DCIT(IT)-2(1)(2)MUMBAI, MUMBAI V. DELOITTE TOUTCHE TOHMATSU INDIA LLP, MUMBAI

ITA 8079/MUM/2025

AI Insights

The case involves appeals by the Revenue against the decision of the CIT(A) which favored Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP, the respondent. The core issue was whether the payments made by the assessee to Deloitte Global Holdings Ltd. for services under the Shared Service Agreement were in the nature of royalty and thus liable for TDS under section 195 of the Income Tax Act. The Tribunal examined the nature of the services provided and the terms of the agreement, referencing previous judgments and rulings, particularly focusing on the definition of 'royalty' under the India-UK DTAA. The Tribunal found that the payments were not for the use of any copyright or intellectual property, but rather for services rendered, and thus did not constitute royalty.

• Counselvise Citation: [2026] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 847495 (ITAT-MUMBAI)
• Duration Of Justice: 3 month(s) 28 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 26-03-2026
• Appeal Filed By: Department
• Order Result: Dismissed
• Bench Allotted: Mumbai
• Assessment Year: 2019-2020
• Appeal Filed On: 28-11-2025
• Other Referred Cases: Engineering Analysis Centre of Excellence (P) Ltd. vs. CIT, EY Global Services Ltd. vs. ACIT, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu vs. ACIT
• Laws Referred To: India-UK DTAA
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: KRISHNA KUMAR
• Assessee Lawyers: NIRAJ SHETH; NINAD PATADE; ARS
• Keywords: TDS; Advance ruling; Double taxation relief; Non-deduction of tax

Judgement Text

"IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL “I” BENCH, MUMBAI BEFORE SMT. BEENA PILLAI (JUDICIAL MEMBER) & SHRI BIJAYANANDA PRUSETH (ACCOUNTANT MEMBER) I.T.A. No. 8078 & 8079/Mum/2025 Assessment Years: 2018-19 & 2019-20 DCIT(IT)-2(1)(2), MUMBAI Vs. Deloitte Toutche Tohmatsu India LLP Mumbai Maharashtra - 400001 [PAN: AALFD7157J] (Appellant) (Respondent) Assessee by Shri Niraj Sheth, Adv./Shri Ninad Patade, A/Rs Revenue by Shri Krishna Kumar, Sr. DR Date of Hearing 11.03.2026 Date of Pronouncement 26.03.2026 ORDER Per Smt. Beena Pillai, JM: Present appeals filed by the revenue arise out of separate orders dated 30/09/2025 passed by Ld. CIT(A)-56, Mumbai for assessment years 2018-19 and 2019-20 on following identical grounds of appeal:- “1. Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld. CIT(A) erred in following the decision of Hon'ble ITAT that the payment made by the assessee to the Deloitte Global Holdings Services Limited against 1) Global brand, 2) Global Communications and 3) Global technology/ Knowledge Management were not for information concerning commercial experience in terms of article 13(3) of the India-UK DTAA hence were not in the nature of royalty and is not liable for taxation in India with the meaning of Article 13(3) of the Indo UK treaty? 2. \"Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld. CIT(A) erred in directing the Assessing Officer to grant refund of taxes paid pursuant to the order u/s. 195(2) dated 30.01.2028 even though the department has filed appeal against the decision of Hon'ble ITAT for AY 2018-19 dated 22.07.2022?” Printed from counselvise.com 2 I.T.A. No. 8078 & 8079/Mum/2025 2. Brief facts of the case are as under: Brief facts of the case are as under: The assessee is a limited liability partnership firm and renders professional services to clients, including large domestic as well as multinational corporates, and is part of the global network worldwide. It is submitted that the assessee is a member of the global network of various member firms. Deloitte Global Holdings Services Ltd. is incorporated in and is a tax resident of the United Kingdom and does not per se carry out any income-earning activity and has no stream of income. The assessee had entered into a Shared Service Agreement dated 01/08/2011 with Deloitte Global Holdings Services Ltd. It is submitted that Deloitte Global Holdings Services Ltd. is a company limited by guarantee organised and existing under the laws of England and Wales. Deloitte Global Holdings Services Ltd. is a special purpose vehicle created by the global network to facilitate the attainment of objectives, inter alia, to further international alignment, cooperation, cohesion and professional standards of the highest quality among its member firms such as the assessee. It is submitted that Deloitte Global Holdings Services Ltd. performs various activities for the common benefit of its members and incurs expenses in the course of carrying out such activities, which are recovered from the members without any mark-up. 2.1. The Ld. AR submitted that the terms on which the activities are carried out by Deloitte Global Holdings Services Ltd. and the manner in which expenses are recovered from the assessee are as per the Printed from counselvise.com 3 I.T.A. No. 8078 & 8079/Mum/2025 Shared Service Agreement. The Ld. AR has placed reliance on the agreement, which is reproduced in the order passed u/s 195 of the Act at page 40 of the paper book. The relevant clauses in respect of the services rendered are as under: “Under para 2.A.2 parties acknowledge that Holdings does not have capacity to provide such services and shall, instead, outsource these services to Deloitte Services. Deloitte Services shall make available such services to Holding Members (DTTI). Para 3.C states that the parties acknowledge that Holdings will generally be run on a break-even basis. 3.1 The services provided under the Shared Service Agreement are enumerated at pages 540 to 543 of the paper book. In short, these are: 1. Global AERS; Global FAS; Global Tax; Global Consulting 2. Global Clients, Global Services and Related Programs 3. Global Strategy; Research; Monitoring 4. Global Brand 5. Global Communications 6. Global Talent/Human Resources 7. Global Technology / Knowledge Management 8. Global Risk Management and Regulations 9. Global Office of General Counsel 10. Global Finance; Procurement 11. Global Corporate Responsibility 2.2. The assessee had made an application for issuance of certificates u/s 195(2) for remittance of the amount under the Shared Service Agreement to Deloitte Global Holdings Services Ltd. without deduction of tax at source. The Ld. AO called for various details in respect of the same. It was brought to the notice of the Ld. AO that Printed from counselvise.com 4 I.T.A. No. 8078 & 8079/Mum/2025 certificates were issued for financial years 2012–13 till 2016–17 allowing remittance of amounts similar to those sought to be remitted for the years under consideration without deduction of TDS. 2.3. The Ld. AO, after considering the submissions furnished by the assessee, held that payments made for services towards global technology, global communications and global brand were in the nature of royalty. The Ld. AO held that these payments were made for the use of computer software and literary work. In support, he relied on the ruling of the Authority for Advance Rulings in the case of EY Global Services Ltd. (formerly known as EYGPS Ltd.) (UK) vide order dated 10/08/2016 in AAR No. 1043 of 2011. The Ld. AO also placed reliance on the following decisions: • CIT vs Synopsis International Old Ltd (2012) 28 taxmann.com 162 (Kar) • Shell India Markets (P) Ltd. In re (AAR) (342ITR223) • Gartner Ireland Ltd. (37 taxmann.com 16) (Mum ITAT) • CIT vs. Wipro Ltd. [203 taxman 621/16 taxmann.com 275 (Kar)] • TNT Express Worldwide (UK) Ltd. (70 taxmann.com 129)(Bang.ITAT)” 2.4. The Ld. AO held that payments made for services towards global technology, global communications and global brand were in the nature of royalty and, therefore, were liable for deduction of TDS. The Ld. AO applied 3% to the total remittance and made an addition in the hands of the assessee. Aggrieved by the order of the Ld. AO, the assessee preferred an appeal before the Ld. CIT(A). 3. The Ld. CIT(A), after considering the submissions of the assessee, observed and held as under: Printed from counselvise.com 5 I.T.A. No. 8078 & 8079/Mum/2025 5. Decision:- 5.1 Ground Nos. 1 to 29:- 5.1.1 I have gone through the issue. Respectfully following the aforesaid Hon’ble ITAT decision dated 27.07.2022 in the appellant’s own case and also above earlier CIT(A) orders in the assessee’s own case, it is held that payments made to Deloitte Global Services Holdings Ltd. do not fall in the scope and definition of Royalty under Article 13(3) of India UK DTAA and consequently appellant was not required to deduct tax while making the payment to DGSHL. Thus, all the grounds of appeals filed by the appellant are hereby allowed. As regards pleading relating to principle of mutuality and reimbursement of expenses we are not entering into merits as it is held that payment is not in nature of royalty. 5.1.2 Accordingly, the A.O. is hereby directed to verify and grant refund of taxes Rs.8,34,737/- paid pursuant to the order dated 30 January 2018 issued u/s 195(2) along with appropriate interest Aggrieved by the order of the Ld. CIT(A) the revenues in appeal before this Tribunal. 4. At the outset, both sides submitted that common issues arise out of the same facts for the years under consideration as to whether the assessee was liable to deduct TDS u/s 195 of the Act in respect of the services rendered under the contract relating to Global Technology, Global Communications and Global Brand World. The assessee contended that these are in the nature of reimbursement of expenses and, therefore, cannot fall within the ambit of royalty as alleged by the Ld. AO. 4.1. The Ld. AR submitted that this issue has been considered by the Coordinate bench of this Tribunal in the assessee’s own case as well as in the case of another group company for A.Ys. 2015–16 and 2018–19 to 2021–22, the details of which are as under: A.Y. ITA No(s). Name of Appellant Date of order 2015–16 4653/Mum/2025 Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP 17/12/2025 Printed from counselvise.com 6 I.T.A. No. 8078 & 8079/Mum/2025 A.Y. ITA No(s). Name of Appellant Date of order 2018–19 201 to 233/Mum/2021; 4800 to 4804/Mum/2019; 4810 to 4814/Mum/2019; 4744/Mum/2019; 4775 to 4782/Mum/2019 Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP; Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP 27/07/2022 2019–20 201 to 233/Mum/2021; 4800 to 4804/Mum/2019; 4810 to 4814/Mum/2019 Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP 27/07/2022 2020–21 4654/Mum/2025 Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP 17/12/2025 2021–22 4638/Mum/2025; 4655/Mum/2025; 3455/Mum/2025 Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP 17/12/2025 4.2. On the contrary, the Ld. DR relied on the orders passed by the Ld. AO. We have perused the submissions advanced by both sides in the light of the records placed before us. 5. It is noted that identical arguments have been raised in the preceding assessment years in the assessee’s own case, which are categorically recorded in the order dated 27/07/2022 (supra). We are reproducing the arguments raised by the Ld. Sr. Counsel therein along with the view taken by this Tribunal on identical facts:- 6. Before us, the learned senior counsel, Shri Percy Pardiwala, after referring to various clauses of Shared Services Agreement and the background of the case submitted that the amounts in question cannot be regarded as payment for the use of copyright of literary work (computer software) as held by the Assessing Officer. In fact, it is purely for providing common policies, guidance relating to brand, communications and other aspects and collaboration with other member firms cannot be considered as use of or right to use any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work. Payments for use of Global Technology / Knowledge Management cannot be regarded as provision of copyright in computer software or any literary work as no right to use copyright is given by Holdings to the appellants. He further pointed out that before the Assessing Officer it was explained in detail vide letter dated 08.01.2018 as to how the payments cannot be Printed from counselvise.com 7 I.T.A. No. 8078 & 8079/Mum/2025 regarded as Royalty, however, the Assessing Officer has simply referred to certain decisions (cited supra) and held them to be in the nature of Royalty. 7. Mr. Percy Pardiwala submitted that now the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Engineering Analysis Centre of Excellence (P) Ltd. vs. CIT, 432 ITR 471 has reversed the view taken in the various decisions which have been relied upon by the Assessing Officer in coming to the contention that the payments were in the nature of Royalty. He further submitted that the Assessing Officer has heavily relied upon decision of the AAR in the case of EY Global Services Ltd., which was heavily relied upon by the AO in coming to the conclusion that the payments are made for use of copyright, has been reversed by the Hon'ble Delhi High Court in EY Global Services Ltd. vs. ACIT, 441 ITR 54 following the decision in Engineering Analysis (supra). The decision of the Hon'ble Delhi High Court has thereafter been followed by the Hon'ble ITAT, Delhi Bench in ITA Nos. 7017 to 7020/Del/2019 in the case of EY Global Services Ltd. vs. ACIT. 8. Mr. Percy Pardiwala further submitted that the payments in question, for rendering the services categorized as Global Brand, Global Communications and Global Technology and Knowledge Management cannot be regarded as payment for use of copyright Management cannot be regarded as payments for use of information concerning commercial experience as held by the ld. CIT(A). As can be seen from the Shared Service Agreement, Holdings does not have any dealings with third parties or clients but it only performs various activities for the benefit of its members. The guidance provided by Holdings to its members is for internal use by the member firms. It is essentially an agreement for rendering services within the Deloitte network. Therefore, the payment for such services cannot be considered as payments for use of information concerning commercial experience. No intellectual property is transferred by Holdings to the appellants. Moreover, provision of services cannot be regarded as provision of information concerning commercial experience. The information utilised/provided in the course of rendering these services is not of confidential or secret in nature but is published information available in public domain. Therefore, such a payment cannot be regarded as consideration for imparting of any information concerning commercial or knowledge, experience or skill as contemplated in the definition of royalty as contained in clause (iv) of Explanation 2 to section 9(1)(vi) or under article 11(3)(a) of the India-UK tax treaty. In support of his contention, he relied upon the following decisions : “a. CIT vs. HEG Ltd. 263 ITR 230 (MP) In this case, the assessee had paid certain amounts to a USA company for purchase of some information. The transaction was held by the AO to involve imparting of information concerning technical, industrial, commercial or scientific knowledge, experience or skill and, therefore, the payment was held to be royalty. The Tribunal held that there was nothing secret or confidential in the booklet which was supplied to the assessee in the form Printed from counselvise.com 8 I.T.A. No. 8078 & 8079/Mum/2025 of information for the benefit of the assessee and that the correspondence between the assessee and the firm was only information in the form of collection of data on the subject available in the market and, therefore, the payment was not in the nature of royalty. The High Court held that any information cannot earn the status of royalty and that to have the status of royalty, the information must have some special feature. Some sort of expertise or skill is required. The matter was ultimately remitted to the Tribunal for carrying out factual verification as to whether the information in question was available in public domain. It is submitted that in the present case there is no imparting of information at all, only services are rendered and, in any event, there is no imparting of any confidential data or information. Therefore, the payments cannot be regarded as royalty. b. Marck Biosciences Ltd. vs. ITO 164 ITD 205 (Ahd) The assessee made payments to a US company on account of professional fee for global biopharmaceutical strategic counselling and advisory services rendered by this entity. The AO took the view that the services were covered by the definition of royalty since rendition of services by the US entity amounted to parting with the “information concerning industrial, commercial and scientific experience” gained by the US entity over a period of time. The Tribunal held that the services included (a) business promotion (b) marketing (c) publicity and (d) financial advisory, which were termed as ‘Strategic and Financial Counselling Services’. Therefore, it was held that the payments were for rendition of these services and not for use of any information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience. It is submitted that in the present case also the payments are made for the services rendered by Holdings / Deloitte Services and, therefore, they cannot be regarded as consideration for imparting any information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience. c. Factset Research Systems Inc. In re 317 ITR 169 (AAR) The Applicant maintained a database which was located outside India and which contained financial and economic information including fundamental data of a large number of companies worldwide. The said information was made available to customers on a subscription basis. The question arose whether such a payment could be regarded as payment for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience. In para 11 of the ruling, while dealing with this issue, AAR held that the clause does not contemplate merely imparting information on technical, industrial or commercial matters. The requirement is imparting of information concerning technical, commercial or scientific knowledge, experience or skill. The information which the licensee got through the database did not relate to the underlying experience or skill which contributed to the end-product. The applicant did not share its experience, techniques or methodology employed in evolving the database with the subscribers. The information shared was published information which was already available in public domain and Printed from counselvise.com 9 I.T.A. No. 8078 & 8079/Mum/2025 not something which was exclusively available to the applicant. The present case stands on a much stronger footing since there is no information being shared but on the contrary services are being provided. In any event, any information shared with members in the course of rendering services is also published information available in public domain.” Thus, he submitted that the payments in question do not constitute Royalty and are even otherwise not chargeable to tax. His second limb of argument was that once for a similar nature of payment, certificate has been issued for non-deduction of tax in the earlier years by the Assessing Officer, then, in this year no different view can be taken in view of the principles of consistency, which ought to have been applied since there was no change in facts or in law. 9. Another contention raised by him is that Holdings is a mutual concern inasmuch as there is complete identity between its participants and contributors. Holdings do not have any dealings with third party clients but wholly deals with member firms. Its activities are wholly performed for the benefit of member firms. Costs incurred in the course of performance of such activities are recovered from member firms by way of contributions without any mark-up. It operates on a break-even basis. Therefore, it must be regarded as a mutual concern. Accordingly, the payments made by the appellants to Holdings would not constitute its income. Consequently, there would be no requirement of deduction of tax at source therefrom. Payments made by M/s Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Delhi to DTT under an arrangement which is similar to the one with which the present appeals are concerned have been held to be covered by the principles of mutuality in ITA No. 6703/Del/2015 and connected appeals for the assessment years 2008-09 to 2011-12 by the Hon'ble ITAT, Delhi. 10. Lastly, he submitted that the payments are in the nature of reimbursements since Holdings operates on a break-even basis. The costs incurred by it in the course of performing activities for the benefit of members are recovered from its members without any mark-up. In a particular year, there may be a surplus or deficit on account of over/under recovery but over time, it is intended to break-even. Therefore, the payments made by the appellants to Holdings being in the nature of reimbursements cannot be regarded as income. 11. On the other hand, the ld. Department Representative strongly relied upon the order of the Assessing Officer and ld. CIT(A). He submitted that, in fact, the payments in question are for information concerning commercial experience. 12. We have heard the rival submissions and also perused the relevant findings given in the impugned orders as well as the material referred to before us. As discussed above, the sole issue which permeates in all the appeals is, whether the appellants were liable to deduct tax at source under Printed from counselvise.com 10 I.T.A. No. 8078 & 8079/Mum/2025 section 195 of the Act on the payments made to Holdings by treating it to be Royalty under Article 13(3) of the India-UK DTAA. As noted above, Deloitte Global Holdings has been incorporated by DTTI to facilitate attainment of various objectives to further international alignment, co-operation, cohesion and professional standards of highest quality amongst its member firms, such as the appellants herein. It incurs expenses for the above activities for the benefit of all the members which are then recovered from the members without any mark-up. 12.1 The terms on which the activities are carried out by Holdings and the expenses recovered by it from the members have been enshrined in the “Shared Services Agreement”. Though there are many services which have been enumerated in the said “Shared Services Agreement”, however, the dispute is with regard to the payments made under the head global brand, global communication and global technology/knowledge management. 13. Now we have to analyse the scope of terms in light of the definition of “Royalty” as provided in the India-UK DTAA, which is enshrined in Article 13(3), which reads as under:— “3. For the purposes of this Article, the term ‘royalties’ means: (a) Payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of a literary, artistic or scientific work, including cinematography films or work on films, tape or other means of reproduction for use in connection with radio or television broadcasting, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience; and (b) Payments of any kind received as consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any industrial, commercial or scientific equipment, other than income derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic.” 14. The scope of services and the terms under these heads needs to be analysed as per the definition and scope of Article 13(3), whether these services fall within the definition of Royalty. Our discussion and analysis are as under: Global Brand • Design and implement global brand strategy for use by the Deloitte Network. • Provide Member Firms with common tools, training, and policies related to the Deloitte brand. Printed from counselvise.com 11 I.T.A. No. 8078 & 8079/Mum/2025 • Collaborate with DTT and Member Firm leadership, industries, functions and specialty groups on brand promotion and eminence building. Global Communications • Develop and distribute internal and external communications, publications and reports for DTT. • Lead, manage, and support global public relations, thought leadership initiatives, strategic projects, events, and marketing activities. • Promote an alignment of Member Firm communications goals and strategies. • Provide strategic guidance, content, editorial services, and best practices for globally managed websites and related online vehicles. • Provide communications support to DTT and its functions. Global Technology/Knowledge Management • Acquire, develop, manage, operate and distribute information technology products and services that service the Deloitte Network. • Develop and maintain certain worldwide databases, networks and systems, and internal and external websites, that service the Deloitte Network. • Establish projects to develop global knowledge and develop or facilitate the development of methodology and techniques which further enhance the knowledge sharing capacity of Member Firms. • Provide certain technology related security advice and services to the Deloitte Network. • Promote common technology standards and platforms across the Deloitte Network and administer and monitor the same. 15. As regards payment for items of global brands, it has been stated that Holdings assists in implementing brand strategy for use of network of Deloitte members and also provides member firms with common training, policies and guidance related to the brands. Further, it will work together with all the member firms leadership, industries, functions on promoting brand addition eminence building. It has been stated to be more of guidance and advisory and not providing any intellectual property. Thus, providing common policies or guidance relating to the brand and collaborating with member firms ostensibly cannot be reckoned as use of or right to use any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work. Holdings only perform various activities for its members and its guidance is only for internal use by the member firms. Hence, in our view payment for such services cannot be Printed from counselvise.com 12 I.T.A. No. 8078 & 8079/Mum/2025 considered for information concerning industrial, scientific or commercial experience. Again, there is no transfer of intellectual property by Holdings to the appellants and also there cannot be a case of giving industrial, commercial or scientific equipment. Thus, the payments made for global brand cannot be treated as in the nature of Royalty as per Article 13(3) of India-UK DTAA. Another important thing is that the payment is also not for nay use of trademark/patent provided by Holdings. 16. Insofar as payments for global activities given in Global Communication, Holdings distributes the publications and reports for DTTI and support global public relations, thought leadership initiatives, events, guidance, common standards, guidelines, organising internal events, etc. so that there is alignment of all the member firms for internal and external communication. It gives guidance about the media communication, distribution of newsletter, external and internal distribution. From a bare perusal of aforesaid activities, it cannot be held that it is for use of or right to use of any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work or for any other terms given in Article 13(3). Further, it also cannot be held for information concerning industrial or scientific experience and/or for commercial experience because the basic underlying fact is that it is purely for internal use of member firms and not for any third party or any client. Thus, these activities cannot be reckoned for providing industrial, commercial or scientific equipment to the appellants and, therefore, outside the nature and scope of Royalty as defined in Article 13(3) of the India-UK DTAA. 17. Lastly, as regards the services mentioned in global technology/global management, from the bare perusal of the same it cannot be said to be for use of or right to use any copyright or any literary, artistic or scientific work or any transfer of copyright in computer software or any literary work as no right to use copyright is given by Holdings to the appellants. Further, the services which are rendered are purely for internal purpose and not for any commercial exploitation, nor any scientific equipment is given to the appellants by Holdings. Global network acquires certain technology products from vendors and provides them to the member firms and also provides security advice to all the member firms for which it also develops certain database, systems and websites that is used by all the members of the network. The software acquired by the network and distributed to the members does not include payment for use of or right to use computer software as it has merely obtained a licensed product from vendors for use of member firms. The licensee was allowed to use the software only for its own business purpose and is not permitted to transfer copy of the software and as such there is no transfer of any right in respect of copyright by the vendors and it is a case of mere transfer of copyrighted article. Thus, the payments made for the activities/services under the aforesaid three heads cannot be held to be in the nature of Royalty as per the definition given in Article 13(3) of the India-UK DTAA and, accordingly, the payments made by the appellants to Holdings cannot be held to be Royalty. Printed from counselvise.com 13 I.T.A. No. 8078 & 8079/Mum/2025 18. Before us, the judgment of Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the case of EY Global Services Ltd. v. ACIT, 441 ITR 54 (Del.) has been relied upon, wherein on the issue of whether EY Global Services Ltd., which was a Limited Liability Company engaged in providing technology and other support services and software licences to member firms of EY Network in various countries all over the world and all the member firms using the brand Ernst & Young (E&Y) had entered into contract with various third party vendors for procurement of software to be used by member firms. There also, the services which was rendered by Ernst & Young UK and the Memorandum of Understanding executed between itself and EYGBS India were as under : “4. The specific services mentioned in the services schedule annexed to the MOU, which are rendered by the Applicant under the service agreement and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Applicant and EYGBS India are as follows: 1. Common standards and policies 1.1 Assisting in the development of Common Standards and Policies, including accounting policies, practices, principles and procedures. 1.2 When considered appropriate by EYG Services, providing practice manuals and other reference materials and otherwise assisting in the adoption and consistent application of Common Standards and Policies. 2. IT Services 2.1 Promoting the adoption, maintenance and development of high quality, common information technology and communication systems by Member Firms and providing advice and assistance in connection with the systems of Member Firms including where considered appropriate, developing or assisting in the development of such systems or any part of them. 2.2 Procuring for the Member Firms external software licences for their internal business use. 2.3 Coordinating and promoting a globally consistence policy with regard to technology infrastructure with the objective of delivering economies of scale for the Member Firms and avoiding duplicative systems or structures across the network. 3. Knowledge 3.1 Promoting and establishing global websites (both internet and intranet), establishing projects to capture and disseminate global knowledge and developing or facilitating the development of methodology and techniques which further enhance the knowledge sharing capacity of Member Firms.” Printed from counselvise.com 14 I.T.A. No. 8078 & 8079/Mum/2025 The Authority for Advance Ruling held the consideration received in respect of computer software deliverables as Royalty. The Hon'ble Delhi High Court, following the ratio of the principles laid down in the judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Engineering Analysis Centre of Excellence (P) Ltd. (supra) observed and held as under :- “13. A reading of the above judgment would clearly show that for the payment received by EYGSL (UK) from EYGBS (India) to be taxed as “royalty”, it is essential to show a transfer of copyright in the software to do any of the acts mentioned in Section 14 of the Copyright Act, 1957. A licence conferring no proprietary interest on the licensee, does not entail parting with the copyright. Where the core of a transaction is to authorise the end-user to have access to and make use of the licenced software over which the licencee has no exclusive rights, no copyright is parted with and therefore, the payment received cannot be termed as “royalty”. 14. In the present case, the EYGBS (India), in terms of the Service Agreement and the MOU, merely receives the right to use the software procured by the EYGSL (UK) from third-party vendors. The consideration paid for the use of the same therefore, cannot be termed as “royalty” as held by the Supreme Court in Engineering Analysis Centre (supra). In determining the same, the rights acquired by the EYGSL (UK) from the third-party software vendors are not relevant. What is relevant is the Agreement between the EYGSL (UK) and the EYGBS (India). As the same does not create any right to transfer the copyright in the software, the same would not fall within the ambit of the term “royalty” as held by the Supreme Court in Engineering Analysis Centre (supra). 15. We may also note that the learned AAR in its impugned order has relied upon its earlier view in Citrix Systems Asia Pacific Pty Ltd., In re (2012) 343 ITR 1 (AAR), which has been expressly stated to be bad law in Engineering Analysis Centre (supra).” 19. Further, the Delhi Bench of Tribunal in the case of EY Global Services Ltd. vs ACIT in ITA No. 7017/Del/2019 wherein almost similar facts were there, which have been discussed in para 4 as under:— “4. Brief facts of the case are that EY Global Services Limited (hereinafter referred to as ‘the assessee’) is providing technology and other support services and software licenses to the member firms of the EY Network. The assessee is said to be established as a non-profit central service provider to enable EY member firms to share the costs of centralized services. Accordingly, the assessee enters into agreements with each member firm, pursuant to which it provides services required by member firms and thereafter, recovered various costs incurred by it from the member firms on actual usage basis. Printed from counselvise.com 15 I.T.A. No. 8078 & 8079/Mum/2025 Given the above, the assessee filed a ‘NIL’ return of income on 30th March 2012 contending that the payments received by the assessee from Indian member firms are mere reimbursement of costs and not taxable under the Act as well as the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between India and United Kingdom (hereinafter referred as ‘the treaty’).” The Tribunal had followed the aforesaid judgment of Hon'ble Delhi High Court wherein the judgment of AAR in the case of EY Global Services Ltd. has been reversed. 20. Here, in this case also, the Assessing Officer has heavily relied upon the same judgment of AAR in the case of EY Global Services Ltd., which now stands reversed by the Hon'ble Delhi High Court. Thus, we hold that the payments made to Holdings is not taxable as Royalty under Article 13(3) of the India-UK DTAA. 21. Insofar as pleading relating to principle of mutuality for which reliance was placed on the decision of Delhi bench of Tribunal in the case of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu under an arrangement which was similar to the one in the present appeals, we are not going into this aspect, firstly, because, in our opinion, principle of mutuality cannot be examined in proceedings u/s 195; and secondly, principle of mutuality has to be seen qua in the hands of the recipient, i.e. entity which is receiving the payment and not in the hands of the payer, which is the appellant here. Therefore, we are not entering into the issue of mutuality in this case. 22. Lastly, insofar as issue of reimbursement is concerned, the same has become purely academic once we have held that the payments made are not in the nature of Royalty and is not taxable. 23. Accordingly, we hold that in all the appeals the payments made to Deloitte Global Holdings Ltd. do not fall in the scope and definition of Royalty under Article 13(3) of India UK DTAA and consequently appellants were not required to deduct TDS while making the payment. Thus, all the appeals of assessees are allowed.” 6. The Revenue has not been able to produce anything contrary to the facts observed by the Coordinate bench of this Tribunal in the preceding assessment years. Respectfully following the view taken hereinabove, we do not find any merit in the grounds raised by the Revenue for A.Y. 2018–19 and the view taken by the Ld. CIT(A) is upheld. Printed from counselvise.com 16 I.T.A. No. 8078 & 8079/Mum/2025 Accordingly, the grounds raised by the Revenue for A.Y. 2018– 19 stand dismissed. 6.1. The issues raised by the Revenue for A.Y. 2019–20 is also identical on similar facts. We, therefore, apply the above view for A.Y. 2019–20 mutatis mutandis. Accordingly, the grounds raised by the Revenue for A.Y. 2019– 20 stand dismissed. In the result, the appeals filed by the Revenue for A.Ys. 2018–19 and 2019–20 stand dismissed. Order pronounced in the open court on 26/03/2026 Sd/- Sd/- (BIJAYANANDA PRUSETH) (BEENA PILLAI) Accountant Member Judicial Member Mumbai Dated: 26/03/2026 SC Sr. P.S. Copy of the order forwarded to: (1)The Appellant (2) The Respondent (3) The CIT (4) The CIT (Appeals) (5) The DR, I.T.A.T. True Copy By order (Asstt. Registrar) ITAT, Mumbai Printed from counselvise.com "