AMBUJA CEMENTS LIMITED,MUMBAI vs. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (LTU), MUMBAI

Brief facts are, the assessee company is engaged in the manufacture and sale of cement. For the assessment year under 2 Ambuja Cements Ltd. consideration, the assessee filed its return of income on 30th October 2007, declaring total income of ` 1311,74,12,026, under normal provisions of the Act and book profit of ` 1853,57,44,722. In course of assessment proceedings, the Assessing Officer while verifying the return of income and computation of income filed by the assessee found that the assessee had claimed Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) credit of ` 20,12,95,237, pertaining to the assessment year 2006–07. However, while computing tax on book profit under section 115JB of the Act, the Assessing Officer allowed MAT credit under section 115JAA of the Act for an amount of ` 6,99,46,873. The assessee challenged the reduction of MAT credit in an appeal filed before the first appellate authority.

The learned Commissioner (Appeals) while deciding the issue of allowability of MAT credit directed the Assessing Officer to allow MAT credit as per law. In pursuance to the directions of learned Commissioner (Appeals), the Assessing Officer passed order dated 13th April 2015, giving effect to the order of learned Commissioner (Appeals) wherein he allowed MAT credit of ` 20,12,95,237. When the matter stood thus, learned CIT, in exercise of power under section 263 of the Act called for and examined the assessment records of the assessee. After examining the assessment records, she found that MAT credit of ` 6,99,46,873 (wrongly shown at ` 13,13,48,364 in the 3 Ambuja Cements Ltd. show cause notice issued under section 263 of the Act) pertains to Ambuja Cement Eastern Ltd. which amalgamated with the assessee. Being of the view that MAT credit of the amalgamating company is not admissible for deduction at the hands of the assessee under section 115JAA of the Act, learned CIT issued notice dated 23rd February 2018, requiring the assessee to explain why the assessment order allowing MAT credit of the amalgamating company should not be held as erroneous and prejudicial to the interests of revenue. In response to the aforesaid show cause notice, the assessee filed a detailed reply on 12th March 2018, stating that as per the provision of section 115JAA of the Act, there is no restriction in allowing the carried forward MAT credit of the amalgamating company, since, by virtue of amalgamation, the assessee steps into the shoes of amalgamating company. Thus, it was submitted, carried forward MAT credit of amalgamating company i.e., Ambuja Cement Eastern Ltd., was rightly allowed to the assessee. Of course, the assessee also raised various jurisdictional issues relating to exercise of power under section 263 of the Act. After considering the submissions of the assessee, however, learned CIT was not impressed and held that the carried forward MAT credit of amalgamating company i.e., Ambuja Cement Eastern Ltd. amounting to ` 6,99,46,873, cannot be set–off against the tax computed on the book profit of the assessee, as, section 115JAA of the Act does not specifically provide for carry forward and set–off MAT

Shri Yogesh Thar, learned Counsel for the assessee submitted, exercise of power under section 263 of the Act to revise the order dated 13th April 2015, passed by the Assessing Officer giving effect to the order of the learned Commissioner (Appeals) is invalid as it was not an issue in dispute before learned Commissioner (Appeals). He submitted, in the order passed under section 143(3) of the Act, the Assessing Officer had allowed MAT credit of ` 6.99 crore relating to amalgamating company. Hence, it was not a subject matter of dispute before learned Commissioner (Appeals). Therefore, if at all, the order which could have been revised by the learned CIT is the assessment order passed under section 143(3) of the Act and not the order passed by the Assessing Officer giving effect to the order of learned Commissioner (Appeals). Thus, he submitted, the order passed by the learned CIT is barred by limitation as the original assessment order which was passed on 22nd December 2010. Without prejudice, the learned Counsel submitted, the issue relating to MAT credit was subject matter of appeal before learned Commissioner (Appeals). He submitted, in the order giving effect to the learned Commissioner

Further, the learned Counsel for the assessee submitted, there is no error in the decision of the Assessing Officer in allowing MAT credit of amalgamating company. Therefore, one of the conditions of section 263 of the Act is not satisfied. The learned Counsel drawing our attention to section 115JAA of the Act submitted, there is no restriction in the said provision to not allow MAT credit relating to amalgamating company. He submitted, even various judicial precedents have also held the aforesaid view. In this context, he drew our attention to the following decisions of the Tribunal:–

Thus, he submitted, exercise of power under section 263 of the Act to revise the assessment order is invalid, as assessee’s claim of MAT credit relating to amalgamating company is also allowable on merit.

The learned Departmental Representative submitted, once the assessee had filed appeal against the original assessment order, it merges with the order passed by the learned Commissioner (Appeals), hence, ceases to be in existence. Therefore, the only surviving order of the Assessing Officer is the order giving effect to the order of learned Commissioner (Appeals). Thus, assessee’s contention that proceedings under section 263 of the Act is barred by limitation cannot be accepted as it was completed within a period of two years from the date of order giving effect to the order of the learned Commissioner (Appeals). The learned Departmental Representative submitted, even assessee’s contention that the order giving effect to passed by the Assessing Officer cannot be revised as it was as per direction of learned Commissioner (Appeals), is not acceptable since the issue was not 7 Ambuja Cements Ltd. decided by learned Commissioner (Appeals). As regards the merits of the issue, the learned Departmental Representative strongly relied upon the observations of learned CIT.

We have considered rival submissions and perused the material on record. We have also applied our mind to the decisions relied upon. As could be seen from the facts on record, during the year under consideration, the assessee claimed set–off of carried forward MAT credit pertaining to the assessment year 2006–07. While completing the assessment originally under section 143(3) of the Act vide order dated 22nd December 2010, the Assessing Officer allowed MAT credit of ` 6,99,46,873, under section 115JAA of the Act. However, while challenging various additions/disallowances made in the assessment order before learned Commissioner (Appeals), the assessee also raised a ground, being ground no.26, claiming MAT credit of ` 58,10,53,744, pertaining to the assessment year 2006–07. While deciding the aforesaid ground, learned Commissioner (Appeals), in Para–27.1 of order dated 22nd August 2013, has observed as under:–

It is further evident, while giving effect to the aforesaid order of learned Commissioner (Appeals), the Assessing Officer, in order dated

Having held so, it is now necessary to examine whether the order giving effect to passed by the Assessing Officer can be held to be erroneous and prejudicial to the interests of Revenue so as to enable learned CIT to exercise power under section 263 of the Act. Undisputedly, learned CIT has exercised the power under section 263 of the Act on the issue of allowance of MAT credit of ` 6,99,46,873, relating to Ambuja Cement Eastern Ltd. which amalgamated with the assessee company. It is the reasoning of learned CIT that the provisions of section 115JAA of the Act allows set off of MAT credit only in respect of company in whose case such MAT credit has arisen. According to her, carry forward of MAT credit of amalgamating company cannot be allowed in case of amalgamated company. On a reading of the provisions of section 115JAA of the Act, we do not find any such restriction with regard to allowance of MAT credit of an amalgamating company at the hands of the amalgamated company. Rather, a plain reading of the aforesaid provision reveals that MAT credit is allowed to be carried forward for a specific period. In case of Skol Breweries Ltd. (supra), the Tribunal, Mumbai Bench, while

In the result, appeal is allowed as indicated above. Order pronounced in the open Court on 05.09.2019