ILJIN AUTOMOTIVE PRIVATE LIMITED,KANCHIPURAM vs. DCIT CORPORATE CIRCLE 2(2), CHENNAI

Erred in law and on facts in initiating penalty u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act 5.1 The learned AO erred in levying penalty on an adjustment which has resulted from a mere difference of opinion between the learned AO I TPO and the Appellant. 5.2 The Learned AO has failed to appreciate that there was neither any concealment of particulars of income nor furnishing of any inaccurate particulars of such income by the Appellant. 5.3 The learned AO has failed to appreciate that a mere disallowance of a claim does not automatically result in levy of penalty. 5.4 The learned AO has failed to appreciate that the Appellant had acted in good faith and with due diligence, and therefore it was not a case of deemed concealment in terms of Explanation 7 to section 271(1)(c) of the Act.

Transfer Pricing Adjustment 2.1 The assessee carried out various international transactions with its AEs which include import of raw material, tools, stores and Machineries etc. The assessee was characterized as routine assembler exposed to less than normal risk associated with carrying out such business. The assessee compared its margins with weighted average of comparable companies. The assessee’s PLI (OP/OI) was computed as 2.5%. The Ld. TPO rejected the weighted approach and in independent search from prowess database, identified 4 entities having mean margin of 5.5%. The assessee assailed comparability matrix and also sought various economic adjustment viz. customs duty adjustment and forex adjustment. However, Ld. TPO rejected all the arguments and proposed adjustment of Rs.554.61 Lacs. The 4 entities as selected by Ld. TPO were as under:- No. Name PLI 1. JBM Auto Ltd. 8.14 % 2. Omax Autos Ltd. 2.73 % 3. Spicer India Ltd. 7.69 % 4. Subros Ltd. 3.44 % Average 5.5% 2.2 Before Ld. DRP, the assessee, inter-alia, assailed inclusion of JBM Auto Ltd. and Spicer India Ltd. on the ground that these entities were not functionally comparable. The Ld. DRP rejected the same on the ground that Ld. TPO had provided the search process and filter applied. The assessee could not establish that the comparable entities fail any of the filters as applied by Ld. TPO. M/s JBM Auto Ltd. was engaged in manufacturing of sheet metal components, tools, dies and moulds which was in similar line of activity. Similarly, M/s Spicer India Ltd. was engaged in manufacturing of drive-train products and parts which could be said to be functionally comparable to the assessee. Under TNMM, strict product comparability was not necessity but broad functional comparability was the requirement. The assessee objected to rejection of comparable entities viz. M/s Automotive Stamping and Assemblies Ltd and M/s Majestic Auto Ltd. The same was rejected on the ground that these were loss making entities. The Ld. TPO reported that these two entities had negative PLI during this year only and these were not persistent loss making entities. However, these entities did not appear in the product filter. Considering the same, Ld. DRP upheld the exclusion of both these entities. The forex loss adjustment as claimed by the assessee was rejected considering the decision of Hon’ble High Court of Madras in the case of Pentasoft Technologies Ltd. (347 ITR 578) holding that foreign exchange was directly related to exports sales and therefore, it cannot be treated as other than part of profit from export. The custom duty adjustment was also not accepted on the ground that the assessee did not provide any such adjustment in its own TP study. Finally, the adjustments were upheld against which the assessee is in further appeal before us. 2.3 We have gone through the ground-wise chart as placed by Ld. AR on record. The Ld. AR has assailed rejection of usage of multiple years’ data. The same stand rejected at the outset since comparability has to be done on contemporaneous data as per extant rules. The Ld. AR seeks inclusion of M/s Automotive Stamping Assemblies Ltd. and M/s Majestic Ltd. From the facts, it emerges that these entities were initially selected as comparable entities. However, the same could not pass product filter. The Ld. TPO rejected the same since both these entities were loss making entities. However, during proceedings before Ld. DRP, Ld. TPO reported that both these entities were not persistent loss making entities but these entities had incurred loss only in the current year. Since, TNMM require broad comparability and these entities were initially selected as comparable entities and in view of the reporting made by Ld. TPO, we direct Ld. AO / Ld. TPO to accept both these entities as comparable entities. The assessee is directed to provide the requisite data of these entities. 2.4 The Ld. AR seeks exclusion of M/s Spicer India Pvt. Ltd. on the ground that this entity has significant related party transactions. Similarly, the assessee seeks exclusion of M/s JBM Auto Ltd. on the ground that this entity is functionally not comparable. To support the same, Ld. AR has placed on record (Page Nos.14 to 17) the product information as available in public domain. However, the same is not supported by any segmental data or financials of these entities. Therefore, merely on the basis of product information as available in public domain, such argument cannot be accepted. We are also of the opinion that TNMM require broad comparability only and therefore, if business model is same, these entities could be accepted. Therefore, M/s Spicer India Pvt. Ltd. has rightly been included. The Ld. AR stated that segmental of M/s JBM Auto Ltd. is available and the assessee is in a position to provide the requisite details thereof. Considering the same, the issue qua this entity is restored back to the file of Ld. AO / Ld. TPO with a direction to the assessee to provide segmental information. The Ld. AO / Ld. TPO is directed to re-adjudicate the issue with respect to this entity. 2.5 The Ld. AR has stated that forex exchange loss would be non- operating in nature. However, this argument could not be accepted since the assessee has carried out import transactions and forex loss has direct linkage with the international transactions as carried out by the assessee. Therefore, forex losses / gains have to be considered as operating in nature. 2.6 The Ld. AR has sought various economic adjustments. However, it was admitted position that these adjustments were not granted by Tribunal in earlier years. Therefore, no indulgence is required on the same. 2.7 No other ground has been urged in the appeal. All the corresponding grounds stands disposed-off accordingly, 3. Disallowance as per the provisions of Sec.43A 3.1 The assessee claimed forex loss of Rs.1257.76 Lacs and accordingly it was directed to provide the working thereof. Upon perusal of the same, the Ld. AO observed that the assessee, following AS-11, made adjustment of Rs.14.33 Crores for foreign exchange loss by making addition to the fixed assets. The Ld. AO held that since there were unrealized amounts, the said adjustment could not be allowed u/s 43A. As per Sec. 43A, as amended w.e.f. 01-04-2003, where capital asset is acquired from a foreign country, the adjustment of actual cost of the asset on account for change in forex rates shall be allowed only on the basis of rupee liability at the time of actual payment by the assessee towards the cost of the asset or repayment of foreign loan or interest for the purpose of computing the allowance on account of depreciation irrespective of method of accounting as adopted by the assessee. The treatment of forex loss on foreign currency loan for acquisition of capital asset was specifically been provided u/s 43A and AS-11 is superseded by Sec. 43A of the act. Therefore, such an adjustment could not have been made by the assessee. Accordingly, unrealized loss on ECB Loan (provision) for Rs.252.64 Lacs was disallowed u/s 43A and added to the total income of the assessee. In addition to the above, the assessee arrived at Profit on exchange on loan for Rs.67.60 Lacs whereas loss was for Rs.1077.03 Lacs. Since the ECB loan had increased, the net loss of Rs.1009.42 Lacs was also disallowed u/s 43A on which depreciation was allowed at 15%. Finally, the amount of Rs.1262.07 Lacs was disallowed and depreciation of Rs.151.41 Lacs was allowed. 3.2 During DRP proceedings, the assessee submitted the working of loss as under: - Particulars Nature Realized (Rs. Unrealized Total (Rs. In In Lac) (Rs. in Lacs) Lacs) ECB Capital 78.62 88.28 166.90 Buyer’s Credit Revenue 930.80 160.04 1090.85 Total 1009.42 248.33 1257.76 The Ld. DRP held that it would be necessary to see the nature of utilization of foreign currency loan amount. If it was for capital purpose, loss would not be deductible being capital in nature. In this year, the assessee claimed forex loss, both realized and unrealized, pertaining to ECB loan which was claimed to be capital in nature whereas forex loss pertaining to Buyer's credit was claimed as revenue in nature. However, the claim was not supported by the necessary details and documents. The claim of the assessee was required to be supported by clear bifurcation of loss linking to the specific loan amount in order to decide whether a particular claim is capital or revenue in nature. The assessee did not furnish the breakup of the loss linking to the specific borrowing though asked to file a chart for the same. Accordingly, the action of Ld. AO was upheld against which the assessee is in further appeal before us. 3.3 It could be seen that the assessee has failed to provide the requisite details of forex loss before lower authorities. The Ld. AR has submitted that the impugned loss has two components i.e., ECB Loan which is capital in nature and second component is forex on Buyer’s credit which is revenue in nature. Since adequate details thereof were not filed before lower authorities, we restore this issue back to the file of Ld. AO for fresh adjudication with a direction to the assessee to substantiate its case. The corresponding grounds stand allowed for statistical purpose.

Claim of Additional Depreciation 4.1 The assessee claimed additional depreciation of Rs.134.26 Lacs which was not allowed by Ld. AO in the absence of revised return. The Ld. DRP upheld the action of Ld. AO against which the assessee is in further appeal before us. 4.2 It is admitted position that the assessee has claimed depreciation in subsequent years on WDV of the assets. The additional depreciation was neither provided in the books nor claimed in the return of income. In such a case, the allowance of claim would disturb the working of depreciation in all the subsequent years which could not be permitted at this stage. Even otherwise also, this claim would be revenue neutral since the assessee has claimed as well as allowed depreciation on WDV of the assets in subsequent years. This being so, this claim cannot be accepted in this year. The corresponding grounds raised