DCIT, CIRCLE7(1), NEW DELHI vs. FIELDFRESH FOODS P.LTD, NEW DELHI

PDF · subscribers
ITA 1220/DEL/2022Status: DisposedITAT Delhi23 November 2023AY 2014-15Bench: SH. SHAMIM YAHYA (Accountant Member), SHRI KUL BHARAT (Judicial Member)4 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 order, finding that the provisions were not contingent liabilities but rather payments for goods in transit and claims that were subsequently paid or adjusted in the following financial year. The Tribunal found no infirmity in the CIT(A)'s findings.

What were the facts?

The Revenue appealed against the CIT(A)'s order which allowed the assessee's claim for provision for purchase of finished goods and provision for claims. The AO had disallowed these as contingent liabilities.

What were the issues?

Whether provisions for purchase of finished goods and claims, disallowed by the AO as contingent liabilities, are allowable expenses if they are subsequently paid or adjusted.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 37(1)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, DELHI BENCH ‘B’, NEW DELHI

For Appellant: Shri Anil Bhalla, C.A
For Respondent: Shri Vivek Kumar Upadhyay, Sr. D.R
Hearing: 22.11.2023Pronounced: 23.11.2023

This appeal filed by the Revenue is directed against the order of Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-13, Delhi dated 06.01.2020 pertaining to Assessment Year 2014-15.

2.

The grounds of appeal

filed by assessee, which reads as under:

1. On the facts and under the circumstances of the case, the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in allowing the provision for purchase of finished goods at Rs.22,31,99,107/-, ignoring the fact that assessee has failed to establish that the finished goods lying in closing stock were out of own manufactured goods of the purchases as claimed.

2. On the facts and under the circumstances of the case, the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in allowing the provision for claims amounting to Rs.2,26,54,932/-, without correctly appreciating the law that expenses are allowable only on actual basis under section 37.

DCIT vs. Fieldfresh foods Pvt. Ltd. 2 3. The appellant craves, leave, modify, add or forego in any ground(s) of appeal at any time before or during the hearing of this appeal.”

3.

Apropos, ground no.1, the AO in this case has disallowed the provision for purchase of finished goods amounting to Rs.22,31,99,107/-. AO was of the opinion that above mentioned is a contingent liability and cannot be allowed under section 37(1) of the Act. Upon assessee’s appeal, learned CIT(A) gave a finding that it was not in fact a provision and there were both debit and credit entries and there was no affect by the entries. The conclusion of order of learned CIT(A) reads as under: “4.3.5 Thus, in light of the given facts it is clear that the said provision was infact payment for purchase of goods in transit whose entries were reversed in the beginning of the following year and the payments were made during F.Y. 2014-15 (A.Y. 2015-16). Since, the purchased goods were reflected as closing stock in the P&L Account (on the credit side) and in the balance sheet as goods in transit, these were infact ascertained and not contingent expenses. While, the goods were received, the bills were received later on. Hence, the claim of expense stands explained and proved, therefore allowable. Accordingly, the addition of Rs.22,31,99,107/- on account of unascertained provision stands deleted.”

4.

Per contra, learned DR could not dispute the finding of learned CIT(A).

5.

Upon careful consideration, we affirm the order of learned CIT(A).

6.

Apropos, ground no.2, the AO had made disallowance for provision for claims amounting to Rs.2,26,54,932/- holding that there were unascertained and contingent liability. Upon assessee’s appeal, learned CIT(A) examined the issue in detail and gave a finding of fact that the provisions are subsequently

DCIT vs. Fieldfresh foods Pvt. Ltd. 3 duly paid in the following financial year. Hence, she directed that the addition is liable to be deleted.

7.

Per contra, learned DR could not dispute the proposition that the provisions are not contingent.

8.

Upon careful consideration, we may gainfully refer to the following conclusion of learned CIT(A)’s order as under: 4.4.2 In light of the facts of the case and clarifications called for, it was noted that the claims of the distributors booked as provisions in the previous year, were subsequently paid/adjusted against sales realization, collected by the distributors on behalf of the company, in the first quarter of the following financial year i.e. F.Y. 2014-15 (Α.Υ. 2015-16) The appellant was asked to demonstrate the same by way of a specific case which was shown in case of a distributor, M/s Bahety Overseas Pvt. Ltd. Hence, these were established as ascertained expenses/liabilities and not adhoc provisions as held by the AO. Accordingly, the addition of Rs.2,26,54,932/- Is hereby deleted./Similarly, the provision of Rs. 22,31,99,107/- on account of purchase of furnished goods were also shown to have been reflected in closing stock in the profit and loss A/c and the payments were made/settled in the following F.Y. 2014-15 after receiving the bills, (which were also submitted u/R 46 A, as they were received later). In light of the written submissions made, judicial rulings as well as the documents produced, the addition of Rs.22,31,99,107/- is not maintainable& is accordingly deleted.

9.

Thus we see that learned CIT(A) has examined the issue and has found that these so called provisions are duly paid in the next financial year. Hence, this addition is liable to be deleted. We do not find any infirmity in the order of learned CIT(A). Hence, we uphold the same.

DCIT vs. Fieldfresh foods Pvt. Ltd. 4 10. In the result, this appeal filed by Revenue stands dismissed.

Order pronounced in the open court on 23.11.2023

More judgments on Section 37(1)

All 6,995 judgments and leading authorities on Section 37(1) →

Recent GST High Court judgments

Search GST case law →