ACIT, NEW DELHI vs. M/S. A.D. HYDRO POWER LTD., NEW DELHI

The facts in brief are that Assessee Company is engaged implementation of 192MW Allian Duhangan Hydroelectric Project on the river Allian and Duhangan in Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh and is mainly in the business of generation and sale of electricity. The assessee company started the commercial generation of electricity w.e.f. 29th July, 2010 and certificate regarding commercial production of SED, HPSEB was submitted.

During the course of assessment proceedings, the AO on perusal of the balance sheet noted that assessee has shown income of Rs. 3,16,68,000/- pertaining to income from sale of power during trial run period and has adjusted the income from the expenditure incurred during construction/trial period pending capitalisation. In response to the show cause notice, the assessee company submitted that the trial run of its project was between, 17th July 2010 to 28th July 2010. The expenditure related to the said trial run period was added respectively to the "Expenditure during the construction period (pending capitalization)” and corresponding income of Rs 3.1668 crores on sale of power was reduced from such capital expenditure. The electricity generated during trial run was transferred to Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (‘HPSEB’) and claim was lodged for Rs 3.1668 crores. The income (Accrued but not received) on this account were treated as capital receipts, as the cost of generation during this period was treated as capital expense. Thus, only the net effective cost is ultimately capitalized. Actual expenses incurred during the trial run period from 17.07.2010 to 28.07.2010 were Rs.4.9042 crores. A detailed statement for the same are annexed which was verifiable from the books of accounts, which was as under:-

It was further submitted that, it would be inconsistent to hold that the expenditure incurred by the assessee prior to the setting up would be of a capital nature but that the receipts would be of a revenue nature. The assessee company follows the matching concept of accountancy, hence the expenses before commencement of business are added to the cost of assets and the corresponding income before the commercial production is also capital in nature and the 3 same was reduced accordingly. Accordingly, it was contended that either the income of Rs. 3.16 Crores earned during the trial run period be considered as capital receipt which has been properly adjusted from the CWIP/ Preoperative expenses; or if the same income is treated as revenue income than the corresponding expenses of Rs. 4.90 Crores incurred during trial run period should also be allowed as revenue expenditure by applying matching concept which results into a revenue loss of Rs. 1.74 crores.

However, Ld. AO held that assessee has failed to substantiate corresponding expenditure as claimed against the revenue earned but not shown in the profit and loss account for the trial period run from 17.7.2010 to 28.7.2010. In absence of proper details the expenses claimed at Rs. 4,90,42,000/- against the said income according to him could not be adjusted against revenue of Rs. 3,16,68,000/-. The AO while coming to this conclusion has relied upon the decision of ITAT Bangalore in the case of DCIT vs. Karnataka Power Corpn. reported in 67 ITD 391.

Ld. CIT (A) held that, since the commercial production started on 29.7.2010 and income of Rs. 3,16,68,000/- was earned during the trial run period, hence this income was reduced from the capital expenditure and only net affected cost was ultimately capitalised. The actual expenses incurred during the trial run period was in fact Rs. 4,90,42,000/-. He held that, it is very difficult to appreciate the stand of the Ld. AO, because if expenditure incurred by the assessee during the trial period has treated to be capital in nature then for the same period, receipts for the same period can be held to be revenue in nature. He thus, upheld the contention of the assessee that neither under the law nor under accounting principle such an income capitalised can be treated as revenue income and deleted the addition. 4