“Section 36(1)(vii)(c)”
The decision most relied on for Section 36(1)(vii)(c) is Distributors (Baroda) (P.) Ltd. v. Union of India (155 ITR 120), cited in 229 judgments on BharatTax.
Leading authorities on Section 36(1)(vii)(c)
For computing the deduction under Section 80M, only the net dividend income (gross dividend income after reducing expenses attributable to earning it, as per Section 57(iii) and the principle in Section 80AB) is eligible. The case also holds that tax authorities are not bound to perpetuate an error from a previous assessment year, as each year is a separate unit and consistency cannot override substantive justice.
For computing book profits under Section 115JB, an Assessing Officer's power is limited to examining duly certified books and making adjustments only as per the Explanation. A provision for bad and doubtful debts, being a diminution in the value of an asset (receivable), does not constitute a 'provision for liability' under Clause (c) of the Explanation and therefore cannot be added back.
Expenditure incurred by an assessee in relation to income not forming part of the total income is not deductible under Section 14A(1). The disallowance must be restricted to direct and indirect expenses having an approximate connection with the earning of such exempt income, and Rule 8D applies from Assessment Year 2008-09.
Provision for bad and doubtful debts, if it amounts to an actual write-off by reducing the sundry debtors balance from the asset side of the Balance Sheet, cannot be added back when computing book profits under Section 115JB read with Explanation (i) of the Income Tax Act.
Disallowance under Section 14A read with Rule 8D is attracted even when no exempt income is actually earned from investments in the relevant year, as long as the income from such investments does not or shall not form part of the total income.
The fiction created by Section 50(1) and (2) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, applies only to the computation of capital gains under Sections 48 and 49, and not to other provisions. Section 54E is available for exemption irrespective of whether the asset is depreciable or not.
Disallowance under Section 14A is not to be considered while computing book profits under Section 115JB of the Act.
Securitisation income derived from the business of long-term housing finance is eligible for deduction under section 36(1)(viii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, even if the assessee continues to bear the risk of default.
