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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, CHANDIGARH BENCH ‘B’, CHANDIGARH
Before: SHRI SANJAY GARG, JM & SMT. ANNAPURNA GUPTA, AM
आदेश/ORDER PER ANNAPURNA GUPTA, A.M. : The impugned cross appeals by the assessee and the Revenue have been filed against the order passed by the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-II, Ludhiana, (in short (“CIT(A)”) dated 17.11.2008 relating to assessment
2 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
year 2003-04 , u/s 250(6) of the Income Tax Act, 1961
(hereinafter referred to as ‘Act’).
Brief facts of the case are that the assessee is a Public
Limited Company with its registered and corporate office at
Ludhiana (Punjab) and Baddi (HP). The business of the
assessee company is manufacturing and processing of yarn,
knitting yarn, fabrics and processed fabrics. The
manufacturing unit of the assessee at Baddi i.e. VSGM
Baddi is 100% Export Oriented Unit (EOU) and the assessee
had claimed exemption u/s 10B of the Act on the profits
earned from the same. The assessee has also claimed
deduction u/s 80HHC on profits earned from its business of
export of trading as well as manufactured goods. Further
the assessee company had claimed deduction u/s 80IB of
the Act on its Auro Spinning Unit-III, Auro Unit-IV and
Auro Unit-V, Auro Weaving-II and Auro Dyeing, Auro
Textiles, VSGM 100% EOU. During assessment proceedings,
the Assessing Officer (A.O) found that the main issues
involved in the case related to netting of interest, exemption
u/s 10B of the Act, deduction u/s 80HHC and 8IB of the
Act and dividend income and sales tax subsidy ,and
accordingly made disallowances/additions in relation to the
said issues in his order framed u/s 143(3) of the Act.The
said order was contested in appeal before the Ld.CIT(A) who
partly allowed the assessees appeal. The issues raised,
therefore, in the present appeals by both the parties pertain
to the said issues.
3 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
At the outset itself, the Ld. counsel for assessee stated
that all the issues raised in the cross appeals had been
dealt with by the I.T.A.T. in the case of sister concern of the
assessee, M/s Vardhman Textiles Limited vide their order
dated 4.5.2018 in relation to assessment year 2002-03 to
2005-06. A gist of the issues raised in the present appeal
and dealt with by the I.T.A.T. in the said order alongwith a
copy of the order was filed before us. It was stated that the
said order, therefore, was pertinent for adjudicating various
grounds raised in the cross appeals before us. Taking note
of the same we shall now proceed to adjudicate the cross
appeals and shall first be taking up the appeal of the
assessee in ITA No.88/Chd/2009.
ITA No.88/Chd/2009(Assessee’s appeal):
Ground No.1 raised by the assessee reads as under:
“1. That the Ld. CIT (A) has erred in law and on facts while confirming the action of the Assessing officer for taxing the capital receipt amounting to Rs.2,04,11,70//- on account of Sales Tax Exemption/Subsidy received from Government of Punjab as the revenue receipt of the appellant.” 5. The above ground is against the action of the CIT(A) in
treating the sales tax subsidy received by the assessee
amounting to Rs.2,04,11,707/- as revenue receipt against
capital receipt claimed by the assessee.
Brief facts relevant to the issue are that the
manufacturing Unit of the assessee, VSGM(Unit II)set up in
Ludhiana, had been granted incentive of Sales Tax
exemption in terms of Government notification No.1NC
4 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
11/15/43/96-5/IB 4176,dt.01-06-96 vide District Industries
Center, Ludhiana. During the impugned year, in the original
return filed, the assessee showed subsidy as revenue receipt
by way of credit in the Profit & Loss Account but
subsequently claimed the same as capital receipt in the
revised return filed. During assessment proceedings, the
assessee filed details of the scheme of Punjab Government as
per which the subsidy had been received and submitted that
since the incentive was given to spurt industrial growth as
well as for generation of employment opportunities to its
unemployed youth through rapid industrialization of the
State, the scheme was capital in nature. Reliance was placed
on certain case laws but the A.O. dismissed the contention
of the assessee after discussing the scheme in detail and
referring to judgment in the case of M/s Sahni Steel & Press
Works Ltd. Vs. CIT, 228 ITR 253 (SC) and DCIT Vs. Reliance
Industries Ltd., 88 ITD 273 (ITAT SB).
The assessee went in appeal to the CIT(A) who upheld
the order of the A.O. relying upon the judgment of the
Hon'ble Jurisdictional High Court in the case of CIT Vs.
Abhishek Industries Ltd., 286 ITR 1.
During the course of hearing before us the Ld. counsel
for assessee relied upon the submissions made before the
lower authorities stating that as per the scheme of the
Punjab Government the subsidy had been given to spurt
industrial growth as well as for generation of employment
opportunities through rapid industrialization in the State
5 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
and thus the subsidy received was capital in nature. Copy of
the Scheme was placed before us and reliance was placed on
several case laws as under:
((i) Tribunal's order in the case of Mahavir Spinning Mills vs. ACIT Ltd in ITA No. 344/09 A.Y 1997-98 dated 30.11.2015(Chd) ( Pg. 1-8) (ii) Tribunal's order in the case of Vardhman Textiles Ltd. vs. ACIT in ITA No. 392/07 AY 2001-02 dated 21.10.15(Chd) (Pg. 135-144) (iii) CIT vs. Nirma Ltd. 397 ITR 49 ( Guj) - Dated 08.6.16. (case law pgs. 212 - 218)
Further the Ld. counsel for assessee pointed out that
identical issue had been dealt with in the case of sister
concern of the assessee M/s Vardhman Textiles Ltd., as
pointed out earlier, wherein the I.T.A.T. had held the said
subsidy as being capital receipt. Our attention was drawn to
the relevant portion of the order dealing with the said issue
at pages 27 to 34, more specifically, to the findings of the
I.T.A.T. at para 39 of its order wherein following the decision
of the I.T.A.T. in the case of Vardhman Acrylic Ltd.,
Ludhiana Vs. ACIT & Other n ITA No.773/Chd/2012 &
Others relating to assessment year 2006-07 and the decision
of the I.T.A.T. in the case of Mahavir Spinning Mills Ltd. Vs.
JCIT in ITA No.344/Chd/2009 for assessment year 1997-98
the appeal of the assessee was allowed holding the subsidy
to be capital in nature.
The Ld. DR fairly conceded that the I.T.A.T. in the case
of sister concern of the assessee M/s Vardhman Textiles
(supra) had held identical subsidy received from the Punjab
6 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
Government as capital in nature though at the same time
had heavily relied upon the order of the A.O.
Having heard the rival contentions we find merit in the
contention of the Ld. counsel for assessee. We have gone
through the order passed by the ITAT in the case of M/s
Vardhman Textiles (supra),relied upon by the Ld.Counsel for
the assessee in support of its contention that the subsidy
was capital in nature, and find that the facts in the said
case were identical, the sales tax subsidy being received by
virtue of scheme of the Punjab Government vide the same
notification of the Department of Industries as in the case of
the assessee. The said fact finds mention in page 27 of the
order. The ITAT in the said case followed the decision of its
coordinate Bench in the case of Mahavir Spinning Mills Ltd.
vs JCIT in ITA No.344/Chd/2009, wherein, we find, this
issue had originally been decided by the ITAT against the
assessee following the decision of the jurisdictional High
Court in the case of Abhishek Industries(supra) ,but on
appeal by the assessee, the Hon’ble High Court had restored
the matter back to the ITAT to readjudicate the same in the
light of the decisions of the apex court in Ponni Sugars &
Chemicals Limited. Thereafter, the ITAT had held the
subsidy to be capital in nature .
In view of the above ,the issue in the present case
stands covered as decided in favour of the assessee by the
above orders of the ITAT even after considering the decision
7 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
of the jurisdictional high court in the case of Abhishek
Industries (supra) .
Even otherwise, we find that the issue has been settled
by various decisions of the Hon'ble Apex Court laying down
the proposition that true test for determining the nature of
subsidy whether capital or revenue is the purpose test i.e. It
is the purpose for which the subsidy has been given which is
determinative of the nature of the subsidy and not the
manner of disbursement of the same. The manner of
calculating the same or even the point of time at which it is
disbursed. The Hon'ble Apex Court time and again had
reiterated this proposition right from M/s Sahni Steel &
Press Works Ltd. and CIT Vs. Ponni Sugar & Chemicals Ltd.
306 ITR 392 and its latest judgment in the case of CIT Vs.
Chaphalkar Brothers,Pune In Civil Appeal no.6513-6514 dt.
7th Dec 2017. In the present case undisputedly as per the
scheme of Punjab Government the purpose of disbursement
is to spurt industrial growth as well as to generate the
employment opportunities through rapid industrialization in
the State. There is no doubt, therefore, that the nature of
the subsidy is capital.
In view of the above ground of appeal No.1 raised by
the assessee is allowed.
Ground No.2 raised by the assessee reads as under:
“2. That the Ld. CIT (A) has erred in law and on facts while allocating Rs. one lac to dividend income earned by the appellant.”
8 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
In the above ground the assessee has challenged the
action of Ld. CIT(A) in allocating expenses of Rs.1 lac
attributing the same to dividend income earned by the
assessee.
Briefly stated, the assessee had returned to tax the
gross amount of dividend earned during the year amounting
to Rs.321.75 lacs u/s 56 of the Act, without setting off any
expenses incurred in relation to the same u/s 57 of the Act.
The A.O. allocated a sum of Rs.44.96 lacs (on proportionate
basis) out of personnel, finance and administrative
expenses, claimed as business expenses by the assessee,
attributing the same to having been incurred for the purpose
of earning dividend income. Thus the AO reduced the
business expenses claimed by the assessee on account of the
above, resulting in addition to its taxable income to the said
extent. Further the assessee had also claimed deduction of
the gross amount of dividend earned u/s 80M of the
Act,which was also reduced by the AO after netting expenses
incurred for earning the income as aforesaid. The Ld.CIT(A)
following his own order for assessment year 2002-03,
reduced the expenses allocated to Rs.1 lac.
Before us, the Ld. counsel for assessee contended that
no expenditure had been incurred for earning dividend
income. The Ld. counsel for assessee relied upon the order of
the I.T.A.T. in its own case for assessment year 2001-02 in
ITA No.280/Chd/2008 dated 28.12.2012 wherein I.T.A.T.
had upheld the allocation of Rs.2 lacs to dividend income
9 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
earned of Rs.4.50 crores. Copy of the order was placed
before us. Reliance was also placed on the decision of the
Hon'ble High Court in the case of the assessee itself for
assessment years 1994-95, 1995-96, 1997-98 and 2000-01
in ITA No.50/Chd/2012 dated 25.1.2013 wherein allocation
of Rs.1 to Rs.2 lacs in various years was upheld. Copy of the
order was placed before us. The Ld. counsel for assessee
also relied upon the order of the I.T.A.T. in the case of sister
concern of the assessee M/s Vardhman Textiles (supra)
pointing out that in the said order disallowance of Rs.2 lacs
was upheld in assessment year 2002-03 while in the rest of
the years the disallowance made was deleted. Our attention
was drawn to the relevant findings at page 13 & 14 of the
order as under:
“7.3 The similar matter was considered by the lTAT in the case of the assessee for the assessment year 2001-02 in ITA No.1174/CHD/2013 vide order dt.16/04/2014 wherein it has been held that the disallowance was made on surmises and there was no merit in the disallowances made wrongly on the premise that borrowed funds were used for investment purpose. The Tribunal has affirmed the confirming of disallowance of Rs. 1,00,000/- made by the Ld. CIT(A). In the instant year the Ld. CIT(A) has confirmed an amount of Rs.2,00,000/- being the expenses incurred for earning of the dividend income. Following the same rationale we hereby uphold the order of the Ld. CIT(A).” 18. The Ld. DR pointed out that this issue has been dealt
with in the case of the assessee in the preceding years right
up to the Hon'ble High Court, as pointed out by the Ld.
counsel for assessee, upholding allocation of expenses of
Rs.1 to Rs.2 lacs.
We have heard the rival contentions. We do not find any
merit in the present ground raised by the assessee. As
10 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
pointed out by the Ld. counsel for assessee himself in the
earlier years also, the I.T.A.T. and even the Hon'ble High
Court had upheld the allocation of expenses ranging from
Rs.1 lac to Rs.2 lacs as being expenditure incurred for the
purpose of earning dividend income. Even the I.T.A.T. in the
case of sister concern of the assessee i.e. M/s Vardhman
Textiles (supra) had confirmed the disallowance of Rs.2 lacs.
Considering the past history of the assessee, wherein it has
been held by the Hon’ble High Court that expenses ranging
from Rs.1 to 2 lacs were to be allocated as incurred for
earning dividend income upto Rs.4.5 crores and the
Ld.Counsel for the assessee having not pointed out any
distinguishing fact in the present case the action of the
Ld.CIT(A) in allocating expenses of Rs.1 lac against dividend
income earned of Rs.3.21 crores is, therefore we hold, wholly
justified. We therefore, see no reason to interfere in the
order of the Ld. CIT(A) and the ground No.2 raised by the
assessee is, therefore, dismissed.
Ground No.3 raised by the assessee reads as under:
“3. The Ld. CIT (A) has erred in law and on facts while treating interest income amounting to Rs.34,73,788/- as “Income from other Sources” instead of “Income from Business or Profession”. 21. In the above ground, the assessee has challenged the
action of the Ld.CIT(A) in treating the interest income earned
by the assessee of Rs.34.74 lacs as income from other
sources.
11 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
During the course of hearing before us, the Ld. counsel
for assessee pointed out that the figure of interest
mentioned in the assessment order was not correct and the
correct figures were tabulated before us as under:
AO's order Correct figures Gross interest received Rs. 294.83 Lacs Rs. 3.80 Cr. Interest from customers/supplier Rs. 257.22 Lacs Rs. 345.75 Lacs Interest from bank & others Rs. 37.61 lacs Rs. 34.74 Lacs Interest Paid Rs. 1255.57 Lacs Rs. 9.23 Cr. 23. Thereafter drawing our attention to the facts of the case
it was contended that during the course of assessment
proceedings the A.O. in the context of allowing deduction
u/s 80HHC raised a query as to why 90% of the interest be
not deducted from the profits of the business. The assessee
claimed whole of the interest to be in the nature of business
income and further contended that since it had also paid
interest of Rs.9.23 crores and if the same was netted against
the interest income earned there would be no income earned
by the assessee and thus no question of reducing 90% of the
same from the business of the assessee for the purpose of
calculating deduction u/s 80HHC of the Act. Details
regarding the same were filed before the A.O. but the A.O.
did not agree with the contention of the assessee and held
that the gross amount of interest received is to be treated as
income from other sources and thus reduced from the profits
of the business for the purpose of computation of deduction
u/s 10B/80IB/80HHC of the Act.
The matter was carried in appeal before the CIT(A) who
held that out of the gross interest received, interest received
12 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
on belated payments from customers/suppliers was in the
nature of business income while the other interest income
received from Banks and others amounting to Rs.34.74 lacs
was upheld as to be treated as income from other sources
During the course of hearing before us, the Ld. counsel
for assessee reiterated the contention made before the lower
authorities that the interest income should be netted for all
purposes and the interest paid by the assessee of Rs.9.23
crores should be set off against the interest received for the
purpose of determining whether any interest is to be reduced
from the profits of the assessee for the purpose calculating
the deduction allowable to the assessee u/s 80HHC of the
Act. Reliance was placed on the following decisions in this
regard:
1) M/s ACG Associated Capsules Pvt. Ltd. Vs. CIT (2012) 343 ITR 89 2) Vardhman Holding Ltd. Vs. ACIT, ITA No. 280/Chd/2008 dated 28.12.2012 for Assessment year 2001-02. 26. It was further pointed out that identical issue had been
dealt with in the case of sister concern of the assessee M/s
Vardhman Textiles (supra) wherein netting of interest was
allowed. Our attention was drawn to the relevant discussion
on the issue at pages 38 to 43 pointing out that the issue
dealt with in the said case related to treatment of income as
income from other sources and the I.T.A.T. following the
decision of the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of M/s ACG
Associated Capsules Pvt. Ltd. (supra) referred the matter to
the A.O. to allow the netting of interest if the assessee was
13 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
able to prove the nexus between the interest expenditure and
interest income.
The Ld. DR fairly conceded to the above.
We have considered the rival contentions. We find merit
in the contention raised by the Ld. counsel for assessee. As
pointed out by the Ld. counsel for assessee and as admitted
by both the parties, identical issue has been dealt with in
the case of sister concern of the assessee M/s Vardhman
Textiles (supra) wherein the matter has been restored back
to the A.O. to allow the netting if nexus is established
between the interest expenses incurred and interest income
earned. Following the same we restore the issue back to the
A.O. in the present case also for determining the nexus
between the interest expenditure and interest income earned
and thereafter allow the benefit of netting to the assessee.
Ground of appeal No.3 raised by the assessee is, therefore,
allowed in above terms.
Ground Nos.4 (i) and (ii) were taken up together by
the assessee since they related to the same issue of
calculation of deduction u/s 10B of the Act .The said
grounds read as under:
“4. (i) That the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in law and on facts while confirming the action of the assessing officer for applying method of calculating deduction u/s 10B other than that specified u/s 10B and at variance to the method regularly adopted by the appellant in earlier years and accepted by the department. (ii) That the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in law and on the facts while confirming the action of the Assessing officer for
14 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
increasing the Total Turnover of VSGM E.O.U. for calculating exemption u/s 10B of Income Tax Act by the following amounts: Particulars Amount (in Rs.) Excise Duty 64,96,590/- Export Turnover of Trading goods 2,98,73,357/-“ 30. These grounds are against the order of the CIT(A) in
upholding the order of the A.O. in treating the excise duty
and export turnover of traded goods as part of total turnover
of Export Oriented Unit (in short referred to as ‘EOU’) for the
purpose of calculating exemption u/s 10B of the Act.
Ld.Counsel for the assessee pointed out from the assessment
order that the A.O., after referring to various decisions held
that excise duty was to be treated as part of total turnover
for computation of deduction u/s 80HHC and included the
same in the total turnover of the assessee both for the
purpose of computation of deduction u/s 80HHC and 10B of
the Act. Further while computing the deduction u/s 10B at
the end of the order, the A.O. also added turnover of traded
goods to the total turnover. The assessee agitated the same
before the CIT(A), submitting that in view of the judgment of
the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of CIT Vs. Lakshmi
machine Works, 290 ITR 667 (SC) both excise duty and
export turnover of traded goods should not be included in
total turnover for calculating deduction u/s 10B of the Act.
The CIT(A) did not agree with the submissions of the
assessee holding that the ratio was laid down in the context
of exclusion of excise duty for the purposes of section 80
HHC of the Act and therefore did not apply for exclusion of
the same for the purposes of section 10B. Further it was
15 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
held that as per the provisions of section 10B the turnover
of traded goods were to be included in the total turnover for
the purpose calculation of exemption u/s 10B of the Act.
During the course of hearing before us the Ld. counsel
for assessee reiterated the contention made before the lower
authorities stating that the provisions of sections 10B and
80HHC are pari-materia since they both relate to
computation of deduction on export and, therefore, the
decision of the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Lakshmi
machine Works (supra) would apply for the purpose of
section 10B also. Reliance was further placed on the
decision of the I.T.A.T. in the case of ACIT Vs. VMT Spinning
Company Ltd. dated 22.5.2008 in ITA No.690/2007 and on
the decision of the Special Bench of the I.T.A.T. in the case
of ITO Vs. Sak Soft Ltd. (2009) 313 ITR (AT 3353 (SB)(Mad)
for the proposition that the turnover of traded goods is to be
excluded from the total turnover. Further the Ld. counsel for
assessee drew our attention to the recent order passed by
the ITAT Chandigarh Bench in the case of sister concern of
the assessee M/s Vardhman Textiles (supra) pointing out
therefrom that both the issues of exclusion of excise duty
and turnover of traded goods from the total turnover had
been decided in favour of the assessee. Our attention was
drawn to the order of the I.T.A.T. at paras 10.1 pointing out
therefrom that the issue in the said case was identical, being
inclusion/exclusion of excise duty and export turnover of
traded goods in the total turnover of the assessee for
16 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
calculating deduction u/s 10B of the Act. Thereafter our
attention was drawn to the findings of the ITAT at para 10.5
holding that the decision of the apex court in the case of
Laxmi Machine works (supra) squarely applied to the issue
and directing the AO to recomputed the eligible profits as
per guidelines laid down therein. Our attention was also
drawn to page 35 of the order wherein following the decision
of the coordinate bench in the case of VMT Spinning
Co.Ltd.(supra), it was held that both the profits and the
turnover of export traded goods was to be excluded from the
profits and total turnover of the assessee for the purposes of
calculating deduction u/s 10B of the Act.
The Ld. DR fairly conceded that the issues had been
decided in the case of Vardhman Textiles (supra) as stated
above though he heavily relied upon the orders of the
authorities below.
We have gone through the order of the I.T.A.T. in the
case of M/s Vardhman Textiles (supra) and find that
identical issue had been dealt with in the said case wherein
it was held that the decision of the Hon'ble Apex Court in
the case of Lakshmi machine Works (supra) would squarely
apply for the purpose of calculation of deduction u/s 10B
and as per which excise duty was to be excluded from the
total turnover of the assessee. Further the I.T.A.T. had also
held that the turnover of the trading export activities was to
be excluded from the total turnover and the profits of the
trading export activity were to be excluded from the profits
17 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
for the purpose of calculating deduction u/s 10B of the Act
following the decision of the Tribunal in the case of VMT
Spinning Company Ltd. (supra). Since the issues in the
present case are identical to that in the case of M/s
Vardhman Textiles (supra) the decision rendered therein will
apply in the present case also, following which we hold that
excise duty be excluded from the total turnover for the
purpose of calculation of deduction u/s 10B of the Act. But
vis a vis the exclusion of export turnover of traded goods ,we
find that the in the case of VMT Spinning Mills(supra) ,it
was held that deduction u/s 10B was granted qua profits
earned on manufactured goods and therefore neither the
profits of traded goods was to be included in the profits nor
the turnover of traded goods was to be included in the total
turnover for calculating deduction u/s 10B of the Act.
Accordingly the AO is directed to calculate the deduction
u/s 10B of the Act after excluding both the profits and the
turnover of export traded goods from the profits of the
business and the total turnover.
Ground of appeal Nos.4(i) & (ii) raised by the assessee
are, therefore, allowed in above terms.
Ground No.4(iii) raised by the assessee reads as under:
“(iii) That the Ld. CIT (A) has erred in law and on the facts while confirming the action of the Assessing officer for reducing profits of VSGM E.O.U. for calculating exemption u/s 10B by the following amounts: - Particulars Amount (in Rs.) - Loss on Export of Trading Goods 1,61,934/- - Rent received from employees 1,53,733/- - R & D Subsidy received 1,00,000/-
18 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
4,15, 667 /-“ 35. The above ground challenges the action of the Ld.CIT(A)
in reducing the following from the profits of the EOU while
calculating exemption u/s 10B of the Act:
1) Loss on export of traded goods = Rs.1,61,934/- 2) Rent received from employees = Rs.1,53,733/- 3) R & D subsidy = Rs.1,00,000/- 36. Brief facts relating to the issue are that the assessee
had claimed deduction u/s 10B on its EOU unit amounting
to Rs.1,97,20,837/- being 90% of the profits amounting to
Rs.2,18,92,041/-, attributable to the export turnover of the
undertaking in proportion to the total turnover of the
undertaking. The said deduction was computed after
reducing both the turnover of traded goods from the total
turnover and the profit/loss on export of traded goods .Since
the assessee had incurred losses in the trading activity
amounting to Rs.1,61,934/- the same were added to the total
profits of the undertaking. Further no adjustment was made
to the profits of the undertaking in respect of rent and
miscellaneous income i.e. R & D subsidy. The A.O. held that
the rent and miscellaneous income was to be reduced from
the same. Further he also, reduced the profits by the loss
incurred on export of traded goods. The CIT(A) upheld the
order of the A.O.
Before us the Ld. counsel for assessee contended that
as regards the loss on traded goods the same is not to be
considered in computing the deduction u/s 10B of the Act in
19 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
view of the decision of the I.T.A.T. in the case of ACIT Vs.
VMT Spinning Company Ltd. (supra). As far as the rent and
R& D subsidy, it was contended that these incomes regularly
arose in the course of business and had to be included in
the taxable income for the impugned year. Further it was
pointed out that the I.T.A.T. in the case of M/s Vardhman
Textiles (supra) had held the rent received to be included in
the profits for the purpose of calculating deduction u/s
80HHC of the Act. Our attention was drawn to the relevant
findings at para 6.10 of the order wherein the issue was
decided in favour of the assessee following the decision of
the Hon'ble Jurisdictional High Court in the case of CIT Vs.
Metalman Auto Pvt. Ltd., 366 ITR 434 and VMT Spinning
Company Ltd. in ITA No.654/Chd/2005 vide order dated
317.2006.
We have heard the rival contentions. With regard the
issue of treatment of loss/profit on export traded goods, the
same has been dealt with by us in Ground No. 4(i) & (ii)
above, directing exclusion of the same from the profits of the
business of the assessee, at para 33 of our order above. As
for rent received from employees, we find that in the case of
the assessee itself for A.Y 2001-02, it was conceded by the
assessee before the Tribunal that 90% of the same was to be
excluded . Even otherwise ,section 10B grants deduction to
profits derived by a 100% EOU from export of articles or
things.Rent received even from employees, cannot be said to
be derived from export of goods. As for the decision of the
20 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
jurisdictional High court relied upon by the Ld.Counsel for
the assessee in the case of Metalman (supra), the issue was
not in relation to rent received and therefore the same would
not apply in the present case. Even R &D subsidy received,
cannot be said to be derived from export of goods but is
clearly on account of scheme of the government granting the
subsidy. R&D subsidy also,we hold ,is not entitled to
exemption u/s 10B of the Act. The issue is squarely covered
by the decision of the apex court in Liberty India vs
Commissioner of Income Tax(2009) 317 ITR 218,wherein it
was held that incentives received on account of schemes of
government cannot be said to be derived from the business
activity carried out by assessees, for the purpose of grant of
deduction u/s 80IB of the Act. Since section 10B is
identically worded using the term “derived from exports”,the
interpretation given to the said term will apply in relation to
exemption claimed u/s 10B of the Act also.
In view of the above we hold that loss on export traded
goods,rent received and R&D subsidy received all are to be
excluded for calculating deduction u/s 10B of the Act.
Ground of appeal No.4(iii) is therefore partly allowed in
above terms.
Ground No.4(iv) raised by the assessee reads as under:
“(iv) That the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in law and on the facts while reducing profits of VSGM E.O.U. by proportionate Head office expenses amounting to Rs.79,60,109/- while calculating deduction u/s 10B.”
21 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
This ground is against the CIT(A)’s order upholding the
order of the A.O. allocating head office expenses of
Rs.79,60,109/- to EOU unit thus reducing the eligible
profits of the undertaking for the purpose of calculation
deduction u/s 10B of the Act.
Brief facts relating to the issue are that the assessee
had incurred total head office expenses amounting to
Rs.11,91,43,587/- and had not allocated any expenses to
any of the units on the ground that secretarial function
performed by the head office had nothing to do with the
manufacturing units. The A.O. did not agree with the
submissions of the assessee and held that the head office
was providing service to all units and, therefore, he
proportionately allocated a sum of Rs.79,60,109/- to the
EOU unit, thus reducing its profits eligible for deduction
u/s 10B of the Act. The CIT(A) dismissed the claim of the
assessee following the order in the case of the assessee for
assessment year 2002-03.
Before us the Ld. counsel for assessee made two fold
contentions; i) that out of the total head office expenses
certain expenses had already been added back in the
computation of income and as such those were not liable to
be allocated. The expenses referred to were as under:
1) Charity and Donation = Rs. 2,06,900/- 2) Prior period expenses = Rs.10,88,093/- 3) Loss on sale of fixed asset = Rs.1,66,246/- 4) Provision for fall in value Of investment = Rs.47,33,280/-
22 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
Total: = Rs.61,94,519/- 43. The Ld. counsel for assessee also contended that if any
allocation was to be done it should be of the net expenses
incurred by the assessee after reducing income earned by
the head office which the Ld. counsel for assessee contended
amounted to Rs.4,70,49,661/- by way of interest and other
miscellaneous receipts. Reliance was placed on the decision
of the I.T.A.T. in the case of Emerson Electric Company
(India) Pvt. Ltd. Vs. DCIT in ITA No.4142/Mum/2015 dated
25.9.2017. It was also pointed out that in the recent
decision of the I.T.A.T. in the case of sister concern i.e. M/s
Vardhman Textiles (supra) the I.T.A.T. had held only net
expenses to be allocated. Our attention was drawn to the
relevant findings of the I.T.A.T. at pages 19 to 22 of the
order.
The Ld. DR fairly conceded that the issue was squarely
covered by the decision of the I.T.A.T. in the case of VMT
Spinning Company Ltd. (supra) though he heavily relied
upon the orders of the authorities below.
In view of the above, since admittedly the I.T.A.T. in the
case of M/s Vardhman Textiles (supra) has adjudicated this
issue holding that only net expenses, after reducing income
earned therefrom, of the head office are to be allocated, we
direct the A.O. to recompute the deduction after allocating
net head office expenses only as per the directions of the
I.T.A.T. in the case of M/s Vardhman Textiles (supra). We
also agree with the contention of the Ld. counsel for
23 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
assessee that the expenses already added back need not be
allocated again for the purpose of calculating profits of
eligible units. We, therefore, direct the A.O. to verify the fact
of disallowance of certain expenses suo moto by the assessee
and thereafter not reallocate the same to the head office for
the purpose of calculating eligible profits for deduction u/s
10B of the Act. Ground of appeal No.4(iv) is accordingly
allowed.
Ground No.5(i)& (ii) raised by the assessee reads as
under:
“5. (i) That the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in law and on the facts in excluding Export Turnover of units claiming exemption u/s 10B from Export Turnover of the appellant while calculating the deduction u/s 80HHC of Income Tax Act. (ii) Without prejudice to ground No. 5(i) above, the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in law and on facts while directing to exclude 100% of export turnover of the EOUs instead of 90% of export turnover of EOUs from the eligible export turnover for deduction u/s 80HHC of Income Tax Act.” 47. The above ground is against the action of the Ld.CIT(A)
in excluding export turnover of units claiming exemption u/s
10B of the Act from the export turnover of the company
while calculating deduction u/s 80HHC of the Act.
Briefly stated the AO found that the assessee had
claimed exemption of export profits both u/s10B and 80
HHC of the Act .He held that since the said profits were
exempt u/s 10B of the Act ,they did not form part of the
gross total income of the assessee and were therefore not
eligible for deduction u/s 80HHC of the Act. He, therefore,
reduced 90% of the export turnover and total turnover of
EOU unit from the export and total turnover of the company
24 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
for computing deduction u/s 80HHC of the Act. The
Ld.CIT(A) rejected the claim of the assessee by referring to
the orders in assessee’s case for assessment years 2001-02
and 2002-03 and following the same directed that 100% of
the turnover be reduced as opposed to 90% done by the AO.
Before us, Ld.Counsel for the assessee, relied upon the
judgment of the Tribunal in the case of Mahavir Spinning
Mills Ltd. in ITA No.212/2005 for assessment year 2001-02
dated 5.1.2016 holding that the turnover of 10B unit is not
to be excluded for the purpose of computing deduction u/s
80HHC of the Act. Our attention was drawn to the relevant
findings of the Tribunal at page 48 of the order, a copy of
which was placed before us. It was also contended that this
issue has also been decided by the Hon'ble High Court in
favour of the assessee in the case of M/s Mahavir Spinning
Mills Ltd. vs Commissioner of Income Tax, Ludhiana in ITA
No.408 of 2007 dated 02-09-16, for assessment year 1998-
Copy of the order was placed before us.
The Ld. DR, on the other hand relied upon the order of
the authorities below.
We have heard rival contentions and also gone through
various case laws referred to before us. The issue before us
is whether for the purpose of computing deduction u/s
80HHC in a case where deduction u/s 10B is also being
claimed, whether the export turnover and total turnover of
the EOU unit would be taken into consideration or not. We
have gone through the order of the Hon'ble High Court in the
25 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
case of M/s Mahavir Spinning Mills Ltd.(supra) for
assessment year 1998-99 and find that the question of law
before it was identical to the issue at hand whether export
turnover of units exempt u/s 10B of the Act are to be
included in export turnover for 80HHC purposes. The
question framed reads as under:
“i) Whether on a true and correct interpretation of Section 80 HHC of the Income Tax Act, 1961, the Tribunal has erred in law in holding that the export turnover of the unit whose profits are exempt under section 10B of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is not to be included in the 'export turnover' for the purposes of calculating the deduction under section 80HHC of the Income Tax Act, 1961?” 51. The Hon’ble High Court, we find, ruled in favour of the
assessee holding that in view of the definition of the said
term in section 80HHC, no such exclusion is provided. The
relevant finding of the Hon’ble High Court at para 16 of its
order is as under:
“16. We are, therefore, unable to agree with the decision of the Tribunal and of the CIT (Appeals) upholding the assessment order. The Tribunal held that the turnover of sales made by the assessee for which deduction under section 10B had been claimed did not answer the description of the turnover eligible for deduction under section 80HHC and therefore, the Assessing Officer rightly excluded such turnover from export turnover while computing relief available to the assessee under section 80HHC of the Act. We are unable to agree. Section 80 HHC clearly defines the terms export turnover, total turnover and profits of business. None of these definitions exclude the export turnover in respect whereof benefit has been derived under section 10B. To accept the respondent's contention would require the section to be rewritten and the expression to be redefined which is not permissible.” In view of the same we agree with the Ld.Counsel for
the assessee that export turnover for which exemption u/s
10B of the Act has already been claimed, is to be included in
the turnover for purposes of calculating deduction u/s 80
HHC of the Act. Ground of appeal No.5(i)&(ii) raised by the
assessee is therefore allowed.
Ground No.5(iii) raised by the assessee reads as under:
26 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
“5. (iii) The Ld. C1T (A) has erred in law and on facts while apportioning all the Administrative, Financial Expenses and Depreciation being expenses not relating to trading activities of appellant's business for calculating indirect cost of trading exports while calculating deduction u/s 80HHC of Income Tax Act.” 53. This ground is against the action of the CIT(A) in
apportioning all administrative and financial expenses and
depreciation for calculating indirect cost of trading goods
while calculating deduction u/s 80HHC of the Act.
Briefly stated, the assessee while calculating deduction
u/s 80HHC of the Act had calculated the indirect cost of
trading goods at Rs.90.76 lacs , by allocating common
expenses which were not directly relating to manufacturing
or trading units where trading was done between both the
trading and manufacturing activities. The assessee
submitted before the A.O. that as per Explanation-d to
section 80HHC(3) direct cost meant cost directly attributable
to the trading goods exported out of India and as per
Explanation-(e) to the said section, indirect cost meant cost
not being direct cost allocated in the ratio of turnover in
respect of trading goods to the total turnover. The A.O. did
not agree with the submissions of the assessee and
calculated the indirect cost at Rs.244.07 lacs, by allocating
all expenses of the company. The Ld.CIT(A) disposed off the
appeal of the assessee with the direction to the A.O. to
compute direct and indirect cost of trading cost as per
findings given in the appellate order dated 25.1.2008 in the
case of the assessee for assessment year 2001-02.
27 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
Before us the Ld. counsel for assessee contended that
the appellate order followed by the Ld.CIT(A) in the case of
the assessee for assessment year 2001-02 had been decided
in favour of the assessee by the Tribunal vide its order in
ITA No.249/2008 and ITA No.280/2008 dated 28.12.2012. It
was pointed out that the I.T.A.T. after going through the
facts of the case allowed the appeal for statistical purposes
directing the A.O. to recompute indirect cost relating to
trading goods in line with the direction given by the I.T.A.T.
in the case of VMT Spinning Company Ltd. Vs. ACIT in ITA
No.682/2007 for assessment year 2003-04. It was further
pointed out that in the case of sister concern of the assessee
i.e. M/s Vardhman Textiles (supra), identical issue had
been dealt with by the I.T.A.T. in its recent order dated
4.5.2018, wherein the order of the CIT(A) had been upheld,
setting aside the issue for reworking the indirect cost of
trading goods in accordance with the decision of the Special
Bench of the I.T.A.T. in the case of Surendra Engineering
Corporation Vs. ACIT, 86 ITD 121 (SB) (Mum).
Ld.DR ,on the other hand, relied on the order of the
lower authorities.
We find that this issue already stands decided by the
ITAT in the case of the VMT Spinning Co. Ltd. , for A.Y 2003-
04,in ITA no.682/chd/07 dt.13.07.2012, wherein each item
of expenditure headwise was taken into consideration for
allocation to traded goods. The directions given in the said
decision was by the ITAT in the case of the assessee for A.Y
28 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
2001-02 in ITA No.249 & 280/chd/08 dt.28-12-12. We
accordingly direct the assessing officer to recompute the
indirect cost relatable to traded goods in line with the
directions given in para 18-25 of the order of the ITAT in
the case of VMT Spinning(supra) for A.Y 2003-04 dt.13-07-
Ground of appeal No.5(iii) is therefore allowed for
statistical purposes.
Ground No.5(iv) raised by the assessee reads as under:
“5. (iv) That the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in law and on the facts while reducing profits of business eligible for deduction u/s 80HHC by 90% of interest received from suppliers and customers amounting to Rs.3,45,75,013/-“ 59. This ground is against the action of the CIT(A)in
reducing the profits of the business eligible for deduction
u/s 80HHC by 90% of interest received from suppliers and
customers amounting to Rs.3,45,75,013/-. The AO had
reduced 100% of the said interest. The CIT(A) held that the
interest from customers/suppliers was in the nature of
business income but 90% of the same should be deducted
from the profits of the business for computing deduction u/s
80HHC of the Act.
Before us, the Ld. counsel for assessee contended that
the interest from customers and suppliers being in the
nature of business income there is no reason for deducting
90% of the same from the profits of the company for the
purpose of calculating deduction u/s 80HHC of the Act.
Reliance was placed on the decision of the Hon'ble Punjab &
Haryana High Court in the case of Phatela Cotgin Industries
29 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
P. Ltd. Vs. CIT (2007) 303 ITR 411 (P&H) for the proposition
that the interest from customers was eligible for deduction
u/s 80HHC/80IA of the Act. It was further contended that
in any case, the interest income to be reduced should be
that after netting the interest expenses incurred and in this
regard reliance was placed on the decision of the High Court
in the case of M/s ACG Associated Capsules Pvt. Ltd. (supra)
and the decision of the ITAT Chandigarh Bench in the case
of ACIT Vs. Mahavir Spinning Mills Ltd. in ITA No.212/2015
for assessment year 2001-02 dated 5.1.2016. It was also
pointed out that in the case of sister concern of the assessee
i.e. M/s Vardhman Textiles (supra) the I.T.A.T. in a recent
decision had held that 90% of such interest earned from
customers and suppliers need not be reduced for the
purpose of calculating deduction u/s 80HHC of the Act. Our
attention was drawn to the relevant findings at pages 11 to
13 of the order.
Ld.DR relied on the order of the authorities below.
We have heard the rival contentions. The Hon’ble apex
court in the case of ACG Capsules (supra) has laid down the
law that only net interest earned ,excluding interest paid in
relation to the same, is to be considered for the purpose of
exclusion from the profits for calculating deduction u/s
80HHC of the Act. Following the same, we restore this issue
to the AO to determine the net interest earned ,as per the
ratio laid down in the case of ACG Capsules(supra) and
thereafter decide the issue in accordance with law. This
30 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
ground of appeal No.5(iv) is therefore allowed for statistical
purposes.
Ground No.5(v) raised by the assessee reads as under:
“5. (v) That the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in law and on the facts while reducing 90% of rent received from employees amounting to Rs.23,68,054/- from profits of business eligible for deduction u/s 80HHC.” 64. This ground is against the action of the CIT(A) in
reducing 90% of the rent received from the employees
amounting to Rs.23,68,054/- while computing profits of the
business eligible for deduction u/s 80HHC of the Act. The
CIT(A) decided the issue against the assessee following his
own order for assessment year 2001-02.
Before us the Ld. counsel for assessee contended that
the rent income received was in the nature of business
income and, therefore, 90% of the same need not be reduced.
It was pointed out that in the case of sister concern of the
assessee, Vardhman Textiles (supra), the rental income
shown as part of miscellaneous income was held by the ITAT
not be reduced to the extent of 90% of the same from the
profits of the business. Our attention was drawn to the
relevant findings of the IATA at page 11-13 of the order.
We have both the parties. We find that identical issue
has been dealt with by us in the context of exclusion of rent
received for the purposes of calculating deduction/exemption
u/s 10B of the Act in ground no.4(iii) raised by the assessee.
Since section 10B and 80 HHC are para materia, allowing
deduction/exemption of profits derived from exports, our
31 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
decision rendered in the context of section 10B of the Act, at
para 38 of our order above will apply for purposes of
section 80HHC also, following which, we dismiss this
ground raised by the assessee.
Ground No.5(vi) raised by the assessee reads as under:
“5. (vi) That the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in law and on the facts while not allowing deduction u/s 80HHC (3)(c)(iii) on export incentives amounting to Rs.4,85,35,947/-.” 68. This ground is against the action of the CIT(A) in not
allowing deduction u/s 80HHC(3)(c)(iii) on export incentives
being DEPB of Rs.4,85,35,947/-.
Briefly stated, the assessee had earned premium on
transfer of sale of licences, REP/DEPB (Rs.53.34 lacs
premium on DEPB) and claimed deduction u/s 80HHC(3) as
per auditor’s certificate. The A.O. while computing deduction
u/s 80HHC reduced the gross sale proceeds of DEPB of
Rs.4,85,35,947/- and denied the benefit of deduction on the
basis of the provisions of section 80HHC(3) as the export
turnover of the company existed Rs.10 crores. The CIT(A)
following his own order for assessment year 2001-02
dismissed the claim of the assessee.
Before us the Ld. counsel for assessee contended that
the proviso to section 80HHC(3) had been struck down and
as such the assessee was entitled to deduction u/s 80HHC
on premium on sale of DEPB /REP licences. Reliance was
placed on the decision of the Hon'ble Gujarat High Court in
the case of Avani Exports Vs. CIT (2012) 348 ITR 349. The
32 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
Hon'ble Jurisdictional High Court in the case of Guru Nanak
Exports, Phagwara Vs. ACIT Jalandhar (2012) CWP
NO.11328 of 2009 and Vijay Silk House (Bangalore) Ltd Vs.
UOI, WP No.2446/2010 (Bombay High Court). It was also
pointed out that in the case of sister concern i.e. M/s
Vardhman Textiles (supra) the I.T.A.T. had allowed the claim
of the assessee agreeing that the proviso had been held to be
ultra vires. Our attention was drawn to the findings of the
I.T.A.T. in the said case at pages 34 to 35 as under:-
“17.1 The Assessing Officer has not allowed deduction under section 80HHC(3)(c)(iii) on export incentives. The assessee submitted before the Ld.. CIT(A) that this amendment is not applicable as company adoption to choose duty drawback or DEPB being duty remission scheme. He argued that the Assessing Officer had reduced total DEPB amounting to Rs.4.10 Crores instead of losses from transfer of DEPB amounting to Rs.12.34 Crores from export incentives while calculating deduction under proviso to Section 80HHCJ3). He further argued that amendment relating to export incentives is not applicable and DEPB of Rs.4.10 Crores included duty drawback of Rs.36.15 Lacs on which no restriction to allow deduction under section 80HHC have been laid in taxation provisions. 17.2 Ld. CIT(A) has confirmed the addition based on the earlier order in the assessees own case, relying on the decision of Hon'ble jurisdictional High Court in the case of Liberty India Ltd. (supra). 17.3 Before us the assessee brought to our notice the order of Hon'ble jurisdictional High Court in the case of Guru Nanak Exports in C.W.P No. 11328 of 2009 dt. 03/10/2012 wherein the amendment brought with retrospective effect has been held ultra-vires with regard to the retrospective nature of the amendment. 17.4 Since the amendment is not applicable to the case of the assessee before us this ground of appeal f the assessee is hereby allowed.” 71. Ld.DR relied on the order of the authorities below.
Having heard the rival contentions. We are in
agreement with the Ld.Counsel for the assessee that the
third proviso to section 80HHC(3), applying which the
assessees claim of deduction u/s 80HHC on sale of DEPB
was denied, was brought on the statute by theTtaxation
Amendment Act, 2005 and its retrospectivity from
33 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
01.04.1998, was categorically struck down by courts in the
judgements relied upon by the Ld.Counsel for the assessee.
Since the impugned year falls before 2005, the third proviso
is not applicable to the assessee. The denial of deduction
u/s 80HHC of the Act on sale of DEPB is therefore set aside.
This ground of appeal of the aseessee is therefore allowed.
The assessee has taken the following additional ground
before us which reads as under:
“ That the authorities below have erred in treating the interest reimbursement of Rs.8,32,78,691/- under Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (FUFS) as revenue receipts instead of capital receipt.” 74. The assessee has contended that it is a purely legal
ground which may be admitted for adjudication. Agreeing
with the contention of Ld. counsel for assessee and following
the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of
NTPC Vs. CIT 299 ITR 383, the additional ground raised by
the assessee is being admitted for adjudication being a
purely legal ground.
Before us the Ld. counsel for assessee pointed out the
facts relating to the issue stating that the assessee had paid
interest to the bank amounting to Rs.24,55,51,691/- on term
loans raised by it and said interest was debited in the Profit
& Loss Account of the assessee company. As per the TUF
Scheme of the Government the assessee had received
subsidy of Rs.8,32,78,691/- which was credited in the Profit
& Loss Account and accordingly taxed. It is this TUFS
subsidy of Rs.8.32 crores, the Ld. counsel for assessee
34 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
pointed out that the assessee is claiming as capital receipt.
The Ld. counsel for assessee contended that this issue of
treatment of interest subsidy under TUF Scheme has been
dealt with in a number of decisions holding the same to be
capital in nature. Our attention was drawn to the following
case laws in this regard:
1) CIT Vs. Shamlal Bansal, ITA No.472/2010 ` dated 17.1.2011 (P&H). 2) M/s CNV Textiles Pvt. Ltd. Vs. DCIT, ITA No.746/Mad/2014, dated 21.11.2014. 3) DCIT Vs. M/s Gloster Jute Mills Ltd., ITA No.687/Kol/2010, dated 2.7.2014. 4) DCIT Vs. Satluj Textiles & Industries Ltd., ITA No.5142/Del/2013, dated 3.7.2015. Copies of the above orders were also placed before
us.
The Ld. counsel for assessee also contended that this
issue arose in the case of the sister concern of the assessee
M/s Vardhman Textiles (supra) where the matter had been
restored to the CIT(A) to adjudicate the same. It was pointed
out that in the said case also this issue had been raised as
an additional and since it has not been considered by the
authorities below it was remanded to the CIT(A). Our
attention was drawn to para 23.5 of the order holding so.
The Ld. DR also contended that since the aforesaid
ground had not been there before the CIT(A) an opportunity
to be provided to the Revenue to deal with entire gamat of
the issue.
35 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
In view of the above, we restore the issue of treatment
of subsidy received of interest under TUF Scheme back to
the CIT(A) for adjudicating afresh directing him to pass a
speaking order in this regard after considering all the facts
relating to the scheme and the judicial precedent in this
regard. The assessee would be at liberty to make
submissions as deemed fit before the CIT(A). Thus additional
ground of appeal is, therefore, allowed for statistical
purposes.
In effect the appeal of the assessee is partly allowed for
statistical purposes.
We shall now take up the appeal of the Revenue in ITA
No.118/Chd/2009.
ITA No.118/Chd/2009(Revenue’s Appeal):
Ground No.1 raised by the Revenue reads as under:
“1. That the Ld. CIT(A)-II has erred in law & facts in deleting the addition of Rs.44,96,028/- made u/s 14A by the A.O. on proportionate basis out of personnel, administrative and misc. expenses for earning of dividend income.” 82. The above ground relates to the issue of attributing
expenses to dividend income earned by the assessee which
the A.O. had attributed to the extent of Rs.44.96 lacs. The
CIT(A) had reduced the same to Rs.1 lac. This issue has been
dealt with by us in ground No.2 raised by the assessee in its
appeal as above wherein we have upheld the restriction of
attribution of expenses to the extent of Rs.1 lac at para 19of
our order above. The ground of appeal No.1 raised by the
36 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
Revenue, therefore, stands adjudicated as above and thus
dismissed.
Ground No.2 raised by the Revenue reads as under:
“2. Ld. CIT(A) has erred in law & facts in directing the A.O. to consider interest income received by the assessee on delayed payment from customers as "business income" instead of "Income of other sources" as considered by the A.O.” 84. The Revenue interest he above ground has challenged
the action of the Ld.CIT(A) in treating the interest received
by the assessee on delayed payments from customers as
business income instead of income from other sources as
held by the A.O. The CIT(A) had held the said interest
income to be in the nature of business income of the
assessee following his order in the case of the assessee for
assessment year 2002-03 wherein the decision of the Hon'ble
Jurisdictional High Court in the case of Phatela Cotgin
Industries P. Ltd. Vs. CIT, 167 Taxman 9 had been followed.
The Ld. DR was unable to bring to our notice any contrary
decision in this regard. In view of the same, we do not find
any reason to interfere in the order of the CIT(A) holding the
interest income earned from delayed payments from
customers etc. as business income. Ground of appeal No.2
raised by the Revenue is, therefore, dismissed.
Ground No.3 raised by the Revenue reads as under:
“3. That the Id. CIT(A) has erred in law & facts in allowing deduction u/s 10B on sale of sample forming part of misc. income which have no nexus with the profits derived from the undertaking claiming exemption u/s 10B.”
37 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
The issue raised in the above ground relates to the
direction of the Ld.CIT(A) allowing deduction u/s 10B on
sale of samples which form part of miscellaneous income.
The A.O. had held that since it had no nexus with the profits
derived from the undertaking, the assessee was not eligible
to claimed deduction u/s 10B of the Act on the same. The
Ld.CIT(A), on the other hand, held that this income from sale
of samples had to be taken as income derived from 100%
EOU since the samples sold were manufactured by the EOU
only. The Ld. DR was unable to controvert this finding of the
Ld.CIT(A) before us. On the contrary, it was pointed out to
us that in the case of Vardhman Threads Ltd. Vs. ACIT, the
I.T.A.T. in this order passed in ITA No.556/Chd/2008 dated
28.4.2014 had held that the sale of samples was related to
normal business of the assessee entitling it to deduction u/s
80IB of the Act. In view of the above, there is no doubt,
therefore, that the CIT(A) had rightly held the assessee to be
eligible for deduction on sale of samples u/s 10B of the Act.
Ground of appeal No.3 raised by the Revenue is, therefore,
dismissed.
Ground of appeal No.4 raised by the Revenue reads as
under:
“4. That the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in law by directing the A.O. for fresh adjudication/ verification of direct and indirect cost attributable to trading of export goods as per provisions of section 80HHC of I.T.Act. 1961, whereas the same was calculated as per data supplied by the assessee.” 88. The above ground challenges the action of the CIT(A)
directing fresh adjudication/verification of the direct or
38 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
indirect cost attributable to the trading on export goods fpp
of calculating the eligible deduction of the assessee u/s
80HHC of the Act. The Ld. DR pointed out that this ground
of appeal was common to that raised by the assessee in it is
appeal in ITA No.88/Chd/2009 above in ground No.5.(iii).
Since the issue has been adjudicated by us in the case of the
assessee at para 55 of the order above upholding the order
of the CIT(A), the ground of appeal No.4 raised b the
Revenue stands covered by our decision as above. In view of
the same, ground No.4 raised by the Revenue is dismissed.
Ground No.5 raised by the Revenue reads as under:
“5. That the Ld. C1T(A) has erred in law & facts in directing the A.O. to treat the interest received from customers and suppliers to be the income eligible for deduction u/s 10B.” 90. In the above ground the Revenue has challenged the
action of the Ld.CIT(A) in treating the interest receipts from
customers and suppliers as being eligible for deduction u/s
10B of the Act. The Ld. DR in this regard relied upon the
order of the A.O. but at the same time pointed out that the
Hon'ble Jurisdictional High Court in the case of Phatela
Cotgin Industries P. Ltd. Vs. CIT, 303 ITR 411 had
categorically held that the interest from customers/suppliers
was entitled to deduction u/s 80HH and 80I of the Act. In
view of the above, we find no reason to interfere in the order
of the Ld.CIT(A) and ground raised by the Revenue,
therefore, is dismissed.
Ground No.6 raised by the Revenue is as under:
39 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
“6. That the Id. CIT(A) has erred in law & facts in allowing deduction u/s 80HHC(3)(c)(i) on adjusted profit of business after increasing the same with the loss on trading goods exported amounting to Rs.1,45.02.286/- and directed the A.O. to calculate deduction u/s 80HHC(3)(c)(i) accordingly.” 92. The above ground raised by the Revenue is against the
direction of the Ld.CIT(A) allowing deduction u/s 80HHC of
the Act on the adjusted profits of the business after
adjusting loss on sale of traded exports as against the order
passed by the A.O. without making such adjustment. This
issue has risen in the case of the assessee’s appeal also in
ground No.4.(iii) wherein we have held that both the
profit/loss on the export of trading goods and the turnover
of export trading goods need to be adjusted for the purpose
of calculating/determining the eligible deduction u/s 10B of
the Act at para 38 of our order above. Following the same we
uphold the order of the Ld.CIT(A) in allowing the adjustment
of loss on export of trading goods for the purpose of
calculating deduction u/s 10B of the Act. Ground of appeal
No.6 raised by the Revenue is, therefore, dismissed.
Ground of appeal No.7 raised by the Revenue reads as
under:
“7. That the Id. CTT(A) has erred in law & facts in allowing the deduction u/s 80IB in case of Aurodying Mills as the unit is not doing manufacturing activities.” 94. In the above ground the Revenue has challenged the
action of the Ld.CIT(A) in granting deduction u/s 80IB of the
Act to Auro Dying Mills of the assessee. The A.O., it was
pointed out, had denied the said holding that the unit was
not undertaking any manufacturing activities. The Ld.CIT(A),
on the other hand, had allowed the claim of the assessee on
40 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
finding that identical issue had arisen in the case of the
assessee in assessment year 2002-03 wherein the same was
allowed in first appeal vide order dated 29.4.2008.
The Ld. DR before us relied upon the order of the A.O.
but was unable to controvert the finding of the Ld.CIT(A)
that the issue had been decided in favour of the assessee in
the preceding assessment year. Nor did the Ld.DR bring to
our notice any order of higher authorities reversing the
CIT(A) ‘s order on this issue for the preceding year. In view
of the same, we do not find any reason to interfere in the
order of the CIT(A) holding that Auro Dying Mills was eligible
for deduction u/s 80IB of the Act. In view of the above,
ground No.7 raised by the Revenue is dismissed.
Ground No.8 raised by the Revenue reads as under:
“8. That the Id. CIT(A) has erred in law & facts in allowing 100%) deduction u/s 80HHC instead of 90% as available for the year under consideration in computing book profit of the assessee u/s 11 5JB.” 97. The Revenue has challenged the action of the Ld.CIT(A)
in allowing 100% deduction u/s 80HHC of the Act for the
purpose of computing book profits u/s 115JB of the Act as
against 90% of the profits allowed by the A.O.
Before us the Ld. DR conceded that this issue was
covered in favour of the assessee by the order of the I.T.A.T.
in the case of the assessee itself for assessment year 2001-
02 in ITA No.249/Chd/2008 dated 28.12.2012 wherein at
para 55 the I.T.A.T. had noted that the Ld. DR had conceded
41 ITA Nos.88 & 118/Chd/2009 A.Y.2003-04
that the issue stood covered in favour of the assessee in the case of Ajanta Pharma Ltd. Vs. CIT, 327 ITR 305.
In view of the above, we do not find any reason to interfere in the order of the Ld.CIT(A) in allowing deduction of 100% of eligible deduction u/s 80HHC of the Act for the purpose of calculation of book profits u/s 115JB of the Act. Ground of appeal No.8 raised by the Revenue is, therefore, dismissed.
The appeal of the Revenue is therefore dismissed
In effect, the appeal of the assessee is partly allowed and the appeal of the Revenue is dismissed.
Order pronounced in the Open Court.
Sd/- Sd/- संजय गग� अ�नपणा� ग�ता ANNAPURNA GUPTA) (SANJAY GARG ) �याय�क सद�य/Judicial Member लेखा सद�य/Accountant Member �दनांक /Dated: 26th November, 2018 *रती* आदेश क� ��त�ल�प अ�े�षत/ Copy of the order forwarded to : 1. अपीलाथ�/ The Appellant 2. ��यथ�/ The Respondent 3. आयकर आय�त / CIT 4. आयकर आय�त (अपील)/ The CIT(A) 5. �वभागीय ��त�न�ध, आयकर अपील�य आ�धकरण, च�डीगढ़/ DR, ITAT, CHANDIGARH 6. गाड� फाईल/ Guard File
आदेशानसार / By order, सहायक पंजीकार/ Assistant Registrar