PR. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX -9 vs. M/S WRIGLEY INDIA PVT. LTD.

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ITA/592/2019HC DelhiDLHC01028500201918 October 2023Bench: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV SHAKDHER,HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE GIRISH KATHPALIA3 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The Tribunal, following its previous decisions for earlier AYs and relying on the High Court's ruling in Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., held that the AMP expenses did not constitute an international transaction. The High Court upheld the Tribunal's decision based on the principle of consistency.

What were the facts?

The revenue appealed against an ITAT order concerning AY 2010-11. The core issue was whether the assessee, a subsidiary, should be compensated for Advertising, Marketing, and Promotion (AMP) expenses incurred on behalf of its Associated Enterprise (AE).

What were the issues?

Whether AMP expenses incurred by a subsidiary on behalf of its AE constitute an international transaction for transfer pricing purposes. Whether the principle of consistency applies when the revenue has not pursued further legal remedies for prior assessment years.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 92B

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ITA 592/2019

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$~1 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI %

Date of decision:18.10.2023 + ITA 592/2019

PR. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX -9 ..... Appellant Through: Mr Sanjeev Menon, Standing Counsel with Mr Zoheb Hossain, Sr Standing Counsel.

versus

M/S WRIGLEY INDIA PVT. LTD.

..... Respondent Through: Mr Ajay Vohra, Sr. Advocate with Mr Divyanshu Agrawal and Mr Vaibhav Niti, Advocates.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR JUSTICE RAJIV SHAKDHER

HON'BLE MR JUSTICE GIRISH KATHPALIA

[Physical Hearing/Hybrid Hearing (as per request)]

RAJIV SHAKDHER, J.: (ORAL)

1.

This appeal concerns Assessment Year (“AY”) 2010-11. 2. Via the instant appeal, the appellant/revenue seeks to assail the order dated 25.09.2018 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal [in short, “Tribunal”] 3. Mr Sanjeev Menon, standing counsel, who appears on behalf of the appellant/revenue, says that the short issue which arises for consideration is whether the respondent/assessee, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of its Associated Enterprise (“AE”), is required to be compensated for Advertising, Marketing and Promotion (“AMP”) expenses incurred by it on Digitally Signed By:VAISHALI CHAUHAN Signing Date:30.10.2023 13:25:42 Signature Not Verified

ITA 592/2019

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behalf of its AE? 4. To be noted, the Transfer Pricing Officer (“TPO”) has made an adjustment of Rs.73,23,49,876/- on account of Arm’s Length Price for what was construed as an international transaction concerning AMP expenditure. 5. The Tribunal, relying upon the decision rendered in the respondent’s/ assessee’s case for AY 2007-08 to AY 2009-10, ruled in favour of the respondent/assessee. 5.1 To be noted, in the aforementioned AYs, the Tribunal had concluded that the AMP expenses incurred by the respondent/assessee did not amount to an international transaction. In this context, the Tribunal also notes (something which came up even in the aforementioned AYs) the decision of this court passed in Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. v CIT (2016) 381 ITR 117. 6. We may note that on the previous date i.e., 11.09.2023, we had asked Mr Menon to seek instructions with regard to the Miscellaneous Applications (MAs) that the appellant/revenue had filed with the Tribunal concerning AY 2007-08 to AY 2009-10. 6.1 This direction had been issued as Mr Ajay Vohra, learned senior advocate, who appears on behalf of the respondent/assessee, had placed before us a copy of the order dated 11.03.2020, which indicated that MAs preferred by the appellant/revenue with the Tribunal had been dismissed. 7. Mr Menon affirms that the MAs have been dismissed. On being queried further, Mr Menon also affirms that appellant/revenue has not taken recourse to any legal remedy up until today. 8. Given the aforesaid position and the fact that there has been no change in the circumstances concerning the respondent/assessee (something which has been noted by the Tribunal) according to us, in this matter, the Digitally Signed By:VAISHALI CHAUHAN Signing Date:30.10.2023 13:25:42 Signature Not Verified

ITA 592/2019

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principle of consistency would apply. Therefore, we are not inclined to interfere with the impugned order passed by the Tribunal. 9. According to us, no substantial question of law arises for our consideration. 10. The appeal is accordingly, closed.

(RAJIV SHAKDHER)

JUDGE

(GIRISH KATHPALIA) JUDGE OCTOBER 18, 2023/v

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Digitally Signed By:VAISHALI CHAUHAN Signing Date:30.10.2023 13:25:42 Signature Not Verified

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