M/S. Exmark Projects Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata V. I.T.O., Ward - 11(1), Kolkata, Kolkata

ITA 695/KOL/2022

AI Insights

The case involves M/s Exmark Projects Pvt. Ltd., the appellant, contesting an order from the National Faceless Appeal Centre (CIT(A)), which upheld a disallowance made by the Assessing Officer under Section 14A of the Income Tax Act. The disallowance pertained to expenses incurred in relation to income which does not form part of the total income under the Act. The appellant argued that no tax-exempt income was earned during the relevant assessment year, 2015-16, and cited several High Court decisions supporting their stance. The respondent, ITO, Ward-11(1), Kolkata, relied on the newly inserted explanations to Section 14A, arguing for a retrospective application. The Tribunal, referencing a decision from the Hon'ble Delhi High Court, sided with the appellant, emphasizing the prospective application of the explanation to Section 14A.

• Counselvise Citation: [2023] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 128136 (ITAT-KOLKATA)
• Duration Of Justice: 2 month(s) 16 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 22-02-2023
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: SMC
• Next Hearing Date: 22-02-2023
• Assessment Year: 2015-2016
• Appeal Filed On: 06-12-2022
• Other Referred Cases: Cheminvest Ltd. vs. CIT, CIT vs. M/s. Holcim India Pvt. Ltd., CIT v. Shivam Motors (P.) Ltd., CIT vs. Ashika Global Securities Ltd., ACIT vs. Williamson Financial Services Ltd., PCIT Vs. Era Infrastructure (India) Ltd.
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Keywords: Earning of tax free income
• Section: 14A; 250

Judgement Text

आयकर अपीलȣय अͬधकरण, कोलकाता पीठ ‘एसएमसी’, कोलकाता IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL “SMC” BENCH KOLKATA Įी संजय गग[, ÛयाǓयक सदèय एवं Įी मनीष बोरड, लेखा सदèय के सम¢ Before Shri Sanjay Garg, Judicial Member and Dr. Manish Borad, Accountant Member I.T.A No.695/Kol/2022 Assessment year: 2015-16 M/s Exmark Projects Pvt. Ltd.......................................................Appellant P-51, Block B, Bangur Avenue, Kolkata-700055. [PAN: AABCE5413F] vs. ITO, Ward-11(1), Kolkata..................................................................Respondent Appearances by: Shri Sunil Surana, AR, appeared on behalf of the appellant. Smt. Ranu Biswas, Addl. CIT-DR, appeared on behalf of the Respondent. Date of concluding the hearing : February 23, 2023 Date of pronouncing the order : February 23, 2023 आदेश / ORDER संजय गग[, ÛयाǓयक सदèय ɮवारा / Per Sanjay Garg, Judicial Member: The present appeal has been preferred by the assessee against the order dated 30.11.2022 of the National Faceless Appeal Centre [hereinafter referred to as the ‘CIT(A)’] passed u/s 250 of the Income Tax Act (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Act’). 2. The sole grievance raised by the assessee in this appeal is relating to the action of the ld. CIT(A) in disallowing a sum of Rs.14,42,054/- made by the Assessing Officer by invoking the provisions of section u/s 14A of the Act. I.T.A No.695/Kol/2022 Assessment year: 2015-16 M/s Exmark Projects Pvt. Ltd 2 3. The ld. AR of the assessee has submitted that the assessee did not earn any tax exempt income during the year under consideration. He, in this respect, has relied upon the following case laws: Cheminvest Ltd. vs. CIT 378 ITR 33 (Del). CIT vs. M/s. Holcim India Pvt. Ltd. in ITA no. 486/2014 and ITA no. 299/2014; Judgment dt. 5-9-2014 CIT v. Shivam Motors (P.) Ltd. [2015] 230 Taxman 63 CIT vs. Ashika Global Securities Ltd. (G.A. No. 2122 of 2014) dt. 11/06/2018 In these case laws, Hon’ble High Courts have been unanimous to hold that where the assessee has not derived any tax exempt income from investments, then no disallowance is attracted u/s 14A of the Act. 4. The ld. D/R, however, has relied upon the newly inserted explanations to Section 14A of the Act, which is extracted for the sake of ready reference:- “14A. [(1)] [Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, for the purposes of] computing the total income under this Chapter, no deduction shall be allowed in respect of expenditure incurred by the assessee in relation to income which does not form part of the total income under this Act.] ************************ *********************** [Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, the provisions of this section shall apply and shall be deemed to have always applied in a case where the income, not forming part of the total income under this Act, has not accrued or arisen or has not been received during the previous year relevant to an assessment year and the expenditure has been incurred during the said previous year in relation to such income not forming part of the total income.]” I.T.A No.695/Kol/2022 Assessment year: 2015-16 M/s Exmark Projects Pvt. Ltd 3 The ld. D/R has further relied on the decision of the Co-ordinate Bench of ITAT Guwahati in the case of ACIT vs. Williamson Financial Services Ltd. reported in [2022] 140 taxmann.com 164 (Guwahati - Trib.). (Judicial Member herein being party to the said decision), to submit that the said explanation to Section 14A of the Act is retrospectively applicable. 5. However, the ld. A/R, has relied upon the recent decision of the Hon’ble Delhi High Court in the case of PCIT Vs. Era Infrastructure (India) Ltd. (ITA 204/2022) judgment dt. 20/07/2022, wherein, it has been held that the aforesaid explanation inserted to Section 14A of the Act is applicable prospectively. 6. Respectfully abiding by the principle of judicial hierarchy, the Hon’ble Delhi High Court being a Higher Court, and as no decision of the Hon’ble Jurisdictional High Court or Hon’ble Supreme Court is available on this issue as yet, hence applying the said decision of the Hon’ble Delhi High Court, we allow the appeal of the assessee. 6. In the result, the appeal of the stands allowed. Kolkata, the 23 rd February, 2023. Sd/- Sd/- [डॉÈटर मनीष बोरड /Dr. Manish Borad] [संजय गग[ /Sanjay Garg] लेखा सदèय /Accountant Member ÛयाǓयक सदèय /Judicial Member Dated: 23.02.2023. RS Copy of the order forwarded to: 1. M/s Exmark Projects Pvt. Ltd 2. ITO, Ward-11(1), Kolkata 3. CIT(A)- 4. CIT- , 5. CIT(DR), I.T.A No.695/Kol/2022 Assessment year: 2015-16 M/s Exmark Projects Pvt. Ltd 4 //True copy// By order Assistant Registrar, Kolkata Benches