FORCE MOTORS LTD.,PUNE vs. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX,

PER D. KARUNAKARA RAO, AM:

There are 2 sets of cross appeals filed by the Assessee and the Revenue. ITA Nos. 1205 & 1206/PUN/2016 are filed by the assessee and ITA Nos. 1412 & 1413/PUN/2016 are filed by the Revenue against the separate orders of CIT(A)-6, Pune commonly dated 30-03-2016 for

2 ITA Nos 1205 & 1206/PUN/2016 & ITA Nos. 1412 & 1413/PUN/2016 Force Motors Ltd.,

the A.Yrs. 2010-11 and 2011-12. Assessee raised similar grounds of

appeal for both the assessment years under consideration.

We shall first take up the cross appeals for the A.Y. 2010-11.

ITA No.1205/PUN/2016 – By Assessee A.Y. 2010-11

Amortization of lease charges; and (2) Disallowance u/s.14A of the Act.

amounting to Rs.4,29,835/- was not pressed by the Ld. Counsel for the

assessee. Accordingly, the said ground No.1 is dismissed as ‘not

pressed’. Ground No.3 being general in nature is dismissed.

expenditure of Rs.1,33,82,121/- u/s.14A of the Act reads as under :

“2. Disallowance u/s.14A of the Act. (a) The Ld.CIT(A) erred in disallowing the expenditure of Rs.1,33,82,121/- u/s.14A by applying rule 8D, without establishing any nexus between the exempt income and expenditure in relation to such income. (b) The Ld.CIT(A) ought to have appreciated that only such investment which have resulted in earning of exempt income should be considered for calculation of disallowance under Rule 8D. Therefore, it is prayed that the Ld. AO be directed to exclude the following investments for the purpose of computing “average value of investments” as required in Rule 8D(ii) of the Rules.

• Investments on which no dividend has been earned during the year under consideration or capable of giving any dividend income.

• Investment on which taxable income has been earned. • Strategic investments in allied line of business, the intention of investment wherein was not to earn dividend income.

3 ITA Nos 1205 & 1206/PUN/2016 & ITA Nos. 1412 & 1413/PUN/2016 Force Motors Ltd.,

the business of manufacture and sale of LCV, utility vehicles, three

wheelers, tractors and spare parts thereof. Assessee filed the return of

income on 29-09-2010 declaring total income of Rs.42,75,76,770/-

u/s.115JB of the Act. Assessee earned exempt income of Rs.6,94,375/-

from sale of shares of ICICI Bank Ltd. valuing Rs.26,96,250/- and

claimed the said income as exempt u/s.10(34) of the Act. Assessee

claimed expenditure of Rs.20,999/- for earning the said exempt income.

Assessee made strategic investment and did not earn any dividend

income from the said strategic investments. However, the AO applying

the provisions of section 14A r.w. Rule 8D2(ii) of the Act made addition of

Rs.1,33,82,121/-. In the First Appellate proceedings, the CIT(A)

sustained the addition made by the AO.

the Tribunal with the ground extracted above.

assessee made a suo moto disallowance of Rs.20,999/- and followed a

analytical method in quantifying the same. However, AO did not

appreciate the fact that the exempt income is only Rs.6,94,375/- and

however, AO quantified the disallowance at a very high figure of Rs.1.34

crore relying on various decisions. The same is not sustainable. Ld.

Counsel for the assessee relied on the decision of Pune Bench of the

Tribunal in the case of Rajmal Lakhichand Vs. JCIT, dated 28-02-2018

reported as (2018) 92 taxmann.com 94 (Pune. Trib) – (where both of us

are parties to it), and submitted that disallowance u/s.14A r.w. Rule

8D(2) should not exceed the exempt income earned by the assessee.

4 ITA Nos 1205 & 1206/PUN/2016 & ITA Nos. 1412 & 1413/PUN/2016 Force Motors Ltd.,

case of the assessee is covered by virtue of the decision of Pune Bench of

the Tribunal in the case of Rajmal Lakhichand (supra). The said ratio of

the Tribunal is relevant to the facts of the present case for the

proposition that “where the assessee had not received any tax free

income during assessment year under appeal, no disallowance u/s.14A

read with Rule 8D was called for. The contents of Para No.32 of the

order of Tribunal are relevant and the same are extracted as follows :

“32. Now we proceed on to decide the remaining grounds raised in appeal by the Revenue.

In ground No. 2 of the appeal, the Revenue has assailed the deletion of disallowance Rs.6,21,87,028/- made u/s. 14A r.w.Rule 8D of the Act. As per the contention of the assessee, the assessee had invested Rs.1,00,44,15,900/- over a period of time in its group companies. The assessee has not received any dividend from the said companies in the period relevant to the assessment years under appeal. This fact has not been re-butted by the Revenue. The Special Bench of the Tribunal in the case of ACIT Vs. Vireet Investment (P) Ltd.(supra) has held that no disallowance u/s.14A r.w. Rule 8D(2)(iii) can be made where no exempt income from investment is received during the year. In other words, only those investments are to be considered for computing average value of investments under Rule 8D(2)(iii) which yield exempt income during the year. Similar view has been taken by Pune Bench of the Tribunal in the case of Shri Goyal Ishwarchand Kishorilal Vs. JCIT in ITA No. 422/PN/2013 decided on 26.06.2014. The Tribunal after placing reliance on the decisions in the case of CIT Vs. Shivam Motors Pvt. Ltd. in ITA No.88/2014 decided on 05.05.2014 by Hon'ble Allahabad High Court and CIT Vs. Lakhani Marketing in ITA No.970/2008 decided on 02.09.2014 by the Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High Court, held as under:

"9.4 Since in the instant case the assessee has not received any dividend income out of the shares held as investment and since no disallowance u/s. 14A has been made in the preceding as well as succeeding assessment years, therefore, we agree with the contention of the Ld. Counsel for the assessee that no disallowance u/s.14A can be made under the facts and circumstances of the case. Accordingly, the order of the CIT(A) is set aside and the Assessing Officer is directed to delete the disallowance of Rs.5,86,962/- made u/s.14A. Ground raised by the assessee is accordingly allowed."

Thus, in view of the undisputed fact that the assessee has not received any tax free income during the assessment year under appeal and decisions referred above, we hold that no disallowance u/s. 14A r.w.Rule 8D is called for during the assessment year under appeal. We do not see any infirmity in the findings of Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeal) in

5 ITA Nos 1205 & 1206/PUN/2016 & ITA Nos. 1412 & 1413/PUN/2016 Force Motors Ltd.,

deleting the said disallowance. Accordingly, ground No. 2 raised in appeal by the Department is dismissed.”

should be remanded to the file of CIT(A) for deciding the applicability of

relevant law and restrict the disallowance to the exempt income which

formed part of the total income of the assessee. Accordingly, the Ground

No.2 raised by the assessee is allowed protanto.

ITA No.1412/PUN/2016 – By Revenue A.Y. 2010-11

“1. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld.CIT(A) was justified in accepting assessee’s claim of Rs.55,97,541/- being expenditure pertaining to year under consideration which was not claimed by the assessee at the time of filing of return of income. 2. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld.CIT(A) was justified in deleting the addition on account of underestimate of sale of scrap”. 3. The appellant craves leave to add, amend or alter any of the above grounds of appeal.”

Rs.55,97,541/- for the year under consideration but accounted for in

the subsequent years. Relevant facts include that assessee claimed

expenses of Rs.49,24,466/- and Rs.11,20,980/- pertaining to the year

under consideration but accounted in F.Yrs. 2010-11 and 2011-12 in

the year of receipt. Assessee claimed that these bills were received

subsequently after the year end of the relevant preceding year and

6 ITA Nos 1205 & 1206/PUN/2016 & ITA Nos. 1412 & 1413/PUN/2016 Force Motors Ltd.,

hence, the same could not be accounted in the relevant accounting year.

He also stated that the same is not even reflected through the revised

returns. These expenditures have not been debited to the profit and

loss account of the year under consideration but booked as prior period

expenses in the subsequent accounting years. AO denied the said claim

of the assessee relying on the judgment of Hon’ble Supreme Court in the

case of Goetz India Ltd. Vs. CIT 284 ITR 323 (SC).

the assessee by holding as under :

“5.9.2 In the present case, the expenditure pertaining to the current year has been accounted in the subsequent years but not claimed as a expense in the returns filed for those years as prior period expense. The claim for allowing these expenditure was made before the AO who could not admit the same, in view of the Supreme Court decision. However, in view of the decision of the Bombay High Court in the case of Pruthvi Borkers and Shareholders Pvt. Ltd. such claims can be entertained by the appellate authorities. Following the jurisdictional High Court decision, the claim made by the appellant is admitted and the same is allowed as expenditure for the current year, as the expenses relate to the current year though accounted in the subsequent years. The AO is directed to ensure that these expenses have not been claimed in the returns filed for the subsequent years. Subject to this, the ground is allowed.”

the Tribunal.

expenses incurred in the year under consideration but accounted in the

subsequent years. Page 4 of the paper book contains the said details.

Ld. Counsel submitted that the assessee is a big company and the bills

for certain expenses could not be received in the year under

consideration. Hence, they are neither debited in the profit and loss

7 ITA Nos 1205 & 1206/PUN/2016 & ITA Nos. 1412 & 1413/PUN/2016 Force Motors Ltd.,

account nor shown in the return of income/revised returns of income.

Ld. Counsel for the assessee submitted that the books of account of the

assessee company are audited u/s.44AB of the Act. The expenses are

accounted for in the subsequent account years as prior period expenses.

Therefore, the claim of the assessee should be allowed by virtue of the

judgment in the case of CIT Vs. Pruthvi Brokers and Shareholders Pvt.

Ltd. 23 taxman.com 23 (Bom.) which was rightly considered by the

CIT(A). Thus, Ld. Counsel prayed for confirming the order of CIT(A).

expenses accounted in the subsequent years, we find the CIT(A) has

rightly applied the ratio laid down in the case of CIT Vs. Pruthvi Brokers

and Shareholders Pvt. Ltd. 23 taxman.com 23 (Bom.). Therefore,

considering the binding judgment of the Hon’ble Bombay High Court, we

are of the view that this issue should be remanded to file of AO. AO is

directed to examine the details furnished by the assessee at page 4 of the

paper book regarding the genuineness of expenditure and the reasons for

not receiving the bills in time, and not including the expenses in the

returns of income for the A.Yrs. 2010-11 and 2011-12, as the case may

be. Needless to say, the AO shall grant reasonable opportunity of being

heard to the assessee in accordance with the set principles of natural

justice. Accordingly, Ground No.1 raised by the Revenue is allowed for

statistical purposes.

made by the AO on account of sale of scrap. Relevant facts include that

the assessee during the year under consideration sold scrap of 6157.48

MT valuing Rs.8,13,56,983/-. The scrap includes ferrous and non-

8 ITA Nos 1205 & 1206/PUN/2016 & ITA Nos. 1412 & 1413/PUN/2016 Force Motors Ltd.,

ferrous items and the average realization of Rs.13,212/- per MT. AO

worked out the scrap which led to an average price of Rs.12,389/- as

against Rs.13,212/- claimed by the assessee. ventually, the AO

considering the market value of the scrap, profit margin, transport

charges, burning loss etc. concluded that the assessee understated the

sale of scrap by Rs.4/- per kg which works out to Rs.2,22,45,680/-.

manner of his calculation. The CIT(A) concluded that the AO did not

read the tables in the Indian Minerals year book, 2011 where the prices

of Steel bars, MS Angles, MS Squares, Scrap, Induction Ingots etc. are

mentioned for each of the items. He opined that income on sale of scrap

of such ferrous and non-ferrous items cannot be estimation on such

presumption. AO did not compare the scrap dealers who are into the

similar business. AO also has not proper analysis rates at which the

assessee purchases the scrap with the rates with the other

manufacturers. Eventually, the CIT(A) deleted the addition in the hands

of the assessee.

the Tribunal.

CIT(A) on this issue and find it relevant to extract the same. The said

finding is reproduced as under :

9 ITA Nos 1205 & 1206/PUN/2016 & ITA Nos. 1412 & 1413/PUN/2016 Force Motors Ltd.,

“5.10.2 The scrap is generally melted in either the induction furnace or in the Arc furnace to make steel ingots. These ingots are then rolled into billets which are further rolled or forged to make angles, squares etc., which are actually marketed. The Indian Mineral book indicates melting scrap to be Rs.18,121/- per MT and the induction ingot to be of the price of Rs.23,244/- in the Mumbai market (i.e. closest to the appellant company in Pune). The appellant had sold ferrous scrap an average price of Rs.12,389/- per MT. Considering the margins for the scrap dealers and the transportation involved there is not much difference between the price sold by the appellant company and the value in the Mumbai market.

5.10.3 In the matters of taxation, the incomes have to be arrived based on the amounts received by the party and not on the amounts that ought to have been realized by the party. If there is any doubt regarding the genuineness of the transactions entered by the party, it is incumbent on the AO to make further inquiries and reasonably arrive that the party had received amounts more than specified in the contract. Only in such cases, the additional amounts so received can be brought to tax. The AO cannot sit in judgment over the manner in which the assessee should carry his business. He also cannot sit in judgment that the assessee should sell the goods at certain rates. There could be hundreds of reasons as to why the assessee had to sell the goods at the price which he feels appropriate. The AO can only interfere in the transaction entered by the assessee, if he finds it to be collusive transaction. In the present case the AO has not established it to be collusive transaction between the appellate company and the scrap purchasers, so as to alter the transactions saying that the company should have sold it for a higher price. The AO has also not established that the appellant company or its directors/employees have received money more than what is mentioned in the books of accounts. So the addition made by the AO on conjectures and surmises cannot be sustained. The addition made on this ground is deleted.”

appreciation of facts. We also perused the ledger extract furnished by

the assessee which are placed at pages 8 to 24 as well as pages 59 to 84

of the paper book. We have also perused the Metallurgical Guidelines

issues by the Ministry of Mines in the Indian Minerals Yearbook, 2011

where the melting scrap for the year 2009-10 is indicated as 19133 per

tonne. Considering the same, the rates of scrap per Metric Tonne shown

by the assessee are within the prescribed limits. We also perused the

comparative chart on sale of scrap (Page 88 of the paper book) by United

Steel, R. M. Pathak, Gems Enterprises, Pathak Steel Industries, Geeta

Steels and Nageshwar Steels as well as the comparative quotes of various

scrap dealers placed at pages 88 to 112 of the paper book.

10 ITA Nos 1205 & 1206/PUN/2016 & ITA Nos. 1412 & 1413/PUN/2016 Force Motors Ltd.,

Considering all the above evidences placed by the assessee, We

hold that assessee has not understated the sale of scrap in any manner

and AO failed to establish with cogent evidences. AO only proceeded to

make addition on surmises and conjectures. Therefore, we uphold the

order of CIT(A) deleting the addition on this issue. Accordingly, the

Ground No.2 raised by the Revenue is dismissed.

statistical purposes.

Now we shall take up the cross appeals for A.Y. 2011-12.

ITA No.1206/PUN/2016 – By Assessee A.Y. 2011-12

the parties are common to the appeal of the assessee for A.Y. 2010-11.

Therefore, our decisions in appeal No.1205/PUN/2016 shall apply to

this assessment year as well. Accordingly, the Ground No.1 raised by

the assessee is dismissed as ‘not pressed’. Ground No.2 raised by the

assessee is allowed pro tanto.

ITA No.1413/PUN/2016 – By Revenue A.Y. 2011-12

the parties are common to the appeal of the Revenue for A.Y. 2010-11.

Therefore, our decisions in appeal No.1412/PUN/2016 shall apply to

this assessment year as well. Accordingly, the Ground No.1 raised by

11 ITA Nos 1205 & 1206/PUN/2016 & ITA Nos. 1412 & 1413/PUN/2016 Force Motors Ltd.,

the Revenue is allowed for statistical purposes. Ground No.2 raised by the Revenue dismissed.

Order pronounced on 18th day of July, 2018.

Sd/- Sd/- (िवकास अव थी /VIKAS AWASTHY) (डी. क�णाकरा राव/D. KARUNAKARA RAO) �ाियक सद�/JUDICIAL MEMBER लेखा सद�/ACCOUNTANT MEMBER पुणे / Pune; िदनांक / Dated : 18th July, 2018. Satish

आदेश की 'ितिलिप अ)ेिषत / Copy of the Order forwarded to : अपीलाथ� / The Appellant. 1. ��थ� / The Respondent. 2. 3. The CIT(Appeals)-6, Pune 4. The Pr. CIT-5, Pune िवभागीय �ितिनिध, आयकर अपीलीय अिधकरण, “बी” ब#च, 5. पुणे / DR, ITAT, “B” Bench, Pune. गाड& फ़ाइल / Guard File. 6. आदेशानुसार / BY ORDER,

// True Copy // Senior Private Secretary आयकर अपीलीय अिधकरण, पुणे / ITAT, Pune.