DCIT, New Delhi V. M/s. Lahmeyer International India (P) Ltd., New Delhi

ITA 2335/DEL/2017

• Counselvise Citation: [2021] 108 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 2985 (ITAT-DELHI)
• Duration Of Justice: 4 year(s) 1 month(s) 29 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 16-06-2021
• Appeal Filed By: Department
• Order Result: Dismissed
• Bench Allotted: D
• Assessment Year: 2013-2014
• Appeal Filed On: 18-04-2017
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Keywords: Depreciation; Rule of consistency; Commercial expediency; TDS
• Section: 143(3); 37(1); 264; 64; 22; 145

Judgement Text

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, DELHI BENCH: D NEW DELHI BEFORE SHRI KUL BHARAT, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND SHRI O.P. KANT, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER [THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCING] ITA NO.2335/DEL/2017 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2013-14 DCIT, CIRCLE-15(1), NEW DELHI VS. M/S. LAHMEYER INTERNATIONAL INDIA (P) LTD., A-3, 2 ND FLOOR, NEETI BAGH, NEW DELHI PAN :AAACL1902H (APPELLANT) (RESPONDENT) ORDER PER O.P. KANT, AM: THIS APPEAL BY THE REVENUE IS DIRECTED AGAINST ORDE R DATED 21/02/2017 PASSED BY THE LEARNED COMMISSIONER OF IN COME TAX (APPEALS)-5, DELHI [IN SHORT THE LD. CIT(A)] FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-14 RAISING FOLLOWING GROUNDS: 1. THE LD. CIT(A) HAS ERRED IN LAW AND ON FACTS IN DELETING THE OF RS.15,38,00,157/- BY WAY OF DISALLOWANCE OF PROJECT EXPENSES WHICH THE ASSESSEE FAILED TO SUBSTANTIATE. 2. THE LD. CIT(A) HAS ERRED IN LAW AND ON FACTS IN DELETING ADDITION OF RS.15,38,00,157/- TOWARDS UNSUBSTANTIATED PROJEC T EXPENSES APPELLANT BY SHRI NIRBHAY MEHTA, ADV. RESPONDENT BY DR. PRABHA KANT, CIT DATE OF HEARING 16.06.2021 DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT 16.06.2021 2 ITA NO.2335/DEL/2017 EVEN THOUGH THE ASSESSEE FAILED TO BRING ANY MATERI AL BEFORE THE LD. CIT(A) TO SUBSTANTIATE THE GENUINENESS OF SUCH EXPENSES. 3. THE APPELLANT CRAVES LEAVE TO ADD, ALTER, AMEND OR FOREGO ANY GROUND OF APPEAL RAISED ABOVE AT. 2. BRIEFLY STATED FACTS OF THE CASE ARE THAT THE ASSES SEE COMPANY WAS ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF PROVIDING CO NSULTANCY IN THE FIELD OF POWER AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR. TH E RETURN OF INCOME FOR THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION WAS FILED O N 29/11/2013, DECLARING TOTAL INCOME OF 3,28,41,734/-. THE RETURN OF INCOME FILED BY THE ASSESSEE WAS SELECTED FOR SCRUTINY ASSESSMENT. IN THE ASSESSMENT COMPLETED UNDER SECTI ON 143(3) OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961 (IN SHORT THE ACT) ON 14/03/2016, THE ASSESSING OFFICER, FOLLOWING HIS PREDECESSORS DECISION IN ASSESSMENT YEARS 2010-11 AND 2012-13, DISALLOWED 10 % OF THE EXPENSES, WHICH AMOUNTED TO 15,38,00,157/- ON THE GROUND THAT NO PROJECT-WISE ACCOUNTING WAS AVAILABLE AND N O WORK-IN- PROGRESS WAS REPORTED. THE LD. CIT(A), FOLLOWING HE R PREDECESSORS DECISION IN ASSESSMENT YEAR 2012-13 ( APPEAL NO. 0397/2014-15), DELETED THE ADDITION OBSERVING AS UN DER: 3.4 I HAVE PERUSED THE ASSESSMENT ORDER AND THE SU BMISSION OF THE APPELLANT ON THE ISSUE. THE APPELLANT PROVIDES SPECIALIZED ENGINEERING COUNSELTANCY SERVICES IN THE WATER, ENE RGY AND TRANSPORTATION SECTOR. IN THE RETURN FILED FOR THE YEAR, GROSS RECEIPTS OF RS. 153.84 CRORES DURING THE YEAR HAVE BEEN SHOW N FROM SERVICES RENDERED IN INDIA AS WELL AS EXPORTED ABROAD. AGAIN ST THIS EXPENSES OF RS. 153.80 CRORES (EXCLUDING DEPRECIATION) UNDER VARIOUS HEADS HAVE BEEN CLAIMED. AS PER THE METHOD OF ACCOUNTING FOLLOWED BY THE APPELLANT, INCOME IS RECOGNIZED ON ACCRUAL BASIS AN D EXPENDITURE IS RECOGNIZED AS AND WHEN THE SAME IS INCURRED. FROM T HE ASSESSMENT ORDER IT IS FOUND THAT THE EXACT SAME ORDER OF THE AO FOR PREVIOUS YEARS HAS BEEN FOLLOWED WITHOUT SHOWING BY WAY OF A SINGLE EXAMPLE AS TO HOW THE REVENUE HAVE BEEN BOOKED ON C ONTRACTUAL BASIS AND EXPENSES HAD BEEN INCURRED AS AN WHEN DUE , LEADING TO THE INFERENCE THAT THE APPELLANT HAD CLAIMED DISPRO PORTIONATE EXPENDITURE IN RESPECT OF REVENUE BOOK. IT IS NOTED THAT THIS VERY 3 ITA NO.2335/DEL/2017 SAME ISSUE CAME UP BEFORE THE UNDERSIGNED FOR THE A .Y. 2012-13 IN APPEAL NO. 0397/2014-15 AND RELIEF WAS GIVEN TO THE APPELLANT BY HOLDING THAT THERE COULD BE NO ATTRIBUTION OF WORK IN PROGRESS WITHOUT FINDING ANY DEFECTS IN THE ACCOUNTS MAINTAINED, THE ACCOUNTING STANDARDS DO NOT MANDATE A SERVICE PROVIDER TO MAKE VALUATION OF CLOSING WORK IN PROGRESS AND FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE CONCEPT OF MATCHING COSTS VIS-A-VIS REVENUE ALSO, THERE WAS NO INFIRMITY IN THE ACCOUNTING POLICY FOLLOWED. SINCE THE AO HAS NOT BR OUGHT ANY NEW FACT ON RECORD I CONSIDER IT APPROPRIATE TO ALSO RE LY UPON THE OPERATIVE PORTION OF THE APPELLATE ORDER FOR A.Y. 2 012-13 WHICH READS AS UNDER: 3.3 ..THE AO WAS FURNISHED THE PROJECT WISE DETAILS OF EXPENSES AND INCOMES EARNED DURING THE YEAR. HE HAS NOT FOUND ANY DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE INCOMES EARNED AND TH E EXPENDITURES INCURRED. IT WAS NECESSARY ON THE PART OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO EXAMINE EACH INDIVIDUAL CONTRACT SEPARAT ELY AND AFTER SUCH EXAMINATION, IF HE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE CORRECT CONTRACT COSTS HAS NOT BEEN BOOKED AND MATCHED AGAINST THE R EVENUE RECOGNIZED, HE COULD HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION TH AT THE ACCOUNTS OF THE APPELLANT DID NOT DEPICT THE CORRECT PICTURE OF PROFITS. ONLY THEN, HE COULD HAVE PROCEEDED TO REJECT THE BOOKS O F ACCOUNTS AND ESTIMATE THE INCOME. IN THE PRESENT SCENARIO, IT IS SEEN THAT WHAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS EFFECTIVELY DONE BY NOT REJEC TING THE AUDITED BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS AND ESTIMATING THE DOSING VALUE O F THE WORK IN PROGRESS IS THAT HE HAS ACCEPTED THE BOOKS OF ACCOU NTS BUT NOT THE RESULTS ARISING FROM THOSE VERY BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS. 3.3.1 THE ADDITION HAS BEEN OCCASIONED BY THE FACT THAT NO CLOSING WORK IN PROGRESS OR UNBILLED WORK HAS BEEN SHOWN BY THE APPELLANT AT THE END OF THE YEAR. THE ESTIMATION OF 10% OF TH E EXPENSES INCURRED AND ALLOCATION OF THE SAME TOWARDS CLOSING WORK IN PROGRESS AMOUNTS TO REJECTION OF BOOKS BUT THE REAS ONS FOR SUCH REJECTION ARE NOT DISCUSSED IN THE ASSESSMENT ORDER . IN ANY CASE THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS CAN ONLY BE REJECTED IF SERIOUS D ISCREPANCIES OR INFIRMITIES ARE FOUND THEREIN. HOWEVER, THE AO HAS SHOW CAUSED THE APPELLANT AS TO WHY THE IMPUGNED ADDITION MAY NOT B E MADE BASED ONLY ON HIS PREDECESSOR'S ASSESSMENT ORDERS FOR THE PRECEDING YEARS. WHEN THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS HAVE NOT BEEN REJ ECTED AFTER EXAMINATION OF THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS, THE ACTION OF THE AO CANNOT BE ENDORSED. 3.4 MOREOVER, I FIND THAT IN THE ASSESSMENT ORDER, THE AO HAS REPRODUCED THE APPELLANT'S SUBMISSIONS FOR THE AY 2 010-11 (WHICH WERE PART OF THE FIGURES IN THE APPELLANT'S SUBMISS IONS DATED 06.02.2015) FILED IN RESPONSE TO HIS SHOW CAUSE AND HE HAS NOT ADVERTED TO THE FACTS OF THE PRESENT YEAR AT ALL. I F THE FACTS OF THE PRESENT YEAR WERE TO BE EXAMINED, IT WOULD BE SEEN THAT OUT OF 291 4 ITA NO.2335/DEL/2017 TOTAL JOBS WHICH HAVE BEEN BILLED DURING THE YEAR, 126 JOBS WERE COMPLETED DURING THE YEAR AND REVENUE OF RS. 20.53 CRORES WAS EARNED. THUS, THE CONTENTION OF THE APPELLANT THAT THERE COULD BE NO WORK IN PROGRESS IN RESPECT OF THESE 126 JOBS, IS A CCEPTABLE. ANOTHER 95 JOBS WERE LENDERS ENGINEERING JOBS WHEREIN THE A PPELLANT CONDUCTS DUE DILIGENCE, SITE VISITS, REVIEW AND MON ITORING SERVICES FOR BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. THE APPELLANT RAISES INVOICE IN TWO PHASES: FIRST AND INITIAL PAYMENT BEFORE THE VI SIT AND SECOND, ON SUBMISSION OF THE SITE VISIT REPORT. THE LE PROJECT S ARE LOW VALUE PROJECTS AND TYPICALLY GET COMPLETED IN A FEW MONTH S. IT IS FOUND THAT THE AO HAS NOT CALLED FOR DETAILS OF SOME OF THESE PROJECTS TO EXAMINE WHETHER THE CONTENTION OF THE APPELLANT ARE CORRECT . HE HAS NOT EXAMINED WHETHER EXPENSES HAVE BEEN CLAIMED DISPROP ORTIONATELY IN RELATION TO THE INCOME RECEIVED. 3.4.1 THE APPELLANT HAS UNDERTAKEN 5 MAN-MONTH OR M AN-DAYS JOBS WHEREIN REVENUE OF RS. 3.64 CRORES HAS BEEN RECOGNI ZED. THE BILLING IS DONE TO THE RESPECTIVE CLIENTS AT THE END OF EAC H MONTH IN RESPECT OF THE SALARIES/SUB COUNSELTANT COSTS. IN THESE CIR CUMSTANCES, I FIND THAT THERE WOULD BE NO OCCASION TO HAVE ANY WORK IN PROGRESS AS ON 31.03.2012 AND NO DISALLOWANCE IN RESPECT OF EXPENS ES INCURRED OR ATTRIBUTABLE AGAINST THESE JOBS SEEMS WARRANTED. TH E APPELLANT HAS ALSO UNDERTAKEN A 765 KVA TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT FROM MAHARASHTRA EASTERN GRID POWER TRANSMISSION CORPORA TION WHICH IT SUB-CONTRACTED TO THE ADANI GROUP. REVENUE OF RS. 7 4.72 CRORES HAS BEEN SHOWN AND EXPENDITURE OF RS. 72.53 CRORES WAS PAID TO THEM. THE REMAINING 64 JOBS ARE CLIENT SPECIFIC AND THE T ECHNICAL STAFF/COUNSELTANTS WORK AS PER THE SPECIFICATION OF THE CLIENTS. GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE ACTIVITIES ARE COMPLETED AS SCHEDULED AND INVOICED AT THE END OF THE MONTH. 3.5 I HAVE ALSO PERUSED THE ORDER OF MY LEARNED PRE DECESSOR FOR THE AY 2010-11 WHEREIN THE ISSUE REGARDING ACCOUNTI NG STANDARDS AND THE CONCEPT OF MATCHING THE COST WITH REVENUE W AS EXTENSIVELY DISCUSSED. THE OPERATIVE PORTION OF THE ORDER IN AP PEAL NO. 0131/2012-13 IS EXTRACTED HEREIN UNDER:- 25.'AS REGARDS THE FIRST CONTENTION OF THE APPELLAN T I FIND THAT IT HAS BEEN CATEGORICALLY MENTIONED IN THE ASSESSME NT ORDER THAT BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS, BILLS AND VOUCHERS, BANK ST ATEMENTS WERE PRODUCED DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCE EDINGS AND WERE PUT TO TEST CHECK. FROM THE PERUSAL OF THE ASSESSMENT ORDER IT ALSO FOUND THAT BOOKS OF ACCOUN TS HAVE NOT BEEN REJECTED. THE ADDITION OF RS. 4,05,02,738/ - HAS BEEN MADE ON THE REASONING THAT APPELLANT COMPANY IS A S ERVICE PROVIDER AND HAS NOT MADE PROVISION FOR DOSING WORK IN PROGRESS WITH REGARD TO ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF UNBILLE D WORK AT THE YEAR END. ON THIS REASONING THE ASSESSING OFFIC ER HAS 5 ITA NO.2335/DEL/2017 ESTIMATED 10% OF TOTAL EXPENSES AS ESTIMATED DOSING WIP. THIS ACTION OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER TANTAMOUNTS TO REJECTION OF THE AUDITED P&L ACCOUNT WHICH HAS BEEN PREPARED ON THE BASIS OF BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS. THEREFORE, THE IMPUGNED ADDITION IS BASED UPON REJECTION OF BOOK RESULTS. HOWEVER, T HE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS FAILED TO REJECT THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS AND DISCUSS THE REASONS FOR SUCH REJECTION IN THE ASSES SMENT ORDER. SECTION 145 (3) OF THE I.T. ACT EMPOWERS THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO MAKE A BEST JUDGEMENT ASSESSMENT- (A) IF HE IS NOT SATISFIED ABOUT THE CORRECTNESS O R COMPLETENESS OF THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS, OR (B) WHERE THE METHOD OF ACCOUNTING PROVIDED IN SEC TION 145(1) OR ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOTIFIED UNDER SECTI ON 145(2), HAVE NOT BEEN REGULARLY FOLLOWED BY THE ASSESSEE. IN THE INSTANT CASE THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS NOWHE RE DISCUSSED AS TO WHY HE IS NOT SATISFIED ABOUT THE CORRECTNESS OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS. ONLY AFTER RECORDING COGENT REASONS ABOUT THE INFIRMITIES IN THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS AND AFTER REJE CTING THE SAME THE ASSESSING OFFICER CAN ESTIMATE ANY INTANGIBLE ADDIT ION. IT ALSO A SETTLED LEGAL POSITION THAT PRIOR TO REJECTION OF T HE BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS SPECIFIC DEFECTS HAVE TO BE POINTED OUT BY THE ASSE SSING OFFICER. ALL THIS HAS NOT BEEN FOLLOWED IN THE PRESENT CASE. IT IS A SETTLED LAW THAT INTANGIBLE ADDITIONS CAN ONLY BE MADE AFTER RE JECTING THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS AS PER CITATIONS RELIED UPON BY THE APP ELLANT DISCUSSED IN PARA 15 OF THIS ORDER. IN VIEW OF THE SAME THE A CTION OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER DESERVES TO BE REVERSED ON THIS G ROUND ALONE. 26. ON MERITS THE CONTENTIONS OF THE APPELLANT CAN BE SUMMARIZED AS UNDER:- (A) PROJECT WISE ACCOUNTING IS NOT FEASIBLE AND MO REOVER NOT MANDATORILY REQUIRED IN RESPOCT OF NATURE OF BUSINE SS CARRIED ON BY THE ASSESSEE COMPANY. INDIAN GAAP (GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES) DO NOT REQUIRE AN E NTERPRISE TO MAINTAIN PROJECT WISE ACCOUNTS. ALSO THE INDIAN GAA P DOES NOT REQUIRE AN ASSESSEE WHO IS A SERVICE PROVIDER T O MAKE VALUATION OF DOSING WIP AS SPECIFICALLY RETENTIONED IN AS-2 (ACCOUNTING STANDARD -2) ISSUED BY ICAI DEALING WIT H VALUATION OF INVENTORIES. (B) QUESTION OF ALLOCATING A PORTION OF EXPENSES A S CLOSING WIP DOES NOT ARISE AS ALL EXPENSES ARE EITHER IN THE NA TURE OF FIXED OVERHEADS WHICH ARE BOUND TO BE INCURRED IRRESPECTI VE OF ACCRUAL OF INCOME OR ARE SUCH EXPENSES ARE NOT HAVI NG ANY POSITIVE CORRELATION WITH ACCRUAL OF INCOME. MOREOV ER OWING TO 6 ITA NO.2335/DEL/2017 PECULIARITY OF THE PROJECTS EXECUTED BY THE APPELLA NT CHANCES OF ANY CLOSING WIP ARE NOT THERE AS DISCUSSED IN PA RA 17. (C) RULE OF CONSISTENCY HAS TO BE FOLLOWED WHILE C OMPUTING THE INCOME CHARGEABLE UNDER THE HEAD PROFIT OR GAINS FR OM BUSINESS OR PROFESSION AS NO INTERFERENCE HAS BEEN MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICERS IN THE PAST ON THE IMPUGNED ISSUE IS ASSESSMENTS FRAMED FOR EARLIER YEARS UNDER SECTION 143(3) IN SCRUTINY PROCEEDINGS. (D) WHENEVER ANY ADJUSTMENT IS MADE IN THE VALUATI ON OF INVENTORY, THIS WILL AFFECT BOTH THE OPENING AS WEL L AS DOSING STOCK. (E) 2 INSTANCES POINTED OUT BY IN THE ASSESSMENT OR DER OF ALLEGED MISMATCH BETWEEN REVENUE RECOGNIZED AND EXPENSES IN CURRED STAND CLARIFIED AS DISCUSSED IN PARA 22 & 23- 27. I HAVE CONSIDERED THE ABOVE SUMMARIZED ARGUMEN TS MADE BY THE APPELLANT. THE ISSUE TO BE DETERMINED UNDER THE SE GROUNDS OF APPEAL IS WHETHER WORK-IN- PROGRESS IS REQUIRED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR DETERMINATION OF PROFITS? THE BASIC PURPOSE UNDERLYING THE VALUATION OF THE D OSING STOCK IS TO BALANCE THE COSTS OF THE GOODS ENTERED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ACCOUNT AT THE TIME OF THEIR PURCHASE OR PRODUCTION , SO THAT BY CANCELLING OUT OF THE ENTRIES, RELATING TO THE SAME STOCK FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE ACCOUNT, WOULD LEAVE ONLY THE TRANSACT IONS ON WHICH THERE HAVE BEEN ACTUAL SALES IN THE COURSE OF THE Y EAR SHOWING PROFIT OR LOSS ACTUALLY REALISED ON THE YEAR'S TRADING. TH E BASIC PRINCIPLE UNDERLYING THE VALUATION OF STOCK IS TO GET A CORRE CT PICTURE OF THE PROFITABILITY OF THE BUSINESS AND NOT FOR REDUCTION OR ENHANCEMENT OF PROFIT. IT IS MERELY A PROCESS OF CARRYING FORWARD OF COSTS FOR GOODS WHICH ARE YET TO BE SOLD AT THE YEAR END. VALUATION OF STOCK-IN-TRADE IS NOT A SOURCE OF PROFIT, AS LAID BY THE SUPREME C OURT IN CHAINRUP SAMPATRAM V. CIT, (1953) 24 ITR 481, 487 (SC). UNDOUBTEDLY, WHICHEVER METHOD OF BOOK KEEPING IS AD OPTED FOR COMPUTING THE TRUE PROFITS OF THE YEAR, THE STO CK-IN-TRADE MUST BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. THE SAME LOGIC IS APPLIED IN DE TERMINATION AND ACCOUNTING FOR WORK-IN-PROGRESS. HOWEVER, THE QUEST ION THAT ARISES IN THE CASE OF THE APPELLANT IS WHETHER THE PROCESS OF DETERMINATION AND ACCOUNTING FOR WORK-IN-PROGRESS APPLIED ALSO TO AN ENTERPRISE WHICH IS MERELY RENDERING SERVICES WITHOUT ANY INPU TS AS TO MATERIALS, ETC. AND THERE IS NO TANGIBLE PRODUCT OR ITEM IN HAND. 28. WORK-IN-PROGRESS IN CASES OF ASSESSEE RENDERING SERVICES: 7 ITA NO.2335/DEL/2017 IN CASES WHERE ONLY SERVICES ARE RENDERED, THERE IS NO PURCHASE OR SALE OF GOODS OR MATERIAL, NOR ANY PROD UCTION OR MANUFACTURE OF GOODS. IN SUCH A SCENARIO, THE SOURC E OF RECEIPT IS SERVICE CHARGES IN THE FORM OF COUNSELTANCY RECEIPT S, PROFESSIONAL CHARGES, ETC. IN THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, THE MAIN ELE MENT OF EXPENDITURE IS AGAIN PAYMENTS RELATED TO SERVICES R ENDERED I.E., IN THE FORM OF ESTABLISHMENT EXPENSES, ADMINISTRATION & MARKETING OVERHEADS, PAYMENTS TO SUB-COUNSELTANTS, FINANCIAL CHARGES ETC. THERE COULD BE NO ELEMENT OF ANY STOCK-IN-TRADE OR WORK-IN- PROGRESS IN CASE OF MERE RENDERING OF SERVICES, FOR THE REASON THAT THERE IS NOTHING TANGIBLE TO VALUE AS ON A PARTICUL AR DATE OF VALUATION. THERE IS NOTHING TANGIBLE IN HAND WHICH CAN BE SOLD TO REALIZE ITS VALUE. SERVICES ARE RENDERED AND FEES O R CHARGES FOR THE SAME ARE RECEIVABLE IS THE ONLY TANGIBLE THING, BUT THERE IS NO STOCK, NO MATERIAL, NOTHING AT ALL IN HAND WHICH CAN BE VA LUED AND CREDITED IN BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS AT THE YEAR END. UNLIKE IN A T RADING OR MANUFACTURING CONCERN, WHERE IN THE NORMAL TRADE CY CLE BEFORE DEBTORS ON ACCOUNT OF SALE ARISE, CONCERN WOULD HAV E STOCK-IN-HAND, WHEREAS IN CASE OF A SERVICE CONCERN, EXPENSE INCUR RED IS DIRECTLY CONVERTED INTO DEBTORS AND THERE IS NO INTERMEDIARY STAGE WHEN TANGIBLE STOCK IS IN HAND. AS PER THE METHOD OF ACC OUNTING REGULARLY EMPLOYED, IF THE ASSESSEE FOLLOWS MERCANTILE METHOD OF ACCOUNTING, BOTH THE INCOME AND THE EXPENDITURE IS BOOKED ON AC CRUAL, WHEREAS IF THE ASSESSEE FOLLOWS CASH SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTING, ONLY THE ACTUAL PAYMENTS AND RECEIPTS ARE ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE BOOK S OF ACCOUNT. THUS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE METHOD OF ACCOUNTING EMPL OYED, THERE IS NOTHING TANGIBLE TO VALUE AS ON A PARTICULAR DATE, SINCE THERE IS NEITHER ANY GOODS OR MATERIAL IN HAND TO WHICH THE ASSESSEE HAS A RIGHT, NOR THE SERVICES ALREADY RENDERED COULD BE T REATED AS STOCK-IN- TRADE OR WIP, SINCE THE WORK IS ALREADY ACCOMPLISHE D AND NO ASSET REMAINS IN HAND. IN SUCH CASES, THE ASSESSEE HAS ON LY RIGHT TO RECOVER DUES FOR THE SERVICES RENDERED. BY THE VERY PECULIAR NATURE OF WORK DONE AND SERVICE RENDERED, THE APPELLANT IS CORRECT IN CONTENDING THAT THERE IS NO WORK-IN-PROGRESS, WHICH HAS TO BE DETERMINED AND ACCOUNTED FOR. THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS FAILED TO UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE ABOVE DISCUSSED BASIC AND FUNDAMENTAL ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE. 29. THIS ISSUE CAN BE VIEWED FROM ANOTHER DIMENSION . CONCEPT OF MATCHING OF COST WITH REVENUE: THE CONCEPT OF MATCHING OF COST WITH REVENUE IS SUB JECT TO SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT. AS PER T HE SAID PRINCIPLE, IF COST HAS BEEN INCURRED BUT REVENUE HAS NOT BEEN REA LIZED AND IS EXPECTED TO BE REALIZED IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS, THE CO ST IS ACCUMULATED AND CARRIED FORWARD TO SUBSEQUENT YEARS AND IS NOT DEBITED TO PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT OF THE YEAR IN WHICH IT IS INCURRE D. HOWEVER, THE 8 ITA NO.2335/DEL/2017 SAID ACCOUNTING PRACTICE IS AT VARIANCE WITH SPECIF IC PROVISIONS OF THE LAW. S. 37(1) PROVIDES FOR DEDUCTION OF REVENUE EXP ENSE INCURRED WHOLLY AND EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUSINESS. ONCE LIABILITY TOWARDS AN EXPENSE HAS BEEN INCURRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE METHOD OF ACCOUNTING FOLLOWED BY THE ASSESSEE, AS R EQUIRED BY S. 43(1), THEN IRRESPECTIVE OF THE FACT THAT ANY REVEN UE HAS BEEN EARNED, EXPENSE HAS TO BE ALLOWED IN THE YEAR IN WH ICH IT IS INCURRED AS HELD IN CIT V. MALAYALAM PLANTATIONS LTD., S3 IT R 140 (SC). THUS, ONCE LIABILITY IS INCURRED, THERE IS NO POSTPONEMEN T OF THE SAME AND THE EXPENSES HAVE TO BE ALLOWED IN COMPUTING TAXABL E PROFITS, THOUGH IN BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS THEY HAVE BEEN CARRIED FORWARD TO BE DEBITED IN THE YEAR IN WHICH REVENUE IS EARNED. MUM BAI HIGH COURT IN BHOR INDUSTRIES, 264 ITR 180 (BOM.) CONSIDERED A PPLICABILITY OF THE SAID PRINCIPLE WHERE THE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTEND ING THAT EXPENSE HAD TO BE SPREAD OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS AND ALLOWED AS PER TREATMENT IN BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS. THE MUMBAI HIGH COURT REJECTED THE CONTENTION OF THE DEPARTMENT AND HELD THAT EXPE NSE IS ALLOWABLE IN THE YEAR IN WHICH IT IS INCURRED, IRRESPECTIVE O F ITS TREATMENT IN BOOKS OF ACCOUNT OF DEBITING IT OVER A NUMBER OF YE ARS. AS HELD IN THE SAID CASE, THE CONCEPT OF MATCHING CANNOT BE APPLIE D IN INCOME-TAX PROCEEDINGS FOR CARRY FORWARD OF COSTS, IF THE EXPE NSE HAS BEEN INCURRED, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE METHOD OF ACCOUNTI NG FOLLOWED. IN THE PRESENT CASE, THE ASSESSING OFFICER, BY APPL YING THE PRINCIPLE OF MATCHING COST WITH REVENUE, HAS PROPOS ED TO CARRY FORWARD COST ALREADY INCURRED WHICH IS AT VARIANCE WITH SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF S. 37(1) AND S. 43(1). THE APPELLANT HAS INCURRED VARIOUS COSTS AS PER THE METHOD OF ACCOUNTING FOLLO WED BY IT AND IS, THEREFORE, ALLOWABLE AS DEDUCTION AND THE SAME CANN OT BE POSTPONED TO NEXT YEAR ON THE GROUND THAT REVENUE I S NOT RECOGNIZED. THUS, THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS GROSSLY ERRED IN IN TRODUCING THE ARTIFICIAL CONCEPT OF DOSING WIP IN THE CASE OF APP ELLANT WHO IS A SERVICE PROVIDER. EVEN OTHERWISE THE APPELLANT IS C ORRECT IN CONTENDING THAT LOOKING TO THE NATURE OF EXPENSES E STABLISHMENT EXPENSES, ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEADS, FINANCIAL CHARG ES, PAYMENTS TO SUB COUNSELTANTS, THESE EXPENSES ARE BOUND TO BE INCURRED BEING FIXED IN NATURE IRRESPECTIVE OF ACCRUAL OR EARNING OF ANY REVENUE. ONCE SUCH NATURE OF EXPENSES HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE INCURRED LEGITIMATELY AND DRIVEN BY COMMERCIAL EXPEDIENCY NO DISALLOWANCE ON ESTIMATED BASIS CAN BE MADE BY ARTIFICIALLY INTR ODUCING THE CONCEPT OF CLOSING WIP. 30. ACCOUNTING STANDARD (AS-2) ISSUED BY INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA (ICAI) DEALS WITH VALUATION OF INVENTORIES. RELEVANT PORTION OF THE SAME IS REPRODUCED BELOW:- 9 ITA NO.2335/DEL/2017 OBJECTIVE A PRIMARY ISSUE IN ACCOUNTING FOR INVENTORIES IS TH E DETERMINATION OF THE VALUE AT WHICH INVENTORIES ARE CARRIED IN THE F INANCIAL STATEMENTS UNTIL THE RELATED REVENUES ARE RECOGNIZED. THIS STA TEMENT DEALS WITH THE DETERMINATION OF SUCH VALUE, INCLUDING THE ASCE RTAINMENT OF COST OF INVENTORIES AND ANY WRITE-DOWN THEREOF TO NET RE ALIZABLE VALUE. SCOPE 1. THIS STATEMENT SHOULD BE APPLIED IN ACCOUNTING F OR INVENTORIES OTHER THAN: A) WORK IN PROGRESS ARISING UNDER CONSTRUCTION CON TRACTS, INCLUDING DIRECTLY RELATED SERVICE CONTRACTS [SEE A CCOUNTING STANDARD (AS) 7, ACCOUNTING FOR CONSTRUCTION CONTRA CTS]; B) WORK IN PROGRESS ARISING IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS OF SERVICE PROVIDERS; C) SHARES, DEBENTURES AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUME NTS HELD AS STOCK-IN-TRADE; AND D) PRODUCERS' INVENTORIES OF LIVESTOCK, AGRICULTUR AL AND FOREST PRODUCTS, AND MINERAL OILS, ORES AND GASES TO THE E XTENT THAT THEY ARE MEASURED AT NET REALIZABLE VALUE IN ACCORD ANCE WITH WELL ESTABLISHED PRACTICES IN THOSE INDUSTRIES. FROM THE ABOVE IT IS ABUNDANTLY DEAR THAT IN THE CA SE OF SERVICE PROVIDERS AS-2 IS NOT APPLICABLE MEANING THEREBY TH AT ENTERPRISE ENGAGED IN THE ACTIVITY OF PROVIDING SERVICES IS NO T REQUIRED TO VALUE ANY INVENTORY AT YEAR END AND TAKE EFFECT OF THE SA ME IN ITS BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS AND FINANCIAL RESULTS. THAT BEING SO THE A SSESSING OFFICER HAS ERRED IN APPLYING THE CONCEPT OF DOSING WIP IN THE CASE OF APPELLANT AND MAKING AN ADDITION BY DISALLOWING 10% OF GROSS EXPENSES ON ESTIMATE BASIS. 31. THE APPELLANT IS ALSO JUSTIFIED IN SUBMITTING T HAT RULE OF CONSISTENCY SHOULD BE FOLLOWED. IN THE EARLIER YEAR S ON SAME SET OF FACTS AND SAME METHOD OF ACCOUNTING THE ASSESSING A UTHORITIES HAVE FULLY ALLOWED THE EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE APPELLAN T. 2 INSTANCES REFERRED IN THE ASSESSMENT ORDER ALLEGING MISMATCH IN EXPENSES CORRESPONDING REVENUE STAND EXPLAINED AS PER SUBMIS SIONS OF THE APPELLANT DISCUSSED IN PARA 22 & 23 OF THIS ORDER. 32.ON THE BASIS OF ABOVE DISCUSSION AND FINDINGS AD HOC ADDITION MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER RESORTING TO ESTIMATI ON IS NOT TENABLE AT LAW. HENCE, ADDITION OF RS. 4,05,02,738/- IS DEL ETED.' 3.4.1 HAVING PERUSED THE ORDER, I AM IN FULL AGREEM ENT WITH MY PREDECESSOR THAT PROJECT WISE ACCOUNTING IS NEITHER FEASIBLE NOR MANDATORY IN RESPECT OF SERVICE PROVIDERS AND THERE COULD BE NO 10 ITA NO.2335/DEL/2017 ELEMENT OF STOCK IN TRADE OR WORK IN PROGRESS THAT WAS MANDATORY UNLIKE, THAT OF A TRADING OR MANUFACTURING CONCERN. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT IS HELD THAT THE AO HAS ERRED IN APPLYING AN ADHOC AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURE INCURRED FOR ALLOCATION OF WO RK IN PROGRESS. GROUND NO. 2 TO 2.2 ARE ALLOWED. 2.1 AGGRIEVED, THE REVENUE IS IN APPEAL BEFORE THE TRI BUNAL RAISING THE GROUNDS AS REPRODUCED ABOVE. 3. BEFORE US, THE PARTIES APPEARED THROUGH VIDEO CONFER ENCING FACILITY AND FILED PAPER-BOOK ELECTRONICALLY. 4. AT THE OUTSET, THE LEARNED COUNSEL OF THE ASSESSEE SUBMITTED THAT THE ISSUE-IN-DISPUTE IS COVERED IN FAVOUR OF T HE ASSESSEE BY THE ORDER OF THE TRIBUNAL IN ASSESSMENT YEARS 2010- 11 AND 2011- 12. 5. THE LEARNED DR THOUGH RELIED ON THE ORDER OF THE A SSESSING OFFICER BUT COULD NOT CONTROVERT THIS FACT THAT SAM E ISSUE HAS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED BY THE TRIBUNAL IN THE EARLIER YEAR. 6. WE HAVE HEARD RIVAL SUBMISSION OF THE PARTIES ON T HE ISSUE IN DISPUTE AND PERUSED THE RELEVANT MATERIAL ON REC ORD. IT IS UNDISPUTED THAT ADDITION HAS BEEN MADE BY THE ASSES SING OFFICER FOLLOWING THE FINDINGS OF HIS PREDECESSOR AND THE L EARNED CIT(A) HAS ALSO DELETED THE ADDITION FOLLOWING HER PREDECE SSORS DECISION IN AY 2012-13 (APPEAL NO. 0397/2014-15). THE TRIBUN AL IN ITA NO.4350 & 6073/DEL/2014 FOR ASSESSMENT YEARS 2010-1 1 AND 2011-12 RESPECTIVELY HAS DECIDED THE IDENTICAL ISSU E AS UNDER: 10. WE HAVE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THE RIVAL CONTENTIONS AND FIND THAT THE LD. AO HAS DISALLOWED 10% OF THE TOTAL EXP ENDITURE INCURRED BY THE ASSESSEE ON AD-HOC BASIS. AS THE ASSESSEE IS ENGAGED IN PROVIDING SERVICES IT RECOGNIZED REVENUE ON MILESTO NE BASIS. AS SOON AS MILESTONE IS ACHIEVED THE INVOICES HAVE BEEN RAI SED, HENCE, IT WAS CONTENDED BY THE ASSESSEE THAT THERE IS NOT REM AINED ANY WORK IN PROGRESS AT THE END OF THE YEAR. THE LD. AO ASKE D THE ASSESSEE TO FURNISH PROJECT-WISE REVENUE AND THE PROJECT-WISE E XPENSES WHICH THE ASSESSEE DID NOT MAINTAIN AND THEREFORE, SAME W AS NOT GIVEN AND ON OUR EXAMINATION OF THE METHOD OF ACCOUNTING APPLIED BY THE 11 ITA NO.2335/DEL/2017 ASSESSEE, IT APPEARS THAT WHEN THE ASSESSEE HAS REC EIVED BILLING AS PER MILESTONE AND FROM THE MILESTONE TILL THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR THERE ARE NO EXPENDITURE IDENTIFIED BY THE ID AO THEN THE RE CANNOT BE ANY WORK IN PROGRESS IN THE BUSINESS OF THE ASSESSEE. T HE ID AO COULD NOT FIND OUT THAT WHETHER THERE IS SUCH EXPENDITURE EXISTS OR NOT. IT WAS ALSO NOT FOUND BY THE ID AO THAT THE ASSESSEE H AS INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL EXPENDITURE. IF THE MILESTONE BEFORE TH E CLOSE OF THE YEAR. AS THE ASSESSEE IS ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF CONSU LTANCY SERVICES DEFINITELY THERE CAN BE SUM OVER LAP OF THE EXPENSE S BETWEEN TWO YEARS. HOWEVER THAT DOES NOT GIVE ANY RISE TO THE A O TO DISALLOW THE EXPENDITURE @10% AND TREAT IT AS WORK IN PROGRESS. WE DO NOT FIND ANY REASON TO DEVIATE FROM THIS REASON GIVEN BY THE ID CIT(A) IN DELETING THE ABOVE DISALLOWANCE. EVEN OTHERWISE THE ORDER OF THE ID CIT(A) IS REASONABLE AS IT FOLLOWS THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE BOMBAY HIGH COURT, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY REASON TO DEVIATE FR OM THE SAME. ACCORDINGLY GROUND NO. 1 OF THE APPEAL OF THE REVEN UE FOR BOTH THE YEARS ARE DISMISSED. 5.1 SINCE THE ISSUE IN DISPUTE IN THE PRESENT APPEAL I S IDENTICAL TO THE ISSUE DECIDED BY THE TRIBUNAL (SUPRA), RESPE CTFULLY FOLLOWING THE SAME, WE UPHOLD THE FINDING OF THE LE ARNED CIT(A) ON THE ISSUE IN DISPUTE. THE GROUNDS OF APPEAL OF T HE REVENUE ARE ACCORDINGLY DISMISSED. 6. IN THE RESULT, THE APPEAL OF THE REVENUE IS DISMISS ED. ORDER PRONOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT ON 16 TH JUNE, 2021 SD/- SD/- ( KUL BHARAT ) ( O.P. KANT ) JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER DATED: 16 TH JUNE, 2021. RK/- (DTDS) COPY FORWARDED TO: 1. APPELLANT 2. RESPONDENT 3. CIT 4. CIT(A) 5. DR ASST. REGISTRAR, ITAT, NEW DELHI