CB Doctor Ventilators Private Limited, Ahmedabad V. The Income Tax Officer, Ward-1(3), Ahmedabad

ITA 1086/AHD/2015

• Counselvise Citation: [2018] 126 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 6183 (ITAT-AHMEDABAD)
• Duration Of Justice: 2 year(s) 9 month(s) 3 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 02-02-2018
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Dismissed
• Bench Allotted: C
• Assessment Year: 2010-2011
• Appeal Filed On: 29-04-2015
• Result in Favour of: Revenue
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: V K SINGH
• Section: 43B; 40A(3)

Judgement Text

, LH LHLH LH IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL C BENCH, AHMEDABAD BEFORE SHRI N.K. BILLAIYA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER AND SHRI MAHAVIR PRASAD, JUDICIAL MEMBER !# I.T.A. NO. 1086/AHD/2015 ( / ASSESSMENT YEAR : 2010-11) CB DOCTOR VENTILATORS PVT. LTD., 3607-3608, GIDC ESTATE, PHASE IV, VATVA, AHMEDABAD 382 445 # VS. ITO, WARD 1(3), AHMEDABAD $ # % & # PAN/GIR NO. : AADCC 3410 A ( !$' / APPELLANT ) .. ( ($' # RESPONDENT ) !$') # APPELLANT BY : --NONE-- ($' *) / RESPONDENT BY : SHRI V. K. SINGH, SR. D.R. + ,*-. / DATE OF HEARING 29/01/2018 /012*-. / DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT 02/02/2018 3# O R D E R PER MAHAVIR PRASAD, JUDICIAL MEMBER : THIS IS AN APPEAL BY THE ASSESSEE AGAINST THE ORD ER OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS)-1, AHMEDABAD, VIDE APPEAL NO.CIT(A)-VI/WD-1(3)/148/2013-14 DTD. 18/02/2015 FO R THE ASSESSMENT YEAR (AY) 2010-11. 2. ASSESSEE HAS TAKEN FOLLOWING GROUNDS OF APPEAL: YOUR APPELLANT BEING DISSATISFIED WITH THE ORDER P ASSED BY THE LEARNED COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS)-1, AHMEDABAD P RESENTS THIS APPEAL AGAINST THE SAME ON THE FOLLOWING AMONGST OT HER GROUNDS: ITA NO.1086/AHD /2015 CB DOCTOR VENTILATORS PVT. LTD. VS. ITO ASST.YEAR 2010-11. - 2 - 1. (A) THE LEARNED COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (A PPEALS), HAS ERRED IN LAW AND ON FACTS IN CONFIRMING DISALLOWANC E OF RS.2,87,477/- AND RS. 22,076/- BEING THE AMOUNTS OF EMPLOYEES' CONTRIBUTION TO PROVIDENT FUND AND EMPLOYEES' STATE INSURANCE CONTRIBUTION WHICH WERE BELATEDLY PAID BUT BEFORE T HE END OF THE RELEVANT PREVIOUS YEAR AND ALSO BEFORE THE DUE DATE FOR FILING THE RETURN OF INCOME. (B) THE LEARNED COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS ) HAS ERRED IN LAW AND ON FACTS OF THE CASE IN CONFIRMING THE IMPUGNED DISALLOWANCE BY INVOKING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 36(1)(VA) WITHOUT APPRECIATING THE FACT THAT SUCH EXPENDITURE IS FULLY ALLOWABLE AS PER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 43B AND EXPLANATION THERE-UNDER. (C) THE LEARNED COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS ) HAS ERRED IN LAW AND ON FACTS OF THE CASE IN CONFIRMING THE IMPUGNED DISALLOWANCE IN UTTER DISREGARD TO THE RATIO OF THE JUDGMENTS OF THE SUPREME COURT, HIGH COURT AND ITAT IN FOLLOWING JUDICIAL PRONOUNCEMENTS: A) CIT VS. VINAY CEMENT COMPANY LIMITED (SC) 213 CT R 268 B) CIT VS. ALOM EXTUSIONS LTD. (2009) 319 ITR 3 06 (SC) C) CIT VS. LAKHANI RUBBER WORKS 326 ITR 415 (P&H )(2010) D) HINDUSTAN ORGANICS LIMITED (TAX APPEAL NO.399 OF 2012) BOMBAY HIGH COURT E) ESSAE TERAOKA PRIVATE LIMITED [(2014) 266 CTR (KAR.) 246] F) PRECISION PRODUCTS VS. ACIT (ITA NO. 4/AHD/2011)(AHD)(2012) G) CIT V. P.M. ELECTRONICS LIMITED. 15 DTR 258 ( DELHI HIGH COURT) H) CIT V. AIMIL LIMITED & ORS. (2010) 35 DTR (DE L) 68 (DELHI HIGH COURT) I) CIT V. ANZ INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 318 ITR 123 (KARNATAKA) J) CIT V. NIPSO POLY FABRICS PVT. LTD. 84 DTR 4 24 (H.P. HIGH COURT) K) SPECTRUM CONSULTANTS (INDIA) PVT. LTD V. CIT 215 TAXMAN 597 (KARNATKA HIGH COURT) ITA NO.1086/AHD /2015 CB DOCTOR VENTILATORS PVT. LTD. VS. ITO ASST.YEAR 2010-11. - 3 - 2. THE LEARNED COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS) , HAS ERRED IN LAW AND ON FACTS IN CONFIRMING DISALLOWANCE OF R S.24,220/- MADE BY THE AO BY INVOKING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIO N 40A(3) OF THE I.T. ACT ON ACCOUNT OF PAYMENT MADE IN CASH TO SHRI KANTILAL ZAVERI ON 07/12/2009 TOWARDS EXPENDITURE, IN EXCEPT IONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. IT IS THEREFORE PRAYED THAT THE DISALLOWANCE MADE B Y THE LEARNED AO OF RS.24,220/- MAY PLEASE BE DELETED. 3. (A) THE LEARNED COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPE ALS), HAS ERRED IN LAW AND ON FACTS IN CONFIRMING DISALLOWANC E OF RS.6,16,371/- MADE BY THE AO OUT OF EXPENDITURE ON PAYMENT OF COMMISSION TO C. DOCTOR INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED. (B) THE LEARNED COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS ), HAS ERRED IN LAW AND ON FACTS IN CONFIRMING IMPUGNED DI SALLOWANCE OF RS. 6,16, 371/- MADE BY THE AO OUT OF EXPENDITUR E ON PAYMENT OF COMMISSION TO C. DOCTOR INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED ON THE ALLEGED GROUND THAT NO TAX WAS DEDUCTED AT SOURCE FROM SUCH PAYMENTS AND THEREFORE THE SAME IS DISALLOWABLE U/S.40(A)(IA ) WHICH IS FACTUALLY INCORRECT. THIS OBSERVATION OF THE CIT(A) IS INCORRECT AS THE AO IN THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS HAS VERIFIED THE DEDUCTION OF TAX AT SOURCE FROM PAYMENTS MADE ON AC COUNT OF SUCH EXPENDITURE AND WAS FULLY SATISFIED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE TO MAKE TDS. IT IS THEREFORE PRAYED THAT THE DISALLOWANCE MADE B Y THE LEARNED AO OF RS.6,16,371/-MAY PLEASE BE DELETED. 4. THE APPELLANT CRAVES LIBERTY TO ADD/ALTER/AME ND ANY GROUND AT THE TIME OF HEARING OF THE APPEAL. 3. THE RELEVANT FACTS AS CULLED OUT FROM THE MATERI ALS ON RECORD ARE AS UNDER:- THE APPELLANT IS A COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER THE C OMPANIES ACT, 1956 AND IS ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF MANUFAC TURE AND SALE OF ITA NO.1086/AHD /2015 CB DOCTOR VENTILATORS PVT. LTD. VS. ITO ASST.YEAR 2010-11. - 4 - INDUSTRIAL VENTILATOR FANS. IN RESPECT OF ITS BUSIN ESS, THE APPELLANT- COMPANY HAD MAINTAINED BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS SYSTEMATIC ALLY AND REGULARLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF INCOME TAX ACT AND COMPANIES ACT. 3.1 FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR UNDER APPEAL, THE APPEL LANT-COMPANY FILED ITS RETURN OF INCOME ON 15.10.2010 DECLARING TOTAL INCOME AT RS.67,45,820/-. THE SAID RETURN WAS PROCESSED U/S.1 43(1) ACCEPTING THE INCOME AS RETURNED. THE APPELLANT'S CASE CAME TO BE SELECTED FOR SCRUTINY AND NOTICE U/S. 143(2) WAS ISSUED ON 29.09.2011. 3.2 IN RESPONSE TO THE NOTICES ISSUED, THE APPELLAN T CAUSED APPEARANCE BEFORE THE AO AND FURNISHED ALL THE DETAILS AND INF ORMATION AS CALLED FOR BY HIM, TO HIS FULLEST SATISFACTION. THE APPELLANT HAS ALSO FURNISHED COPIES OF THE AUDITED PROFIT & LOSS ACCOUNT, BALANCE SHEET AND ALSO THE AUDITOR'S REPORT IN FORM NO.3CA AND 3CD. THE LAST H EARING OF THE APPELLANT'S CASE WAS HELD ON 22/03/2013 WHEN THE AO THROUGH ORDER- SHEET ENTRY ASKED THE A.R. TO SHOW CAUSE WHY THE FO REIGN TRAVEL EXPENSES OF RS.2,01,140/- AND COMMISSION OF RS.6,16,371/- PA ID TO C. DOCTOR INDIA PVT. LTD. SHOULD NOT BE DELETED. WITHOUT AFFORDING ANY REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO THE APPELLANT FOR EXPLAINING THE AFO RESAID TWO ITEMS, THE AO PASSED THE ASSESSMENT ORDER U/S.143(3) ON THE VE RY SAME DAY I.E. 22/03/2013, DETERMINING THE TOTAL INCOME AT RS.79,8 6,860/- AS AGAINST RETURNED INCOME OF RS.67,45,820/-. IN THE SAID ORDE R, THE AO HAS MADE THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONS/DISALLOWANCES: ITA NO.1086/AHD /2015 CB DOCTOR VENTILATORS PVT. LTD. VS. ITO ASST.YEAR 2010-11. - 5 - SR. NO. PARTICULARS AMOUNT 1. LATE PAYMENT OF EMPLOYEES' CONTRIBUTION TO PROVIDENT FUND U/S. 2(24) (X) R.W.S. 36(L)(VA) 2,87,477 2. LATE PAYMENT OF EMPLOYEES' CONTRIBUTION TO ESIC U/S. 43B 22,076 3. DISALLOWANCE U/S. 40A (3) 24,220 4. DISALLOWANCE OF EXPENDITURE ON HOSPITALITY 40,000 5. DISALLOWANCE OF FOREIGN TRAVEL EXPENSES 2,01,140 6. DISALLOWANCE OF EXPENDITURE ON TELEPHONE BILL 49,574 7. DISALLOWANCE OF COMMISSION EXPENSES 6,16,371 8. TOTAL 12,41,038 3.3 THE APPELLANT FILED APPEAL AGAINST THE ASSESSME NT ORDER AND ADDITION MADE THEREIN. THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME T AX (APPEALS)-L, AHMEDABAD VIDE HIS APPELLATE ORDER NO.CIT(A)-VI/WD- L(3)/148/2013-14 NOW-60/CIT(A)-L DATED 18/02/2015 ADJUDICATED THE AP PEAL. IN RESPECT OF ADDITIONS MADE AT SR. NOS. 1, 2, 3 AND 7 REFERRED T O ABOVE, THE LEARNED CIT(A) CONFIRMED THE ADDITIONS/DISALLOWANCE MADE BY THE AO AND THE REMAINING ITEMS OF ADDITION ON ACCOUNT OF HOSPITALI TY, FOREIGN TRAVEL EXPENSES AND TELEPHONE EXPENSES WERE DELETED BY THE LEARNED CIT(A). 4. NOW APPEAL IS BEFORE US. 5. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE RELEVANT RECORD AND IMP UGNED ORDER. SO FAR AS GROUND NO.1 IS CONCERNED. A PERUSAL OF THE A UDIT REPORT FURNISHED IN ITA NO.1086/AHD /2015 CB DOCTOR VENTILATORS PVT. LTD. VS. ITO ASST.YEAR 2010-11. - 6 - THE FORM 3CD IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE EMPLOYEES CON TRIBUTION TO PF WAS NOT REMITTED WITHIN DUE DATE PRESCRIBED UNDER THE L AW: SR. NO MONTHS EMPLOYEES CONT. TO PF DUE DATE PAYMENT DATE 1. APRIL 2009 48979 20.05.2009 22.09.2009 2. MAY 2009 51330 20.06.2009 22.09.2009 3. JUNE 2009 53000 20.07.2009 22.09.2009 4. JULY 2009 57151 20.08.2009 01.10.2009 5. AUGUST 2009 76977 20.09.2009 TOTAL 287477 5.1 SINCE THE PAYMENTS OF EMPLOYEES CONTRIBUTION T O PF WAS NOT REMITTED WITHIN DUE DATE OR THE GRACE PERIOD AS EXT ENDED UNDER THE RELEVANT ACT. HONBLE JURISDICTIONAL HIGH COURT HAD DECIDED THIS KIND OF GROUND AGAINST THE ASSESSEE IN THE MATTER OF CIT VS. GUJARAT STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION; RELEVANT PARA OF THE SAME IS REPRODUCED HERE AS UNDER: ' SECTION 43B, READ WITH SECTION 36(1)(VA) OF THE INC OME-TAX ACT, 1961 - BUSINESS DISALLOWANCE - CERTAIN DEDUCTIONS T O BE ALLOWED ON ACTUAL PAYMENT (EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION) - WHETHER WHERE AN EMPLOYER HAS NOT CREDITED SUM RECEIVED BY IT AS EMP LOYEES' CONTRIBUTION TO EMPLOYEES' ACCOUNT IN RELEVANT FUND ON OR BEFORE DUE DATE AS PRESCRIBED IN EXPLANATION TO SECTION 36 (1)(VA), ASSESSES SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO DEDUCTION OF SUCH AMOUNT T HOUGH HE DEPOSITS SAME BEFORE DUE DATE PRESCRIBED UNDER S ECTION 43B I.E., PRIOR TO FILING OF RETURN UNDER SECTION 139(1 ) - HELD, YES - ASSESSEE STATE TRANSPORT CORPORATION COLLECTED A SU M BEING PROVIDENT FUND CONTRIBUTION FROM ITS EMPLOYEES - HO WEVER, IT HAD DEPOSITED LESSER SUM IN PROVIDENT FUND ACCOUNT - AS SESSING OFFICER ITA NO.1086/AHD /2015 CB DOCTOR VENTILATORS PVT. LTD. VS. ITO ASST.YEAR 2010-11. - 7 - DISALLOWED SAME UNDER SECTION 43B - HOWEVER, COMMIS SIONER (APPEALS) DELETED DISALLOWANCE ON GROUND THAT EMPLO YEE, CONTRIBUTION WAS DEPOSITED BEFORE FILING RETURN - W HETHER SINCE ASSESSES HAD NO DEPOSITED SAID CONTRIBUTION IN RESPECTIVE FU ND ACCOUNT ON DATE AS PRESCRIBED IN EXPLANATION TO SEC TION 36(1)(VA), DISALLOWANCE MADE BY ASSESSING OFFICER WAS JUST AND PROPER - HELD, YES [PARA 8] [IN FAVOUR OF REVENUE]' 5.2 RESPECTFULLY FOLLOWING THE ABOVE SAID JUDGMENT OF GUJARAT HIGH COURT, WE ARE NOT INCLINE TO GIVE ANY KIND OF RELIE F TO THE APPELLANT. THEREFORE, THIS GROUND IS DISMISSED. 6. SO FAR AS GROUND NO.2 IS CONCERNED. ON VERIFICAT ION OF THE LEDGER ACCOUNT OF MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES FURNISHED ALONG W ITH SUBMISSIONS, IT WAS NOTICED THAT ASSESSEE COMPANY HAS MADE CASH PAY MENT OF RS.24,220/- TO SHRI KATILAL ZAVERI ON 07/11/2009. T HEREAFTER, AO ISSUED THE SHOW-CAUSE NOTICE AS TO WHY EXPENSES OF RS.24,2 20/- MADE TOWARDS MISC. EXPENSES SHOULD NOT BE DISALLOWED AS THE SAME WAS NOT PAID BY ACCOUNT PAYEE CHEQUE OR DRAFT. REPLY FILED BY ASSES SEE COULD NOT CONVINCE THE AUTHORITIES BELOW. HENCE, AN AMOUNT OF RS.24,220/- WAS CONFIRMED. 6.1 WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE RELEVANT RECORD AND IM PUGNED ORDER. WE ARE NOT CONVINCED WITH THE REPLY OF THE ASSESSEE THAT PAYMENT OF KANTILAL ZAVERI MADE IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES I S NOT CONVINCIBLE AS APPELLANT HAS NOT CLARIFIED THAT HOW EXCEPTIONAL CI RCUMSTANCES WERE THERE AT THE TIME OF MAKING CASH PAYMENT OF RS.24,220/-. THEREFORE, WE DISMISS THIS GROUND OF APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE. ITA NO.1086/AHD /2015 CB DOCTOR VENTILATORS PVT. LTD. VS. ITO ASST.YEAR 2010-11. - 8 - 7. SO FAR AS GROUND NO.3 REGARDING CONFIRMATION OF DISALLOWANCE OF RS.6,16,371/- IS CONCERNED. IT WAS NOTICED THAT ASS ESSEE COMPANY HAS MADE A PAYMENT OF RS.6,16,371/- TOWARDS COMMISSION ON SALE OF FANS TO BHEL. IN THIS REGARD, VIDE NOTICE DATED 08/03/2013 THE ASSESSEE COMPANY WAS ASKED TO EXPLAIN THE NECESSITY TO PAY S UCH COMMISSION. IN THIS REGARD, APPELLANT STATED BEFORE THE LOWER AUTH ORITIES AS REGARD TO PAYMENT OF COMMISSION OF SALE OF FAN TO BHEL, IT IS CLARIFIED THAT COMMISSION HAS BEEN PAID @5 TO THE PARTY FOR SECURI NG SALE ORDERS WORTH RS.1,23,27,422/- OF COMMISSION HAS BEEN MADE IN CO NSIDERATION OF THE SERVICES RENDERED BY THE PERSON IN PROCURING THE OR DERS, WITHOUT WHOSE SERVICE, THE ASSESSEE COMPANY COULD NOT HAVE PROCUR ED THE ORDERS FROM BHEL. WHEN SHOW-CAUSE NOTICE WAS ISSUED TO THE APPE LLANT, HAS NOT GIVEN ANY REPLY OR EXPLANATION IN THIS REGARD. SINC E ASSESSEE HAS BEEN FAILED TO GIVE ANY REPLY OR EXPLANATION WITH REGARD TO COMMISSION PAYMENT OF RS.6,16,371/-. IN OUR CONSIDERED OPINION , THIS EXPENDITURE WAS RIGHTLY DISALLOWED BY THE AUTHORITIES BELOW. TH EREFORE, WE DISMISS THIS GROUND OF APPEAL. 8. IN THE RESULT, APPEAL FILED BY THE ASSESSEE IS D ISMISSED. THIS ORDER PRONOUNCED IN OPEN COURT ON 02/02/2018 SD/- SD/ - ( ) 4 5 ( N.K. BILLAIYA ) ( MAHAVIR PRASAD ) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER AHMEDABAD; DATED 02/02/2018 PRITI YADAV, SR.PS ITA NO.1086/AHD /2015 CB DOCTOR VENTILATORS PVT. LTD. VS. ITO ASST.YEAR 2010-11. - 9 - !'# $#! # COPY OF THE ORDER FORWARDED TO : 1. !$' / THE APPELLANT 2. ($' / THE RESPONDENT. 3. 67- + 8- / CONCERNED CIT 4. + 8- 4!5 / THE CIT(A)-1, AHMEDABAD. 5. 9:;-67 !.!672 ! / DR, ITAT, AHMEDABAD 6. ;<=, # GUARD FILE. % & / BY ORDER, (9-- //TRUE COPY// '/& () ( DY./ASSTT.REGISTRAR) , / ITAT, AHMEDABAD 1. DATE OF DICTATION 29/01/2018 (DICTATION-PAD 2 PA GES ATTACHED AT THE END OF THIS APPEAL-FILE) 2. DATE ON WHICH THE TYPED DRAFT IS PLACED BEFORE THE DICTATING MEMBER 29/01/2018 3. OTHER MEMBER 4. DATE ON WHICH THE APPROVED DRAFT COMES TO THE SR.P. S./P.S.. 5. DATE ON WHICH THE FAIR ORDER IS PLACED BEFORE THE D ICTATING MEMBER FOR PRONOUNCEMENT 6. DATE ON WHICH THE FAIR ORDER COMES BACK TO THE SR.P .S./P.S. 7. DATE ON WHICH THE FILE GOES TO THE BENCH CLERK 8. DATE ON WHICH THE FILE GOES TO THE HEAD CLERK ... 9. THE DATE ON WHICH THE FILE GOES TO THE ASSISTANT RE GISTRAR FOR SIGNATURE ON THE ORDER.. 10. DATE OF DESPATCH OF THE ORDER