BRETT ENTERPRISES PRIVATE LIMITED,MUMBAI vs. DCIT 1(1)(1), MUMBAI

The assessee has filed this appeal challenging the order dated 18/10/2023 passed by Ld CIT(A), Jaipur -5 and it relates to the assessment year 2017-18. The solitary issue urged in this appeal relates to the disallowance made by Assessing Officer u/s. 14A of the Act.

The facts relating to the case are stated in brief. The assessee is engaged in the business of trading of goods. During the course of assessment proceedings, the Assessing Officer noticed that the assessee has made investment in shares. However, it did not make any disallowance u/s. 14A of the Act. When questioned about the same, the assessee submitted that the investments are in the nature strategic investments in subsidiary companies and further, no dividend income was received during the year. Accordingly, the assessee submitted that no disallowance u/s. 14A of the Act is called for. The Assessing Officer did not accept above said contentions of the assessee. He took the view that the disallowance u/s 14A is required to be made even if the assessee did not receive any dividend income. Accordingly, the AO computed disallowance by applying Rule 8D of the I T Rules and the same worked out to Rs.70,63,216/-. The Assessing Officer added above said amount to the total income computed under normal provisions of the Act and also to the book profit computed u/s. 115JB of the Act. The ld.CIT(A) also confirmed the same by placing reliance on the amendment brought into sec.14A of the Act w.e.f 1.4.2022, as per which the disallowance u/s 14A is required to be made even when no dividend income was received.

On the contrary, the ld. Departmental Representative placed his reliance on the decision rendered by ld.CIT(A). He further submitted that the Hon’ble Karnataka High Court had held in the case of Delhi International Airport (P) Ltd. Vs. PCIT [2022] 138 taxmann.com 541 that no disallowance would be made u/s. 14A is called for, when assessee has not earned any exempt income. The Revenue has challenged aforesaid decision byfiling appeal before Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and the Hon’ble Apex Court has issued notice to the parties. Accordingly, he submitted that the issue has not yet attained finality.

We heard rival contentions and perused the record. The undisputed fact is that the assessee did not earn any exempt income during the year under consideration. We notice that the ld CIT(A) has followed the decision rendered by Guwahati bench of Tribunal in the case of ACIT vs. Williamson Financial Services Ltd (ITA Nos.154 to 156/Gau/2019 dated 06-07-2022) for holding that the amendment made to sec.14A by Finance Act, 2022 is retrospective in nature. However, the Hon’ble Delhi High Court has held in the case of M/s Era Infrastructure (India) Ltd (supra) that the above said amendment is prospective in nature. In the above said case also, the Hon’ble Delhi High Court has held that no disallowance u/s 14A is called for when no dividend income is earned. In this regard, the Hon’ble Delhi High Court has followed the decision rendered by it on an identical issue in the case of PCIT vs. IL & FS Energy Development Company Ltd (2017 SCC Online Del 9893). In view of the above, we hold that the no disallowance u/s 14A is called for, since the assessee did not earn any exempt income.

We noticed that the AO has added the amount of disallowance computed by him for the purpose of computing book profit u/s 115JB of the Act. Since the assessee did not earn any exempt income, the question of making any addition under clause (f) of Explanation 1 to sec.115JB will not arise.

Accordingly, we set aside the order passed by Ld CIT(A) and direct the AO to delete the addition made u/s 14A of the Act under normal provisions of the Act and also u/s 115JB of the Act.

In the result, the appeal filed by the assessee is allowed. Order pronounced in the open court on 30th April, 2024. Sd/- Sd/- (RAHUL CHAUDHARY) (B.R. BASKARAN) JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER Mumbai, Date : 30th April , 2024 VM,Sr.PS(O/S) Copy to : 1) The Appellant 2) The Respondent 3) The PCIT concerned 4) The D.R, “B” Bench, Mumbai 5) Guard file