ACIT Circle-11(1), New Delhi V. HCL Infotech Ltd, New Delhi

ITA 7267/DEL/2019

AI Insights

The case involves HCL Infotech Ltd., which appealed against the order of the CIT(A)-4, New Delhi, concerning the assessment year 2014-15. The primary issue was the denial of interest on a delayed TDS refund under Section 244A of the Income Tax Act. The Revenue contended that the delay was due to the assessee's failure to claim TDS in the revised return. However, the CIT(A) found that the assessee had promptly reported the technical error to the CPC Bangalore and the Assessing Officer, and thus was entitled to the interest on the delayed refund.

• Counselvise Citation: [2023] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 129209 (ITAT-DELHI)
• Duration Of Justice: 4 year(s) 13 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 14-09-2023
• Appeal Filed By: Department
• Order Result: Dismissed
• Bench Allotted: B
• Next Hearing Date: 12-09-2023
• Assessment Year: 2014-2015
• Appeal Filed On: 01-09-2019
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Assessee Lawyers: ROHIT JAIN
• Keywords: Rectification of order; Revised return; TDS
• Section: 154; 143(3); 244A

Judgement Text

ITA No.-7267/Del/2019 HCL Infotech Ltd. Page 1 of 4 IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL (DELHI BENCH: ‘B’: NEW DELHI) BEFORE SHRI N.K. BILLAIYA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER AND SHRI ANUBHAV SHARMA JUDICIAL MEMBER ITA No:- 7267/Del/2019 ( Assessment Year: 2014-15) ACIT, Circle-11 (1), New Delhi. Vs. M/s HCL Infotech Ltd., New Delhi. PAN No: AADCH0305F APPELLANT RESPONDENT Revenue by : Shri Vivek Kumar Upadhyay Sr. DR Assessee by : Shri Rohit Jain, Adv and Shri Hardeep Singh Chawla, Adv. Date of Hearing : 13.09.2023 Date of Pronouncement : 15.09.2023 ORDER PER N.K. BILLAIYA, AM This appeal by the Revenue is preferred against the order of the CIT(A)-4, New Delhi, dated 06.06.2019 pertaining to AY 2014-15. 2. The short grievance of the Revenue is that the CIT(A) erred in allowing interest U/s 244A of the Act, ignoring the facts that the refund was delayed for reasons attributable to the assessee as no claim of TDS was made in the revised return of income. ITA No.-7267/Del/2019 HCL Infotech Ltd. Page 2 of 4 3. Briefly stated the facts of the case are that the assessee filed its original return of income on 30.11.2014 claiming TDS of Rs. 15,38,86,689/-. The said return was revised and the revised return of TDS was made at Rs. 25,63,61,108/-. Though the claim of TDS was made properly but due to some technical error, the same could not be reflected in the return of income at the appropriate section. 4. Realizing the technical error, the assessee immediately filed a complaint with CPC Bangalore on 04.04.2016, pointing out that the claim of TDS is not appearing in ITR whereas it is reflecting in XML file. 5. On 06.04.2016, the assessee also wrote a letter to the Assessing Officer which reads as under: ITA No.-7267/Del/2019 HCL Infotech Ltd. Page 3 of 4 6. In the assessment order dated Nil framed U/s 143(3) of the Act, the AO disallowed the claim of the TDS of Rs. 1,47,50,225/- claimed on deferred revenue but allowed credit for prepaid taxes. On these undisputed facts, it cannot be said that the delay was due to some fault of the assessee and on the given facts, the following findings of the CIT(A) cannot be faulted with: “6.1.1 I have considered the facts of the case and position of law. In the present case, vide rectification order passed under section 154 of the Act, assessee was granted credit of TDS amounting to Rs.23,17,39,850/-. However, while computing the refund amount, the AO did not provide the interest under section 244A of the Act. 6.1.2 in this regard, the assessee filed appeal before this office claiming that interest under section 244A of the Act. 6.1.3. I have considered the rectification order passed as per the rectification order, there is no clear discussion on how the lapse is attributable to the assessee with regard to claim of interest under section 244A. From the submission made by the appellant as reproduced above, it is clear that appellant is entitled to interest under section 244A of the Act. The appellant has promptly lodged a complaint with CPC and AO about non-appearance of TDS in the acknowledgment of I.T.R. Therefore, in view of the facts, the assessee is entitled to interest under section 244A of the Act as there is nothing on record, which proves that the interest should have been withheld on account of lapse on the part of assessee. In light of same, the AO is instructed to consider the claim of the assessee of interest under section 244A of the Act and pass the necessary appeal effect orders. The ground is treated as allowed.” 7. Since no error and infirmity is found in the aforementioned findings of the CIT(A), the appeal of the Revenue is dismissed. Order pronounced in the Open Court on 15.09.2023 Sd/- Sd/- (ANUBHAV SHARMA) (N.K. BILLAIYA) JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER Dated: 15/09/2023. Pooja/- ITA No.-7267/Del/2019 HCL Infotech Ltd. Page 4 of 4 Copy forwarded to: 1. Appellant 2. Respondent 3. CIT 4. CIT(Appeals) 5. DR: ITAT ASSISTANT REGISTRAR ITAT NEW DELHI Date of dictation 13.09.23 Date on which the typed draft is placed before the dictating Member Date on which the typed draft is placed before the Other Member Date on which the approved draft comes to the Sr. PS/PS Date on which the fair order is placed before the Dictating Member for pronouncement Date on which the fair order comes back to the Sr. PS/PS Date on which the final order is uploaded on the website of ITAT Date on which the file goes to the Bench Clerk Date on which the file goes to the Head Clerk The date on which the file goes to the Assistant Registrar for signature on the order Date of dispatch of the Order