amounts, is evident from the use of different language. Section 2(24)(x) too, deems amount received from the employees (whether the amount is received from the employee or by way of deduction authorized by the statute) as income - it is the character of the amount that is important, i.e., not income earned." (Para.52) 5.1.1 It was further stated, "... Thus, amounts retained by the employer from out of the employee's income by way of deduction etc. were treated as income in the hands of the employer. The significance of this provision is that on the one hand it brought into the fold of "income" amounts that were receipts or deductions from employees income; at the time, payment within the prescribed time- by way of contribution of the employees' share to their credit with the relevant fund is to be treated as deduction (Section 36(1)(va)). The other important feature is that this distinction between the employers' contribution Section 36(1)(iv)) and employees' contribution required to be deposited by the employer Section 36(1)(va)) was maintained - and continues to be maintained. On the other hand, Section 43B covers all deductions that are permissible as expenditures, or out-goings forming part of the assessees' liability. These include liabilities such as tax liability, cess duties etc. or interest liability having regard to the terms of the contract. Thus, timely payment of these alone entitle an assessee to the benefit of deduction from the total income. The essential objective of Section 43B is to ensure that if assessees are following the mercantile method of accounting, nevertheless, the deduction of such liabilities, based only on book entries, would not be given. To pass muster, actual payments were a necessary pre-condition for allowing the expenditure." (Para.52) 5.1.2 The distinction between employers' contribution and liability to deposit the amount issued by it was explained as under: "The distinction between an employer's contribution which is its primary liability under law - in terms of Section 36(1)(iv), and its liability to deposit amounts received by it or deducted by it (Section 36(1)(va) is, thus crucial. The former forms part of the employers' income, and the later retains its character as an income (albeit deemed), by virtue of Section 2(24)(x) - unless the conditions spelt by Explanation to Section 36(1)(va) are satisfied i.e., depositing such amount received or deducted from the employee on or before the due date. In other words, there is a marked distinction between the nature and character of the two amounts - the employer's liability is to be paid out of its income whereas the second is deemed an income, by definition, since it is the deduction from the employees' income and held in trust by the employer. This marked distinction has to be borne while interpreting the obligation of every assessee under Section 43B." (Para.53)

Such Media Publication Assessment Year -2019-20 5.1.3 The Supreme Court finally held, "In the opinion of this Court, the reasoning in the impugned judgment that the non-obstante clause would not in any manner dilute or override the employer's obligation to deposit the amounts retained by it or deducted by it from the employee's income, unless the condition that it is deposited on or before the due date, is correct and justified. The non- obstante clause has to be understood in the context of the entire provision of Section 43B which is to ensure timely payment before the returns are filed, of certain liabilities which are to be borne by the assessee in the form of tax, interest payment and other statutory liability. In the case of these liabilities, what constitutes the due date is defined by the statute. Nevertheless, the assessees are given some leeway in that as long as deposits are made beyond the due date, but before the date of filing the return, the deduction is allowed. That, however, cannot apply in the case of amounts which are held in trust, as it is in the case of employees' contributions- which are deducted from their income. (Para.54) 5.1.4 It was added to observe, "They are not part of the assessee employer's income, nor are they heads of deduction per se in the form of statutory pay out. They are others' income, monies, only deemed to be income, with the object of ensuring that they are paid within the due date specified in the particular law. They have to be deposited in terms of such welfare enactments. It is upon deposit, in terms of those enactments and on or before the due dates mandated by such concerned law, that the amount which is otherwise retained, and deemed an income, is treated as a deduction. Thus, it is an essential condition for the deduction that such amounts are deposited on or before the due date. If such interpretation were to be adopted, the non-obstante clause under Section 43B or anything contained in that provision would not absolve the assessee from its liability to deposit the employee's contribution on or before the due date as a condition for deduction." (Para.54) 6. In view of the law emerging from the decision of the Supreme Court in Checkmate Services (P) Ltd. (Supra), the contentions and the questions raised by the appellant could be said to be no longer res integra. The law as holding the field operates against the appellant. 6.1 Thus, no question of law much less any substantial question of law arises for consideration in this Appeal.

7. The Appeal is liable to be dismissed. It is accordingly dismissed summarily.”

Such Media Publication Assessment Year -2019-20

6. On a query by bench to the learned Representatives as to whether there is any contrary decision of any High Court holding in favour assessee, the learned Representatives replied in negative.

7. Thus, we find that as of now, the issue is decided by Hon’ble High Courts against assessee. Since the ITAT is a lower-level appellate forum to High Court, we are inclined to follow the view taken by Hon’ble Courts in above cases. Respectfully following same, we uphold the impugned disallowance made by AO in the intimation passed u/s 143(1). Accordingly, this appeal is dismissed.

Order pronounced in open court on 08/05/2025