ACIT CORPORATE CIRCLE 4(1), CHENNAI vs. L & T SAPURA SHIPPING PVT LTD., CHENNAI

Shri S. Ramakrishnan, the Ld. Departmental Representative submitted that the Assessing Officer disallowed the income declared by the assessee U/s.115VD of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (in short ‘the Act’). According to the Ld.DR, the assessee owned a ship by name LTS 3000 which is claimed to be used for construction of off shore structures. According to the Ld.DR, the vessel owned by the assessee has a pipe lay capacity of sizes 6” to 60” in 150m depth of the sea. The Assessing Officer found that the assessee’s ship is not a qualifying ship for claiming deduction U/s.115VD of the Act. Referring to Ground No.2.3 of the grounds, the Ld.DR submitted that the vessel was stationed at a particular place during the entire period and it was used for laying the rigs and other deep sea activity in the nature of offshore installations. Since the ship was away from shore and it was permanently static without any movement and it is used for drilling of rigs, according to the ld.DR, the assessee is not eligible for tonnage scheme.

On the contrary, Ms. Lakshmi, the Ld. Counsel for the assessee submitted that the very same issue came before this Tribunal for the very same ship in the assessment year 2011-12. In fact, this Tribunal for the assessment year 2011-12 allowed the claim

We have considered the rival submissions on either side and perused the material available on record. The CIT(A) allowed the claim of the assessee by following his own order for the assessment years 2011-12 & 2012-13. For the assessment year 2011-12, the Revenue challenged the order of the CIT(A) before this Tribunal in respect of the very same ship on the very same grounds. This Tribunal after considering the contention of the Department found that the ship LTS 3000 is a self propulsion vessel which was fitted with specialized equipment for setting up of various offshore installations. Therefore, this Tribunal found that the assessee is eligible for tonnage scheme U/s.115VD of the Act. In view of the above finding of this Tribunal for the assessment year 2011-12 in respect of the very same issue, we find no reason to interfere with the order of the lower authority. Accordingly the same is confirmed.

In the result, the appeal filed by the Revenue stands dismissed.