STERLING INVESTMENT CORPORATION P. LTD,MUMBAI vs. DCIT CIR 3(3), MUMBAI

Briefly stated relevant facts of the case are that the assessee is a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), filed the return of income declaring the total income of Rs. 5,04,878/-. Assessing Officer made an assessment under normal provisions and quantified the total income at Rs. 14,07,120/-. In the assessment, AO disallowed sum of Rs. 9,02,238/- u/s 14A of the Act. On appeal, CIT (A) confirmed the said addition. Aggrieved with the above decision of the CIT (A), assessee is in appeal before the Tribunal by raising the above mentioned ground.

During the proceedings before us, at the outset, ld Counsel for the assessee brought my attention to the paper book and submitted that page 11 of the PB constitutes Profit & Loss Account and the assessee has three sources of income namely (i) income from investment; (ii) exempt dividend income and (ii) rental income. Bringing my attention to the interest expenditure, Ld Counsel for the assessee submitted that all the interests relatable to the investments are yielded exempt income were entirely disallowed while computing the taxable income. Further, bringing my attention to Schedule-13 (page 16 of the PB), Ld Counsel for the assessee mentioned that gross expenditure of Rs. 18,64,930/- was arrived at before making further deductions. Bringing my attention to „depository service charges‟ and „share issue expenses‟, Ld Counsel for the assessee mentioned that these expenses since connected to the exempt income, the same, amounting to Rs. 9.62 lakhs, was entirely disallowed for the purpose of section 14A of the Act. Thus, he summed up by stating that out of the entire expenditure of Rs. 18.64 lakhs, only Rs. 9.62 lakhs was claimed as allowable expenditure, which was entirely disallowed by the AO in the assessment. He also mentioned that directly connected expenses were entirely disallowed by the AO out of the indirect expenditure. Assessee found reasonable to disallow Rs. 1 lakh additionally. He also submitted that the balances of other amounts appearing in Schedule-13 are necessary for running of the business. They cannot be entirely claimed as expenditure incurred for earning of dividend income, when there are other sources of income namely investment activity and rental activities. Ld Counsel for the assessee fairly mentioned that the disallowance of Rs. 1 lakh out of the said indirect expenses is made on ad-hoc basis and the Bench may take a proper view if they are not satisfied with the like disallowance suo moto disallowed by the assessee.

On the other hand, Ld DR for the Revenue is of the opinion, the indirect expenses should be apportioned on the basis of turnover of the three sources of income ie investment activity; exempt income and the rental income.

I have heard both the parties and find, the dispute, if any, relates to disallowance of Rs. 9,02,238/-. It is the case of the Revenue that the whole amount should be disallowed as it relates to the expenses incurred for earning of the exempt

In the result, appeal of the assessee is partly allowed. Order pronounced in the open court on 22nd April, 2016. (D. KARUNAKARA RAO) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER भुंफई Mumbai; ददनांक 22.4.2016 व.नन.स./ OKK , Sr. PS आदेश की प्रतिलऱपि अग्रेपिि/Copy of the Order forwarded to : 1. अऩीराथी / The Appellant प्रत्मथी / The Respondent. 2. आमकय आमुक्त(अऩीर) / The CIT(A)- 3. आमकय आमुक्त / CIT 4. ववबागीम प्रनतननधध, आमकय अऩीरीम अधधकयण, भुंफई / DR,

ITAT, Mumbai गार्ड पाईर / Guard file. 6. सत्मावऩत प्रनत ////