MRS.SUDERSHAN RANI RALLEN , CHENNAI V. ACIT CIRCLE - XII, CHENNAI

ITA 131/CHNY/2022

AI Insights

The case involves Mrs. Sudershan Rani Rallan, who appealed against the orders of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-5, Chennai, concerning disallowances made by the Assessing Officer under sections 40(a)(i) and 14A of the Income Tax Act for the Assessment Year 2009-10. The primary issues were the disallowance of foreign commission payments due to non-deduction of TDS and the disallowance related to expenses incurred to earn exempt income. The Tribunal examined the evidence presented, including invoices and the nature of the investments, and found in favor of the appellant, leading to the setting aside of the disallowances.

• Counselvise Citation: [2023] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 134236 (ITAT-CHENNAI)
• Duration Of Justice: 1 year(s) 4 month(s) 2 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 26-06-2023
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: B
• Next Hearing Date: 26-06-2023
• Assessment Year: 2009-2010
• Appeal Filed On: 24-02-2022
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Assessee Lawyers: RAGHAV RAJEEV MENON LD
• Keywords: Business expenditure; Earning of tax free income; TDS
• Section: 14A; 37(1)

Judgement Text

आयकर अपीलीय अिधकरण “बी” ायपीठ चे ई म । IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL “B” BENCH, CHENNAI माननीय ी महावीर िसंह, उपा ! एवं माननीय ी मनोज कुमार अ&वाल ,लेखा सद) के सम!। BEFORE HON’BLE SHRI MAHAVIR SINGH, VP AND HON’BLE SHRI MANOJ KUMAR AGGARWAL, AM आयकरअपील सं./ ITA No.131/Chny/2022 (िनधा*रण वष* / As sessment Year: 2009-10) Mrs. Sudershan Rani Rallan L/H of late Shri Purushotam Nath Rallan 8/32, Karpura Street, Periamet, Chennai-600 003. बनाम / V s . ACIT, Circle-XII, Chennai. थायीलेखासं./जीआइआरसं./PAN/GIR No. A FXP P- 38 10-P (अपीलाथ /Appellant) : ( थ / Respondent) अपीलाथ कीओरसे/ Appellant by : Shri Raghav Rajeev Menon (Advocate) – Ld. AR थ कीओरसे/Respondent by : Shri D.Hema Bhupal (JCIT)- Ld. DR सुनवाईकीतारीख/Date of Hearing : 27-06-2023 घोषणाकीतारीख /Date of Pronouncement : 27-06-2023 आदेश / O R D E R Manoj Kumar Aggarwal (Accountant Member) 1. Aforesaid appeal by assessee for Assessment Year (AY) 2009-10 arises out of the order of learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-5, Chennai [CIT(A)] dated 10-03-2020 in the matter of an assessment framed by Ld. Assessing Officer [AO] u/s.143 r.w.s. 147 of the Act on 31-10-2014. The grievance of the assessee is two folds i.e., (i) Disallowance u/s 40(a)(i) for want of TDS on certain foreign payments; (ii) disallowance u/s 14A. The registry has noted delay of 657 days in the appeal. Since the period of delay fall within the exclusion period of 2 ITA No.131/Chny/2022 Covide-19 Lockdown period, the delay is condoned and the appeal is admitted for adjudication on merits. Having heard rival submissions, the impugned issues are adjudicated as under. The assessee is manufacturer and trader of raw and finished leather. 2. Disallowance u/s 40(a)(i) / 37(1) 2.1 The assessee paid commission to foreign agents but did not deduct any tax at source against the same. Accordingly, the sum of Rs.31.11 Lacs was disallowed under this head. The Ld. CIT(A), considering the remand report of Ld. AO, deleted addition to the extent of Rs.29.65 Lacs. However, the commission paid to two parties for Rs.1.45 Lacs was confirmed u/s 37(1) since the assessee did not provide any agreement in support of services rendered by these parties. Aggrieved, the assessee is in further appeal before us. 2.2 We find that the payment of commission is to foreign parties through baking channels. The assessee produced relevant invoices etc. and discharged the onus as required u/s 37(1). Therefore, impugned disallowance could not be sustained in law. We order so. 3. Disallowance u/s 14A 3.1 The assessee earned exempt income of Rs.33.14 Lacs and submitted that no disallowance is required u/s 14A since the investment in mutual fund was done in individual capacity. However, Ld. AO computed interest disallowance and indirect expense disallowance u/r 8D(2) for Rs.4.76 Lacs. The Ld. CIT(A) confirmed the same against which the assessee is in further appeal before us. 3.2 We find that there the investment in mutual fund is in individual capacity. Nothing has been brought on record to show that borrowed 3 ITA No.131/Chny/2022 funds were used to make the investments or the assessee incurred any business expenditure to earn the exempt income. In the absence of such finding by Ld. AO, the impugned disallowance could not be sustained in law. We order so. 4. The appeal stand allowed. Order pronounced on 27 th June, 2023 Sd/- Sd/- (MAHAVIR SINGH) (MANOJ KUMAR AGGARWAL) उपा34 / VICE PRESIDENT लेखा सद6 / ACCOUNTANT MEMBER चे8ई Chennai; िदनांक Dated : 27-06-2023 DS आदेश क त ल प अ े षत/Copy to: 1. अपीलाथ /Appellant 2. थ /Respondent 3. आयकर आयु@/CIT 4. िवभागीय ितिनिध/DR 5. गाडE फाईल/GF