Decision Craft Analytics Ltd. ( Now merged with Audience Measurement and Analytics Pvt. Ltd. ), Ahmedabad V. The Dy.CIT.,(OSD),Range-1, Ahmedabad

ITA 2336/AHD/2014

• Counselvise Citation: [2018] 125 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 8228 (ITAT-AHMEDABAD)
• Duration Of Justice: 3 year(s) 9 month(s) 16 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 31-05-2018
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: D
• Assessment Year: 2006-2007
• Appeal Filed On: 14-08-2014
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: V K SINGH
• Assessee Lawyers: KRUTESH PATEL
• Keywords: Depreciation; Unabsorbed depreciation

Judgement Text

, IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL D BENCH, AHMEDABAD BEFORE SHRI PRADIP KUMAR KEDIA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER AND SHRI MAHAVIR PRASAD, JUDICIAL MEMBER ./ I.T.A. NO. 2336/AHD/2014 ( / ASSESSMENT YEAR : 2006-07) DECISIONCRAFT ANALYTICS LTD. (NOW MERGED WITH AUDIENCE MEASUREMENT PRIVATE LIMITED), 601, SHAPATH-II OPP. RAJPATH CLUB AHMEDABAD 380 015. / VS. DY. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (OSD), RANGE I, AHMEDABAD. ./ ./ PAN/GIR NO. : AABCC 5157 E ( / APPELLANT ) .. ( / RESPONDENT ) / APPELLANT BY : SHRI KRUTESH PATEL, AR / RESPONDENT BY : SHRI V. K. SINGH, SR. D.R. / DATE OF HEARING 09/03/2018 !'# / DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT 31/05/2018 $% / O R D E R PER MAHAVIR PRASAD, JUDICIAL MEMBER : THIS APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE RELATING TO ASSESSMEN T YEAR 2006-07 IS DIRECTED AGAINST THE ORDER OF LEARNED COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS)-6, AHMEDABAD DATED 20.06.2014 WHICH IS AR ISING OUT OF ORDER U/S.143(3) R.W.S. 147 OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, 1961 ( HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO ITA NO.2336/AHD/2014 DECISIONCRAFT ANALYTICS LTD. (NOW MERGED WITH AUDI ENCE MEASUREMENT AND ANALYTICS PVT. LTD.)VS. CIT(OSD ) ASST.YEAR 2006-07 - 2 - AS, ACT) DATED 25.10.2011 FRAMED BY DCIT, CIR-1, ABAD, VIDE APPEAL NO.CIT(A)-VI DCIT CIR-1/98/11-12. 2. ASSESSEE HAS TAKEN FOLLOWING GROUNDS OF APPEAL: I. THE LD. CIT(A) ERRED IN LAW BY UPHOLDING REOPENI NG OF ASSESSMENT BY ASSESSING OFFICER. II. THE LD. CIT(A) ERRED IN LAW BY REDUCING EXEMPTI ON U/S.10A. 3. THE RELEVANT FACTS AS CULLED OUT FROM THE MATERI ALS ON RECORD ARE AS UNDER:- THE ASSESSEE-COMPANY WAS FILED RETURN OF INCOME D ECLARING TOTAL LOSS OF RS.(-)11,13,240/- ON 29/12/2006. THE ASSESS MENT U/S.143(3) OF THE ACT WAS FINALIZED ON 26/12/2008 DETERMINING TOTAL I NCOME OF RS.(-) 8,18,387/-. 3.1 THEREAFTER, THE CASE WAS TAKEN UP FOR RE-ASSESS MENT AFTER DULY RECORDING THE REASONS FOR REOPENING. THE APPROVAL F OR INITIATION OF PROCEEDINGS U/S.147 OF THE ACT WAS RECEIVED VIDE CI T, AHMEDABAD-I, AHMEDABADS LETTER DTD.21/03/2011. THE REASONS FOR RE-OPENING ARE REPRODUCED HEREUNDER: 'THE ASSESSEE COMPANY ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF SO FTWARE DEVELOPMENT, HAD CLAIMED AND WAS ALLOWED RS.75,51,7 35/- DEDUCTIONS U/S.10A OF THE I.T. ACT, 1961. IT IS SEEN THAT AS PER COMPUTATION STATEMENT, THE A SSESSEE WAS HAVING INCOME OF RS.64,19,277/- (RS.70,59,819/- + 2 3,90,332/- (-) 19,222/- (-) 30,11,652/-) BEFORE ALLOWING DEDUCTION U/S10A. ITA NO.2336/AHD/2014 DECISIONCRAFT ANALYTICS LTD. (NOW MERGED WITH AUDI ENCE MEASUREMENT AND ANALYTICS PVT. LTD.)VS. CIT(OSD ) ASST.YEAR 2006-07 - 3 - EXPENSES TO THE TUNE OF RS.2,94,849/- WERE DISALLOW ED IN ASSESSMENT ORDER. THUS THE ASSESSEE'S TO TAL INCOME WAS RS.67,14,126/-. AS SEEN FROM THE ASSESSMENT ORDER DATED 22-10-2008 ASSESSMENT YEAR 2005-06, THE ASSESSEE WAS ASSESSED AT LOSS OF RS.1,08,78,359/- (RS.1,11,27,359/- (-) RS.2,49,000/ - CAPITAL LOSS) WHICH WAS AVAILABLE FOR ADJUSTMENT AGAINST PROFIT OF SUBS EQUENT YEAR. THEREFORE, THE SAID LOSS WAS REQUIRED TO BE ADJUSTE D AGAINST THE INCOME OF RS.67,14,126/- FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2006-0 7 AMD CONSEQUENTLY THE DEDUCTION U/S.10A WAS NOT AVAILABL E OWING ABSENCE OF INCOME. THE NET EFFECT IS THAT THE ASSESSEE IS ENTITLED TO CARRY FORWARD LOSS OF RS.41,64,233/- (ASSESSMENT YEAR 2005-06) AND NIL ASSESSMENT YEAR 2006-07 AS ON COMPLETION OF ASSESSMENT FOR ASSESSME NT YEAR 2006-07. THIS HAS THUS RESULTED IN EXCESSIVE ALLOWANCE OF LO SS RS.8,18,387/- FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2006-07 AND EXCES S CARRY FORWARD OF LOSS OF RS.67,14,126/- OF ASSESSMENT YEAR 2005-06. THE SAME CONSTITUTES ESCAPEMENT OF INCOME CHARGEABL E TAX AS PER PROVISIONS OF EXPLANATION - 1 TO SECTION 147 OF THE ACT. IN LIGHT OF ABOVE, I AM OF THE VIEW THAT THIS IS A FIT CASE 'INCOME ESCAPING ASSESSMENT UNDER SEC.147 OF THE I. T. ACT. ' 3. THEREFORE, A NOTICE U/S.148 OF THE ACT WAS ISSUE D ON 24/03/2011 AND SERVED ON THE ASSESSEE BY RPAD. IN RESPONSE TO NOTICE, THE ASSESSEE WAS NOT FILED THE INCOME WITHIN THIRTY DAYS FROM TH E RECEIPTS OF THE NOTICE U/S.148 OF THE ACT. HOWEVER, THE ASSESSEE HA S FILED ITS ORIGINAL RETURN OF INCOME ON 12/09/2011 IN RESPONSE TO NOTIC E U/S.148 OF THE ACT. ACCORDINGLY, VIDE LETTER DTD.14/09/2011, REASONS RE CORDED WERE SUPPLIED TO THE ASSESSEE AND THE ASSESSEE WAS REQUE STED TO FURNISH THE COMMENTS IN RESPECT OF DEDUCTION U/S.10A IS NOT ALL OWED AS THE SAME NOT AVAILABLE OWING TO ABSENCE OF INCOME AFTER SETTING OFF THE CARRY FORWARD ITA NO.2336/AHD/2014 DECISIONCRAFT ANALYTICS LTD. (NOW MERGED WITH AUDI ENCE MEASUREMENT AND ANALYTICS PVT. LTD.)VS. CIT(OSD ) ASST.YEAR 2006-07 - 4 - LOSS AGAINST THE INCOME OF A.Y.2006-07. THEREAFTER, ANOTHER LETTER ISSUED ON 23/09/2011 REQUESTING TO SUBMIT ITS REPLY . IT IS PERTINENT TO NOTE HERE THAT THE ASSESSES HAS NOT RAISED ANY OBJECTION AGAINST REASONS RECORDED FOR REOPENING. FURTHER, NOTICE U/S.143(2) R.W.S.129 OF THE ACT WAS ISSUED ON 19/10/2011 ALONG WITH SHOW-CAUSE NOTICE IN WHICH TH E ASSESSEE WAS SHOW CAUSED AS TO WHY THE DEDUCTION U/S.10A IS NOT ALLOWED AS THE SAME NOT AVAILABLE OWING TO ABSENCE OF INCOME AFTER SETT ING OFF THE CARRY FORWARD LOSS AGAINST THE INCOME OF A.Y.2006-07. IN RESPONSE, THE ASSESSEE WAS SUBMITTED ITS SUBMISSION ON 22/ 0/201 1. 4. IT IS SEEN THAT AS PER COMPUTATION STATEMENT, TH E ASSESSEE WAS HAVING INCOME OF RS.64,19,277/- (RS.70,59,819/- + 23,90, 3 32/- (-)19,222/- (-) 30,11,652/-) BEFORE ALLOWING DEDUCTION U/S.10A. EXPENSES TO THE TUNE OF RS.2,94,849/- WERE DISALLOW ED IN THE ASSESSMENT ORDER. THUS THE ASSESSEE'S TOTAL INCOME WAS RS.67,14,126/-. AS SEEN FROM THE ASSESSMENT ORDER DATED 22-10-2008 FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2005-06, THE ASSESSEE WAS ASSESSED AT LOSS OF RS.1,08,78, 359/- (RS.1,11,27,359/- (-) RS.2,49,000 /- CAPITAL LOSS) WHICH WAS AVAILABLE FOR ADJUSTMENT AGAINST PROFIT O F SUBSEQUENT YEAR. THEREFORE, THE SAID LOSS WAS REQUIRED TO BE ADJUSTE D AGAINST THE INCOME OF RS.67,14,126/- FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2006-0 7 AND CONSEQUENTLY THE DEDUCTION U/S.10A WAS NOT AVAILABL E OWING TO ABSENCE OF INCOME. THE NET EFFECT IS THAT THE ASSESSEE IS ENTITLED TO CARRY FORWARD LOSS OF RS.41,64,233/- (ASSESSMENT YEAR 2005-06) AND NIL FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2006-07 AS ON COMPLETION OF ASSESSMENT FOR ASS ESSMENT YEAR 2006-07. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE, THE ASSESSEE WAS SHOW CAUSED AS TO WHY THE DEDUCTION U/S.10A OF THE ACT IS NOT ALLOWED AS THE SAME NOT AVAILABLE ITA NO.2336/AHD/2014 DECISIONCRAFT ANALYTICS LTD. (NOW MERGED WITH AUDI ENCE MEASUREMENT AND ANALYTICS PVT. LTD.)VS. CIT(OSD ) ASST.YEAR 2006-07 - 5 - OWING TO ABSENCE OF INCOME AFTER SETTING OFF THE CA RRY FORWARD LOSS AGAINST THE INCOME OF A.Y.2006-07. IN RESPONSE, THE ASSESSEE WAS SUBMITTED ITS SUBMISS ION ON 22/10/2011 WHICH IS REPRODUCED AS UNDER:- 1. THE COMPANY HAS FILED ITS RETURN OF INCOME FOR ASSET YEAR 2006-07, AFTER CLAIMING EXEMPTION U/S.10A FOR RS.75 ,51,735/-. THIS RETURN WAS SELECTED FOR REGULAR ASSESSMENT AND ORDER PASSED U/S.143(3) DETERMINED TOTAL INCOME AS A LOSS OF RS.818,387. HOWEVER, AFTER YOUR NOTICE, WE REALIZED THAT WE HAV E CLAIMED DEDUCTION U/S.10A BY MISTAKE WHICH WAS ERRONEOUSLY ACCEPTED BY DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE CARRIED FORWARD LOSS OF RS.111, 27,359/- FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2005-06, WHICH WAS AVAILABLE FOR SE T OFF CURRENT YEAR INCOME. THEREFORE, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OBJECTION FOR DISALLO WS DEDUCTION U/S.10A. WE FURTHER REQUEST YOU THAT KINDLY ALLOWS OFF OF THE LOSS OF ASSESSMENT YEAR 2005-06. WE ARE ENCLOSED REVISED STATEMENT OF TOTAL INCOME. STATEMENT OF TOTAL INCOME PARTICULARS AMOUNT INCOME UNDER HEAD BUSINESS AND 64192 ADD: DISALLOWANCE MADE UNDER ASSESSMENT U/S.143(3) 294,849 TOTAL INCOME UNDER BUSINESS AND 67,14, LESS : BUSINESS LOSS/UNAB DEP SET OFF (67,14, TOTAL INCOME UNDER PGBP NIL INCOME FROM OTHER SOURCES 19222 LESS: UNABSORBED DEPRECIATION SET OFF (19222 TOTAL INCOME NIL NOTE THE ASSESSEE IS ENTITLED FOR CARRY FORWARD OF BUSIN ESS LOSS AND UNABSORBED DEPRECIATION OF RS.41,45,011/- AND CAPIT AL LOSS OF RS.249,000/-. ITA NO.2336/AHD/2014 DECISIONCRAFT ANALYTICS LTD. (NOW MERGED WITH AUDI ENCE MEASUREMENT AND ANALYTICS PVT. LTD.)VS. CIT(OSD ) ASST.YEAR 2006-07 - 6 - THE CONTENTIONS OF THE ASSESSEE-COMPANY HAVE BEEN C ONSIDERED. THE ASSESSEE IS ACCEPTED ITS MISTAKE AND NO OBJECTION F OR DISALLOWANCE U/S.10A OF THE ACT. THE DEDUCTION U/S.10A OF THE ACT CANNOT GIVE ONLY F ROM THE TOTAL INCOME COMPUTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE A CT INCLUDING THE PROVISIONS RELATING TO SET OFF OF CARRIED FORWARD L OSSES. THE METHOD OF COMPUTATION ADOPTED BY THE ASSESSEE IS NEITHER IN A CCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT NOR IN CONSONANCE WITH THE RA TIO OF THE DECISIONS OF VARIOUS HIGH COURTS. AS PER THE SETTLED POSITION OF LAW, ALL THE BROUGHT FORWARD LOSSES AND DEPRECIATION ARE FIRST REQUIRED TO BE SET OFF AGAINST THE BUSINESS PROFITS OF THE CURRENT YEAR BEFORE COM PUTING ANY DEDUCTION/EXEMPTION UNDER THE ACT. FOR THE YEAR UND ER CONSIDERATION, DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 10A OF THE ACT WAS ALLOWABL E ONLY TO THE EXTENT OF 90 PER CENT OF NEWLY ESTABLISHED UNDERTAKING AND BEFORE CLAIMING ANY EXEMPTION OR DEDUCTION, THE BROUGHT FORWARD LOSSES AND DEPRECIATION ARE REDUCED FROM THE GROSS BUSINESS PROFITS AND ONL Y THE NET PROFITS SO ARRIVED ARE CONSIDERED FOR COMPUTING THE DEDUCTION UNDER THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS. FURTHER, RELIANCE IN THIS REGARD IS PLACED ON THE D ECISION OF SWORD GLOBAL (I) PVT. LTD. 122 ITD 103(CHENNAI). IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE DISCUSSION, IT IS CONCLUDED TH AT THE BROUGHT FORWARD LOSS FOR A.Y. 2005-06 IS ADJUSTED AGAINST T HE INCOME OF RS.67,14,126/- FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2006-07 AND CONS EQUENTLY THE DEDUCTION U/S.10A OF THE ACT IS NOT AVAILABLE OWING TO ABSENCE OF INCOME. THEREFORE, THE ASSESSEE IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR DEDUCTION U/S.10A OF THE ACT. 4. THEREAFTER, ASSESSEE PREFERRED FIRST STATUTORY A PPEAL BEFORE THE LD. CIT(A) WHO DISMISSED THE APPEAL OF THE APPELLANT WI THOUT ANY SUCCESS. 5. NOW APPEAL IS BEFORE US. ITA NO.2336/AHD/2014 DECISIONCRAFT ANALYTICS LTD. (NOW MERGED WITH AUDI ENCE MEASUREMENT AND ANALYTICS PVT. LTD.)VS. CIT(OSD ) ASST.YEAR 2006-07 - 7 - 6. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE RELEVANT RECORD AND IMP UGNED ORDER. SO FAR AS GROUND NO.1, PERTAINING TO REOPENING OF ASSE SSMENT IS CONCERNED. IN THIS CASE, ASSESSMENT ORDER U/S.143(3) WAS PASSE D ON 26-12-2008. NOTICE U/S.148 WAS ISSUED ON 24-03-2011, I.E. WITHI N 4 YEARS FROM THE END OF THE ASSESSMENT YEAR. REASONS FOR RE-OPENING WERE RECORDED AND WERE FURNISHED TO THE APPELLANT. APPELLANT DID NOT RAISE ANY OBJECTION AGAINST THE RE-OPENING. THE CONTENTION OF THE APPEL LANT (THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO FAILURE ON ITS PART, RE-OPENING IS BAD-IN-LA W) IS NOT TENABLE, AS RE- OPENING WAS WITH 4 YEARS FROM THE END OF THE ASSESS MENT YEAR. THEREFORE, WE DO NOT FIND ANY IRREGULARITY OR INFIRMITY IN THE ORDER PASSED BY THE LD. CIT(A). HENCE, THIS GROUND OF APPEAL IS DISMISSED. 7. NOW APPEAL IS BEFORE US. 8. WE HAVE CAREFULLY HEARD THE RIVAL SUBMISSION TH E CENTRAL QUESTION THAT ARISE FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE PRESENT APPEAL IS WHETHER LOSS OF RS. 108,78,359/- FOR A.Y. 2005-06 IN AVAILABLE FOR SET OFF AGAINST THE PROFIT OF THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR OR WHETHER IT IS REQUIRED TO BE SET OFF AGAINST INCOME ARISING FROM UNIT ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFIT OF U/S. 10A OF THE ACT OR NOT. IT IS THE CASE OF THE ASSESSEE THAT ISSUE IS COVERED IN FAVOU R OF THE ASSESSEE BY THE JUDGMENT OF THE HONBLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE O F CIT VS. YOKOGAWA INDIA LTD. IN CIVIL APPEAL NO. 8498 OF 201 3 IN THE LIGHT OF THE CLAIM OF THE ASSESSEE THAT THE ISSUE IS COVERED IN ITS FAVOUR. WE CONSIDER IT EXPEDIENT TO SET ASIDE AND RESTORE THE ISSUE TO THE FILE OF THE A.O. FOR ITA NO.2336/AHD/2014 DECISIONCRAFT ANALYTICS LTD. (NOW MERGED WITH AUDI ENCE MEASUREMENT AND ANALYTICS PVT. LTD.)VS. CIT(OSD ) ASST.YEAR 2006-07 - 8 - REDETERMINATION OF THE ISSUE HAVING REGARD TO THE F ACTS OF THE CASE. IN THE LIGHT OF DECISION OF THE HONBLE SUPREME COURT IN Y OKOGAWA INDIA LTD (SUPRA). 9. IN THE RESULT, THE APPEAL IS ALLOWED FOR STATIST ICAL PURPOSE. THIS ORDER PRONOUNCED IN OPEN COURT ON 31 / 05 /201 8 SD/- SD/- (PRADIP KUMAR KEDIA) ( MAHAVIR PRASAD ) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER AHMEDABAD; DATED 31/05/2018 RAJESH, SR.PS TRUE COPY !'#$ %$' / COPY OF THE ORDER FORWARDED TO : 1. / THE APPELLANT 2. / THE RESPONDENT. 3. & '( ) / CONCERNED CIT 4. ) ( ) / THE CIT(A)-6, AHMEDABAD 5. ,-. //'( , '(# , 12$&$ / DR, ITAT, AHMEDABAD 6. .34 5 / GUARD FILE. & ' / BY ORDER, , / //TRUE COPY// (/' )* ( DY./ASSTT.REGISTRAR) , / ITAT, AHMEDABAD TRUE COPY