ADITYA BIRLA INSURANCE BROKERS LTD,MUMBAI vs. ASST CIT 2(1)(1), MUMBAI

Per Manoj Kumar Aggarwal (Accountant Member):- 1. Aforesaid appeal by assessee for Assessment Year [AY] 2012-13 contest the order of Ld. Commissioner of Income-Tax (Appeals)-3, Mumbai,

Depreciation on overstatement of goodwill 1. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the learned CTT(A) has erred in treating Rs.7,40,000 (Rs.6,00,000 towards irrecoverable brokerage commission plus Rs. 1,40,000 towards provision for gratuity) as overstatement of goodwill and consequently, disallowed the tax depreciation of Rs.1,85,000.

2. None has appeared for the assessee and no valid adjournment application is on record. The perusal of order sheet entries reveal that the assessee has remained negligent to attend hearing on several occasions. Left with no option, we proceed to adjudicate the same after considering material on record and after hearing Ld. DR. 3.1 Facts on record reveal that assessee being resident corporate assessee, stated to be engaged in the business of General Insurance Broking and providing Advisory services, was assessed for year under consideration u/s. 143(3) on 06/02/2015 wherein the income of the Aditya Birla Insurance Brokers.Ltd. Assessment Year-2012-13 assessee was determined at Rs.954.77 Lacs after certain additions as against returned income of Rs.952.92 Lacs e-filed by the assessee on 27/09/2012. 3.2 During assessment proceedings, it transpired that the assessee purchased insurance business from M/s. Enam Insurance Broking Limited under Slump Sale consideration agreement dated 25/04/2011 for a total consideration of Rs.2 Crores. The assessee submitted slump sale agreement and valuation report for the purpose of computation of goodwill on acquisition of the business. The assessee claimed depreciation on goodwill so valued. However, on perusal of agreement and as per valuation report, it transpired that the goodwill was over valued by Rs.10.86 Lacs. Although the assessee defended the accounting in terms of Accounting Standards-10 and 26 issued by, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India [ICAI], however, not convinced, the valuation of goodwill was reduced by Rs.7.40 Lacs and excess depreciation claimed thereon @ 25% amounting to Rs.1.85 Lacs was disallowed and added back to the income of the assessee . 4.1 Aggrieved, the assessee contested the stand of Ld. AO before the Ld. CIT(A) vide impugned order dated 28/02/2017. However, Ld. CIT(A) vide para 6.5 of the impugned order came to the conclusion that valuation of assets recorded in the books of account must be as per Slump Sale Agreement and not as per valuation report and therefore, confirmed the stand of the Ld. AO .

Aditya Birla Insurance Brokers.Ltd. Assessment Year-2012-13 4.2. The assessee raised another Ground of appeal

Nos. 2 and 3 before Ld. CIT(A) to submit that the amount of Rs.32.94 Lacs paid to M/s. Enam Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd. as non-compete fee was allowable as revenue expenditure, and therefore, the same should be allowed. In the alternative, it was pleaded that, depreciation on the same may be allowed to the assessee. This issue was not examined by Ld. Assessing Officer at assessment stage. However, the Ld. CIT(A) noted that there was no mention of this amount in the Slump Sale Agreement and the value of Rs.32.94 Lacs arrived at by the assessee was not explained either during assessment proceedings or during appellate proceedings. Therefore, the claim was rejected. Aggrieved, the assessee is in further appeal before us.

5. Upon due consideration, we find that the factual matrix before us remains the same as it was before first appellate authority and nothing new has been brought on record which would warrant us to take a different view in the matter. Therefore, by confirming the stand of the Ld. CIT(A) on both the issues, we dismiss the appeal. The appeal stands dismissed. 6.

Order pronounced in the open court on 14th October, 2019 .