S. MANSUHLAL & CO., MUMBAI V. DCIT 14(2), MUMBAI

ITA 248/MUM/2015

• Counselvise Citation: [2016] 131 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 2067 (ITAT-MUMBAI)
• Duration Of Justice: 1 year(s) 9 month(s) 26 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 04-11-2016
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Bench Allotted: H
• Next Hearing Date: 07-10-2016
• Assessment Year: 2001-2002
• Appeal Filed On: 09-01-2015
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: KUSUM BA NSAL
• Section: 80HHC

Judgement Text

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL H , BENCH MUMBAI BEFORE: SHRI R.C.SHARMA, AM & SHRI PAWAN SINGH , JM ITA NO. 248/MUM/2015 ( ASSESSMENT YEAR : 200 1 - 200 2 ) M/S. S.MANSUKHLAL & CO., P.O.BOX NO.2366, RUIA BUILDING, 395, KALBADEVI ROAD MUMBAI 40 0002 VS. DCIT 14(2), MUMBAI - 21 PAN/GIR NO. : AAHFS9459 A ( APPELLANT ) .. ( RESPONDENT ) ASSESSEE BY : SHRI. RAJAN VORA REVENUE BY : SMT. KUSUM BANSAL DATE OF HEARING : 07 / 10 /2016 D ATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT : 04 / 11 /2016 / O R D E R PER R.C.SHARMA (A.M) : THIS IS AN APPEAL FILED BY THE ASSESSEE AGAINST THE ORDER OF CIT(A) FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2001 - 2002. 2. THE ONLY GRIEVANCE OF THE ASSESSEE RELATE TO COMPUTATION OF DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 80 HHC IN RESPECT OF ASSESSEE BEING A TRADER EXPORTER. 3. RIVAL CONTENTIONS HAVE BEEN HEARD AND RECORD PERUSED. 4. THE FACTS IN BRIEF ARE THAT THE ASSESSEE IS ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF IMPORT AND EXPORT OF MERCHANDISE AND THEREBY IS A N EXPORT TRADER. DURING THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION, THE ASSESSEE HAD EXPORTED 100% OF ITS MERCHANDISE AND CLAIMED DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 80HHC OF THE ACT AND ON SALE OF DEPB FREE REPLENISHMENT CERTIFICATE (DFRC) AND DUTY DRAWBACK. IN THE ORIGINAL 2 ITA NO. 24 8(MUM ) 2015 (A.Y.2001 - 2002) S.MANSUKHLAL & CO., VS. DCIT ASSESSMENT, THE AO DENIED THE DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 80HHC ON AFORESAID INCOME. THE MATTER PERTAINING TO ASSESSEES OWN CASE ON THE ISSUE OF ELIGIBILITY OF DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 80HHC ON DEPB/DFRC, A SPECIAL BENCH WAS CONSTITUTED (WHICH DECIDED MATTER IN FAVOUR OF ASSESSEE). ON FUR THER APPEAL BY DEPARTMENT TO HIGH COURT, THE ORDER OF SPECIAL BENCH WAS REVERSED BY HIGH COURT. FINALLY, THE MATTER TRAVELLED UPTO SUPREME COURT AND THE SUPREME COURT IN CASE OF TOPMAN EXPORTS (342 ITR 49) ALONGWITH THE ASSESSEES CASE APPROVING THE SPECIA L BENCH RULING AND DECIDED THE ISSUE IN THE ASSESSEES FAVOUR. 5. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ORDER OF THE HONBLE SUPREME COURT AND THE RELEVANT ORDER OF THE HIGH COURT AND THE SPECIAL BENCH. THE MAIN CONTROVERSY BEFORE SPECIAL BENCH / HIGH COURT / SUPREME C OURT, WAS WHETHER EXPORT INCENTIVE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR DEDUCTION FOR 80 HHC AND WHAT IS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR PRO RATA REDUCTION, IS ONLY PROFIT(I.E., SALE PRICE LESS FACE VALUE) OF THE SCRIPTS (I.E. EXPORT INCENTIVE) AND / OR WHOLE OF THE EXPORT INCENTIVE. THE HONBLE SUPREME COURT WHILE RULING IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSEE IN ITS ORDER HELD THAT THE FACE VALUE OF EXPORT INCENTIVE IS COST RECOVERED BY THE EXPORTER WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 80HHC OF THE ACT. HOWEVER, WHILE GIVING EFFECT TO THE SUPREME COURT DECISION (SUPRA), ORDER GIVING EFFECT ORDER (OGE) WAS PASSED BY THE AO WHEREIN THE AO DID NOT FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES LAID DOWN IN SUPREME COURTS DECISION. THE SAID ORDER WAS CHALLENGED BY THE ASSESSEE BEFORE THE CIT(A) WITH RESPECT TO THE W ORKING DONE BY THE AO . THE CIT(A) DISMISSED THE 3 ITA NO. 24 8(MUM ) 2015 (A.Y.2001 - 2002) S.MANSUKHLAL & CO., VS. DCIT APPEAL FILED BY THE ASSESSEE AND UPHELD THE WORKING OF THE AO UNDER WRONG APPRECIATION OF FACTS AND ON THE WRONG ASSUMPTION THAT IN THE PRESENT CASE ASSESSEE HAS CLAIMED DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 80HHC, ON ITEM S OF INCOME, OTHER THAN DEPB AND DFRC, AND SUCH DEDUCTIONS CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO THE ASSESSEE. AGAINST THE ABOVE ORDER OF CIT(A), ASSESSEE IS IN FURTHER APPEAL BEFORE US. 6. WE HAVE CONSIDERED RIVAL CONTENTIONS AND THE JUDICIAL PRONOUNCEMENTS LAID DOWN BY T HE HONBLE SUPREME COURT WHEREIN FORMULA TO WORK OUT DEDUCTION ALLOWABLE TO TRADER EXPORT HAS BEEN GIVEN. IN THE INSTANT CASE, THE AMOUNT OF DEDUCTION CALCULATED UNDER SECTION 80HHC BY THE AO AMOUNTS TO RS.1,36,97,383 AS AGAINST CORRECT AMOUNT OF DEDUCTION OF RS.1,58,2 9,291 / - . THE WORKING OF THE AO VIS - A - VIS OF THE CORRECT WORKING AS PER FORMULA IS AS UNDER: - AOS WORKING CORRECT WORKING PARTICULARS AMOUNT AMOUNT TOTAL EXPORTS (EXCLUDING INCENTIVE) 14,80,20,213 14,80,20,213 LESS: 1) COST OF GOODS SOLD 12,21,28,356 12,21,28,356 2) DIRECT EXPENSES 1,83,18,230 1,83,18,230 3) INDIRECT EXPENSES 5 8 ,68,288 58,68/288 LESS: 10% OF EXPORT INCENTIVE & INCOME FROM OTHER SOURCES ATTRIBUTED TO INDIRECT EXPENSES (16,25,6 6 9) 42,42,619 (16,25,669) 42,42,619 4 ITA NO. 24 8(MUM ) 2015 (A.Y.2001 - 2002) S.MANSUKHLAL & CO., VS. DCIT TOT AL COST 14,46,89,205 14,46,89,205 PROFIT FROM EXPORT OF TRADING OF GOODS 33,31,008 33,31 ,008 ADD: EFFC INTEREST* 21,41,780 (INCORRECT FIGURE) 18,24,589 (CORRECT FIGURE) ADD: EXPORT INCENTIVES (90% OF FACE VALUE OF EXPORT INCENTIVES)** 1,22,57,93 6 (INCORRECT FIGURE)( REFER NOTE 2) 1,40,36,265 (CORRECT FIGURE ( REFER PARA 11 ) ADD: PROFIT ( 90% OF SALE VALUE LESS FACE VALUE OF EXPORT INCENTIVE I.E. PROFIT ON SALE OF EXPORT INCENTIVE) - 5,94,752 LESS: 90% OF THE PROFIT OF RS.6,65,551/ - ON TRANSFER OF DEPB UNDER CLAUSE (IIID) OF THE ACT*** (5,98,995) TOTAL PROFIT ELIGIBLE FOR 80HHC 1,71,12,729 1,97,86,614 ELIGIBLE DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 80HHC 80% 1,36,97,383 1,58,29,291*** 7. WE FOUND THAT AO HAS TAKEN FIGURE TOTAL OF INTEREST (WHICH IN CLUDES INTEREST ON EFFC ACCOUNT OF RS.18,24,589 AND INTEREST ON OTHER ACCOUNT AS WELL). THE HONBLE ITAT IN THE FIRST ROUND OF LITIGATION HAS HELD THAT ONLY INTEREST ON EFFC ACCOUNT IS ELIGIBLE FOR DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 80HHC OF THE ACT (ON THE PRINCIPLE OF NETTING OFF) (ORDER FOR AY 2001 - 02 IN ITA NO.851/MUM/2004 DATED 12 TH DECEMBER 2007). 5 ITA NO. 24 8(MUM ) 2015 (A.Y.2001 - 2002) S.MANSUKHLAL & CO., VS. DCIT 8. FROM THE RECORD WE ALSO FOUND THAT DURING THE YEAR THE ASSESSEE HAD TRANSFERRED THE FOLLOWING EXPORT INCENTIVES. PARTICULARS FACE VALUE(RS.) SALE VALUE INCLUSIVE OF SALES TAX (RS.) DUTY DRAWBACK 31,06,507 31,06,507 EXCISE DUTY REFUND 9,140 9,140 LICENCE PREMIUM DEPB 1,04,93,171 1,17,56,322 LICENCE PREMIUM - SIL 2,40,45,627 88,969 LICENCE PREMIUM DEEC 97,84,283 11,98,126 EXPORT LICENCE PREMIUM QUOTA 97,622 9 7,622 TOTAL INCENTIVE 4,75,36,350 RS.1,62,56,686 9. IT INCLUDES THE PROFIT OF RS.6,60,835 ON SALE OF EXPORT INCENTIVE & SALES TAX OF RS.6,02,316. THEREFORE, TOTAL COST WOULD BE 155,95,851 (I.E. RS.1,62,56,686 LESS RS. 6,60,835) AND 90% OF THE SAME WOULD BE 1,40,36,265/ - . 10. WE ALSO FOUND THAT IN ASSESSEES OWN CASE, THE ISSUE HAS BEEN CONSIDERED BY TRIBUNAL IN THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2003 - 2004 VIDE ORDER DATED 19/09/2006, WHEREIN APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE WAS ALLOWED AND THE REVISED WORKING FOR COMPUTATION OF D EDUCTION BASED ON WORKING THE FOLLOWING RATIO LAID DOWN BY HONBLE SUPREME COURT IN TOPMAN EXPORTS WAS ACCEPTED. 10. THE PRECISE OBSERVATION OF THE TRIBUNAL IN ITS ORDER DATED 19/09/2016 WAS AS UNDER: - 7. I HAVE GONE THROUGH THE FACTS OF THE CASE AND HEARD BOTH THE SIDES. I FIND FROM THE FACTS OF THE CASE THAT THE AO WHILE GIVING EFFECT TO THE DECISION OF HONBLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF TOPMAN EXPORTS(SUPRA), HE HAS NOT FOLLOWED THE 6 ITA NO. 24 8(MUM ) 2015 (A.Y.2001 - 2002) S.MANSUKHLAL & CO., VS. DCIT DIRECTIONS. IN THIS CASE I FIND FROM THE FACTS OF THE CASE THAT THERE IS LOSS ON SALE OF EXPORT INCENTIVES AS IS CLEAR FROM THE COMPARATIVE CHART REPRODUCED ABOVE. ACCORDING TO MU UNDERSTANDING OF THE DECISION OF HONBLE SUPREME COURT WHERE THERE IS A LOSS, AND NOT PROFIT, ON SALE OF EXPORT INCENTIVE, THERE WAS NO REQUIREMEN T OF REDUCING ANY POTION OF SUCH LOSS WHILE COMPUTING DEDUCTION U/S 80HHC OF THE ACT. FACE VALUE OF EXPORT INCENTIVE WILL BE ADDED UNDER FIRST PROVISO TO SECTION 80HHC OF THE ACT TO THE PROFIT AS FACE VALUE OF DEPB/DFRC WOULD GET COVERED UNDER SECTION 28(I IIB) OF THE ACT. SECONDLY, ONLY PROFIT ON SALE OF DEPB/DFRC WOULD BE COVERED UNDER SECTION 80HHC (3) OF THE ACT AND 90% OF SUCH PROFIT WOULD BE 7 ITA NO. 247/MUM/2015 (ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2003 - 04) ELIGIBLE TO BE ADDED TO THIS PROFIT AS PER THIRD PROVISO TO SE CTION 80HHC OF THE ACT. THE ASSESSEE HAS SUBMITTED A WORKING CLAIMING DEDUCTION AT RS. 21,53,625/ - AS AGAINST SUBMITTED BEFORE THE LOWER AUTHORITIES CLAIMING AT RS.19,17,630/ - . THESE FIGURES NEED VERIFICATION AT THE LEVEL OF THE AO. HOWEVER, THE CLAIM OF A SSESSEE IS ALLOWABLE, AS THE ASSESSEE HAS INCURRED A LOSS ON SALE OF EXPORT INCENTIVE AND HENCE NO AMOUNT IS TO BE EXCLUDED WHILE CALCULATING DEDUCTION IN TERM OF SECTION 80HHC THIRD PROVISO. HENCE, I DIRECT THE ASSESSING OFFICER, AS IN THE PRESENT CASE TH ERE IS A LOSS, WHERE THERE IS A LOSS (AND NOT PROFIT) ON SALE OF EXPORT INCENTIVES, NO LOSS CAN BE REDUCED WHILE COMPUTING DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 80HHC OF THE ACT. I DIRECT THE ASSESSING OFFICER ACCORDINGLY. 11. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE DISCUSSION AND RESPECT FULLY FOLLOWING THE ORDER OF THE TRIBUNAL, WE DIRECT THE AO TO ALLOW DEDUCTION OF RS.1,58,29,291 U/S. 80HHC AS CORRECTLY WORKED OUT BY US HEREINABOVE. 12. IN THE RESULT APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE IS ALLOWED. ORDER PRONOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT ON THIS 04/11 / 2016. SD/ - ( PAWAN SINGH ) SD/ - (R.C.SHARMA) / JUDICIAL MEMBER / ACCOUNTANT MEMBER MUMBAI ; DATED 04/11 /2016 KARUNA , SR. PS 7 ITA NO. 24 8(MUM ) 2015 (A.Y.2001 - 2002) S.MANSUKHLAL & CO., VS. DCIT / COPY OF THE ORDER FORWARDED TO : / BY ORDER, / ( ASSTT. REGISTRAR) , / ITAT, MUMBAI 1. / THE APPELLANT 2. / THE RESPONDENT. 3. ( ) / THE CIT(A), MUMBAI. 4. / CIT 5. , , / DR, ITAT, MUMBAI 6. / GUARD FILE. //TRUE C OPY//