ADIT (IT) 1(1), MUMBAI vs. ACM SHIPPING INDIA LTD, MUMBAI

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ITA 6177/MUM/2013Status: DisposedITAT Mumbai12 February 2016AY 2010-114 pages

In favour of the assessee: the Revenue's appeal was dismissed. From the AI summary of this appeal.

AI SummaryDismissed

What did the Tribunal hold?

The tribunal upheld the CIT(A)'s decision that 10% of the income was attributable to the UK company's dependent agency permanent establishment in India, as no contrary material was presented by the revenue.

What were the facts?

The assessee, a subsidiary of a UK company, arranged cargo transportation from India and shared revenue with its holding company. The revenue sought to tax the holding company's share of income, which the assessee believed was not taxable in India.

What were the issues?

Attribution of income to a foreign company's permanent establishment in India and the applicability of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAA).

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 195(2)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “L” BENCH, MUMBAI

For Respondent: Shri T R Palte, Shri J P Bairagra
Hearing: 11.12.2015Pronounced: 12.2.2016

सुनवधई की तधयीख / Date of Hearing : 11.12.2015 घोषणध की तधयीख /Date of Pronouncement: 12.2.2016 आदेश / O R D E R

Per B R Baskaran, AM:

1.

The revenue has filed this appeal on being aggrieved by the decision of Ld CIT(A) in holding that only 10% of the gross income is attributable to the Indian operations of the UK company.

2.

We heard the parties and perused the record. The facts relating to the case are set out in brief. The assessee herein is a subsidiary of ACM Shipping Ltd, U.K and is engaged in the business of ship broking and arranges transportation of cargo from India to various other countries.

2 6 17 7 / M/ 2 01 3 The assessee’s holding company is also engaged in ship broking business at international level. The holding company provided information to the assessee relating to potential international ship owners located outside India and also facilitated introduction of the assessee to various ship owners. The revenue generated by the assessee was shared equally between the assessee and the holding company. The assessee deducted the commission income from the freight charges at the time of remitting the freight charges collected by it on behalf of the ship owners. As per the terms between the assessee and the UK company (holding company), it was required to remit its holding company’s share abroad. Accordingly, it sought for a Nil-deduction certificate u/s 195(2) of the Act from the assessing officer; otherwise it was required to deduct tax at source at applicable rates on the amount remitted by it. The assessee submitted before the assessing officer that the holding company is not liable to pay tax under the Indian Income tax Act and accordingly sought for nil deduction certificate. However, the assessing officer did not agree with the assessee and directed the assessee to withhold tax at 1.61% from the payments remitted by it.

3.

The assessee challenged the order of the AO by filing appeal before AO and then to Tribunal. The ITAT, vide its order dated 10-06-2011, held that the impugned payments are taxable in India under domestic law. However, since the applicability of provisions of DTAA was not examined, the Tribunal restored the matter to the file of the Ld CIT(A) to examine about the applicability of provisions of Indo – UK DTAA. Accordingly, the Ld CIT(A) passed a fresh order.

4.

The Ld CIT(A) concluded that the assessee herein is engaged in carrying on broking business wholly or almost wholly for ACM Shipping

3 6 17 7 / M/ 2 01 3 Ltd., U.K. Accordingly he concluded that the assessee herein is a dependent agent of ACM Shipping UK Ltd as per clause (c) of paragraph 4 of Article 5 of Indo-UK DTAA and hence the UK company was held to be having a dependent agency permanent establishment in India.

5.

With regard to the attribution of profits relating to Indian operations of the UK company, the Ld CIT(A) made a detailed analysis of the various operations carried on by both the parties, viz., the assessee herein and the UK company in India as well as outside India. The various activities have been tabulated in paragraph 15 of the order of Ld CIT(A). Based upon activities carried on by both the parties in India and outside India, the Ld CIT(A) held that roughly 60% of the work is carried out in India. Since the assessee herein has already been paid 50% of the income, the Ld CIT(A) took the view that the balance amount of 10% of the income is attributable to the operations carried on ACM Shipping UK Ltd in the India. The revenue is aggrieved by the said decision of Ld CIT(A).

6.

However, on a careful consideration of the order passed by Ld CIT(A), we notice that the first appellate authority has made detailed analysis of various operations carried on by the parties in India as well as outside India and has accordingly given a finding that roughly 60% of the work is carried on in India by both the parties. Since the assessee has already taken 50% of income, the Ld CIT(A) has held that the balance of 10% is attributable to the dependent agency PE of the UK company. Even though, the revenue has challenged this decision, yet no material was placed before us in order to compel us to interfere with the decision rendered by Ld CIT(A). Hence, we do not find any reason to interfere with the order passed by Ld CIT(A) and accordingly uphold the same.

4 6 17 7 / M/ 2 01 3

7.

In the result, the appeal filed by the revenue is dismissed.

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