THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOMET AX vs. SAHARA AIRLINES LTD.
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court held that the payments were not in the nature of royalty but constituted business income of the foreign companies. Therefore, no tax deduction at source was required on these payments.
What were the facts?
The assessee made payments to foreign companies (Amadeus Marketing and Galileo International) for software used in ticket reservations. The Assessing Officer considered these payments as royalty and sought tax deduction at source. The assessee argued that the services were rendered outside India and the income accrued offshore.
What were the issues?
The primary issue was whether payments made for software usage to foreign companies constituted royalty income subject to TDS, or business income not subject to TDS in India.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
## IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
ITA No. 1176/2009 & CM No. 16086/2009 ITA No. 1177/2009 & CM No. 16088/2009 ITA No. 1178/2009 & CM No. 16090/2009 ITA No. 1179/2009 & CM No. 16092/2009 ITA No. 1180/2009 & CM No. 16094/2009 ITA No. 1181/2009 & CM No. 16096/2009 ITA No. 1182/2009 & CM No. 16098/2009 ITA No. 1183/2009 & CM No. 16100/2009 ITA No. 1184/2009 & CM No. 16102/2009 ITA No. 1185/2009 & CM No. 16104/2009 ITA No. 1186/2009 & CM No. 16105/2009 ITA No. 1190/2009 & CM No. 16112/2009 ITA No. 1191/2009 & CM No. 16114/2009 ITA No. 1192/2009 & CM No. 16116/2009 ITA No. 1193/2009 & CM No. 16118/2009 ITA No. 1194/2009 & CM No. 16120/2009 ITA No. 1195/2009 & CM No. 16122/2009 ITA No. 1196/2009 & CM No. 16124/2009 ITA No. 1197/2009 & CM No. 16126/2009 ITA No. 1198/2009 & CM No. 16128/2009 ITA No. 1199/2009 & CM No. 16130/2009
Decided on: December 21, 2009
Commissioner of Income Tax
. . Appellant
through:
Ms. Rashmi Chopra, Advocate
VERSUS
Sahara Airlines Ltd.
%
... Respondent
through:
Mr. Percy Pardiwala, Sr. Adv. with Mr. U.A. Rana,
Ms. Anuradha Sharma and Ms. Priyanka Dayal, Advocates
CORAM :-
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A.K. SIKRI THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SIDDHARTH
The order continues below.
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