BURO HAPPOLD LIMITED ,MUMBAI vs. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (INTERNATIONAL TAXATION)-1(3)(2), MUMBAI

3 Buro Happold Ltd. Assessment Year-2014-15 1. Ground No. I - Taxability of amount received as common cost recharge as Royalty and Fees for technical services (FTS) 1.1 On the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the learned DRP ('Dispute Resolution Panel') and DCIT have erred in considering common cost recharge as royalty and Fees for technical services ('FTS') as per Article 13 of India-UK Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement ('DTAA'). 1.2 On the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the learned DRP and DCIT have erred in not considering the cost allocation declaration provided by the Appellant and revised cost allocation agreement submitted as additional evidence. 1.3 Without prejudice to ground number 1.1, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, learned DCIT has erred in considering the entire cost allocation amount of INR 5,16,60,955/- towards income for use of brand name 'Buro Happold' without appreciating the fact that various services were provided by Appellant. Additional Ground of Appeal

2. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, learned DRP ought to have held that the consulting and engineering service fee amounting to Rs.1,20,58,336 is not taxable as per the provisions of Article-13 of India-UK Double Tax Avoidance Agreement.

2. With respect to Ground No.1, Ld. AR submitted that the issue is squarely covered in assessee’s favor by the decision of Tribunal for AY 2012-13 in assessee’s own case vide order dated 15/02/2019, a copy of which has been placed on record. The Ld. DR could not controvert the same but relied upon the orders of lower authorities. 3.1 Facts on record would reveal that the assessee being non-resident assessee stated to be engaged in providing engineering and consultancy services was assessed for year under consideration vide final assessment order dated 23/10/2017 pursuant to the directions of Ld. DRP, wherein the income of the assessee was determined at Rs.637.19 Lacs as against Nil return filed by the assessee on 30/11/2014. The original return was revised twice wherein the assessee finally declared an income of Rs.120.58 Lacs on account of consulting and engineering services. The assessment was framed on the basis of latest revised return filed by the assessee on 4 Buro Happold Ltd. Assessment Year-2014-15 31/03/2016. The assessee is stated to be an entity registered in UK and engaged in the business of providing engineering design and consultancy services with respect to buildings. 3.2 Initially, a draft assessment order was passed on 08/12/2016 as per law, wherein it transpired that the assessee was in receipt of consulting and engineering services of Rs.120.58 Lacs from various entities. The said services were in the form of providing sketch diagrams and concept design criteria / assumptions bound in a report to support the architectural design. This amount was already offered to tax and the same was accepted by the revenue. 3.3 It further transpired that the assessee was in receipt of cost recharge of Rs.516.60 Lacs from its Associated entity in India i.e. Buro India towards various costs incurred. The same was not offered to tax since as per assessee’s submissions, these services did not make available any knowledge, skill, process, know-how and experience as per the terms of India-UK DTAA. These costs were stated to be incurred for the benefit of Buro Group as a whole and allocated to various group entities based on certain predetermined cost allocation keys as per the cost allocation agreement. These costs would, inter-alia, include costs incurred by the assessee in providing various services viz. IT functions, Business development, finance, Human Resource Management, operations, Project Management function, corporate and commercial services etc. It was submitted that these services would qualify as managerial services and hence not covered by Article 13 of India-UK DTAA. Even, if these services 5 Buro Happold Ltd. Assessment Year-2014-15 were considered to be technical or consultancy services, the same would still not be covered since these services do not make available any technical knowledge, experience, skill, know-how or processes to the recipient of service. Therefore, such services would be classified as business income and not taxable in India in the absence of Permanent Establishment (PE) in India as per Article-7 read with Article-5 of India-UK DTAA. 3.4 However, Ld. AO formed an opinion that the income earned by the assessee was taxable in India as per Section-9 of the Act and Article 13 of India-UK DTAA both as royalty as well as fees for technical services. Since, as per the agreement, the assessee was entitled for mark-up of 5%, the said receipts were enhanced to that extent and brought to tax. 3.5 Aggrieved, the assessee raised objections against the proposed addition before Ld. DRP. The Ld. DRP, after considering assessee’s submissions, confirmed the stand of Ld. AO by noticing that the services being rendered by the assessee were ancillary and subsidiary to the application or enjoyment of right of the assessee in brand used by the Buro- India and the payment was royalty in terms of para 3(a) of Article-13 of the treaty and therefore, its nature was that of fees for technical services. Aggrieved, the assessee is under appeal before us.