WELGROW HOTELS CONCEPTS P.LTD,NEW DELHI vs. ITO, WARD-27(1), NEW DELHI

This appeal in for AY 2018-19 arises out of the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), National Faceless Appeal Centre (NFAC), Delhi, [hereinafter referred to as ‘ld. CIT(A)’, in short] in DIN & Order No.ITBA/NFAC/S/250/2022-23/1048179868(1) dated 22.12.2022 against the order of assessment passed u/s 154 r.w.s. 143(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’) dated 02.12.2020 by the ld. Assessing Officer, Ward 27(1), New Delhi (hereinafter referred to as ‘ld. AO’).

The only issue to be decided in this appeal is as to whether the ld. CIT(A) was justified in confirming the disallowance made on account of employee’s contribution of Provident Fund and Employee State Insurance in the facts and circumstances of the instant case.

We have heard rival submissions and perused the materials available on record. This issue is no longer res integra in view of the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme court in the case of Checkmate Services Pvt. Ltd vs CIT reported in 448 ITR 518. It is not in dispute that the employees contribution to PF and ESI were deposited by the assessee to the Government account beyond the due dates prescribed under the respective acts but well before the due date of filing of return of income u/s. 139(1) of the Act. We find that the recent decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court had settled the entire dispute to rest by deciding it in favour of the Revenue by observing as under:-

In the opinion of this Court, the reasoning in the impugned judgment that the non- obstante clause would not in any manner dilute or override the employer's obligation to deposit the amounts retained by it or deducted by it from the employee's income, unless the condition that it is deposited on or before the due date, is correct and justified. The non-obstante clause has to be understood in the context of the entire provision of Section 43B which is to ensure timely payment before the returns are filed, of certain liabilities which are to be borne by the assessee in the form of tax, interest payment and other statutory liability. In the case of these liabilities, what constitutes the due date is defined by the statute. Nevertheless, the assessees are given some leeway in that as long as deposits are made beyond the due date, but before the date of filing the return, the deduction is allowed. That, however, cannot apply in the case of amounts which are held in trust, as it is in the case of employees' contributions- which are deducted from their income. They are not part of the assessee employer's income, nor are they heads of deduction per se in the form of statutory pay out. They are others' income, monies, only deemed to be income, with the object of ensuring that they are paid within the due date specified in the particular law. They have to be deposited in terms of such welfare enactments. It is upon deposit, in terms of those enactments and on or before the due dates mandated by such concerned law, that the amount which is otherwise retained, and deemed an income, is treated as a deduction. Thus, it is an essential condition for the deduction that such amounts are deposited on or before the due date. If such interpretation were to be adopted, the non- obstante clause under section 43B or anything contained in that provision would not absolve the assessee from its liability to deposit the employee's contribution on or before the due date as a condition for deduction.

In the light of the above reasoning, this court is of the opinion that there is no infirmity in the approach of the impugned judgment. The decisions of the other High Courts, holding to the contrary, do not lay down the correct law. For these reasons, this court does not find any reason to interfere with the impugned judgment. The appeals are accordingly dismissed.”

Pursuant to the aforesaid decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the claim of deduction towards employee’s contribution to PF & ESI made by the assessee becomes an incorrect claim warranting primafacie adjustment u/s.143(1) of the Act.

In view of the aforesaid observations and respectfully following the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court referred to supra, the grounds raised by the assessee are hereby dismissed.

In the result, appeal of the assessee is dismissed.