“new employees”
The decision most relied on for new employees is PCIT v. New Delhi Television Ltd. (398 ITR 57), cited in 42 judgments on BharatTax.
Leading authorities on new employees
Expenditure on Employees Stock Options Plan (ESOP) compensation is an ascertained liability and is allowable as revenue expenditure.
Expenditure arising from Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) compensation is an allowable revenue expenditure deductible under section 37(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
The Delhi High Court allowed deduction under Section 80JJAA even if the claim was made during assessment proceedings, provided the claim was otherwise sustainable in law.
A claim for deduction under Section 80JJAA cannot be denied solely because Form 10DA was not filed within the prescribed time, especially if the requisite audit report was available to the Assessing Officer before the assessment order was framed. Procedural lapses or mistakes in filing the form do not justify denial of the claim.
An assessee is entitled to the benefit of Section 80JJAA as long as an employee has worked for 300 days, even if this period is split across the assessment year or financial year. The deduction under Section 80JJAA is allowed for three years, including the year employment is provided, and each year requires verification of at least 300 days of work by a non-casual employee.