THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX -INTERNATIONAL TAXATION-3 vs. TURNER BROADCASTING ASIA PACIFIC INC.

The Revenue has instituted the instant appeals and has proposed the following questions of law for our consideration:- “2.1 Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the ld. ITAT has erred in holding that the distribution revenue earned by the appellant assessee cannot be taxed as royalty, as per section 9(1)(vi) of the Act and Article 12 of the DTAA between India and the USA but as a business income?

We however take note of our order of 14 December 2022 and which is extracted hereinbelow:- “2. Issue notice.

We may note, that it is Mr Chopra's contention, that apart from anything else, the issue which arises for consideration in the instant case, i.e., as to whether the revenue received on account of advertising and distribution rights should be treated as royalty, is inter alia, covered by the judgment rendered by the Supreme Court in Engineering Analysis Centre of Excellence Pvt. Ltd. v. CIT

Mr Chopra has also emphasized the fact, that after the Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) was entered into between the Governments of India and United States via their respective the competent authorities in April-June 2007, 10% of advertising and subscription revenue received during relevant previous years was taken to be net profit chargeable to tax.

Mr Chopra informs us, that thereafter, the respondent/assessee has consistently offered 10% of the advertising and subscription revenue for levy of tax.

We are also informed, that the appellant/revenue has accepted the regime put in place by MAP in Assessment Years (AYs) 2007-2008 and 2008-2009.

Insofar as the above-captioned matters are concerned, we are told by learned counsel for the parties, that they relate to AYs 2009- 2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2013-2014 and 2015- 2016.

Mr Shlok Chandra, who appears on behalf of the appellant/revenue, informs us that the appellant/revenue has also This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 04/04/2024 at 11:54:49

We may note that the appellant/revenue has not filed its written submissions in the above-captioned matters.

List the above-captioned matters on 28.02.2023, at the end of the Board in the category of “After Notice Miscellaneous Matters”.

The fact of the Mutual Agreement Procedure having been adhered to by respective parties and consequent to the adjudication completed therein, the assessee having agreed to pay 10% of advertising and subscription revenue is not disputed. As would be manifest from a reading of paragraph nos. 4 to 6 of our order dated 14 December 2022, the aforesaid practise is also stated to have been accepted by the Revenue for Assessment Years 2007-08 and 2008-09. 4. In view of the aforesaid and bearing in mind the principles of consistency, we find no justification to entertain the challenge. 5. Accordingly, while we dispose of these appeals, we leave the questions of law which are sought to be canvassed open to be addressed in appropriate proccedings.