DCIT, Circle-14(2), New Delhi V. Kindle Engineering and Construction Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi

ITA 8929/DEL/2019

AI Insights

The case involves an appeal by the Revenue against the order of the CIT(A) which had deleted a penalty imposed on Kindle Engineering & Construction Pvt. Ltd. under section 271G of the Income Tax Act. The penalty was related to the non-furnishing of documentation required under Rule 10D for specified domestic transactions. The Tribunal examined whether the transactions conducted by the assessee exceeded the monetary threshold that would necessitate such documentation and found that they did not. Furthermore, referencing precedents, the Tribunal noted that even if there were delays or non-compliance in furnishing the required documents, penalties may not be imposed if the transactions were accepted as arm's length.

• Counselvise Citation: [2023] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 131081 (ITAT-DELHI)
• Duration Of Justice: 3 year(s) 2 month(s) 8 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 23-01-2023
• Appeal Filed By: Department
• Order Result: Dismissed
• Bench Allotted: I
• Next Hearing Date: 23-11-2022
• Assessment Year: 2015-2016
• Appeal Filed On: 14-11-2019
• Other Referred Cases: Mayar India Limited vs. ITA No.1872/Del/2014, Worlds Window Impex (India) Pvt. Ltd vs. ITA No.3721/Del/20I4, CIT vs Leroy Somer and Controls India Pvt. Ltd. in ITA No. 410/2012, Hindustan Steel Ltd. v/s State of Orissa - [1972] 83 ITR 23 (SC)
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act, Income Tax Rules, 1962
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Keywords: Transfer pricing; International transaction
• Section: 92CA

Judgement Text

Page | 1 IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL DELHI BENCH ‘I’, NEW DELHI Before Dr. B. R. R. Kumar, Accountant Member Sh. Yogesh Kumar US, Judicial Member ITA No. 8929/Del/2019: Asstt. Year : 2015-16 DCIT, Circle-14(2), New Delhi-110002 Vs Kindle Engineering & Construction Pvt. Ltd. 616A, Devika Tower, Nehru Place, New Delhi-110019 (APPELLANT) (RESPONDENT) PAN No. AAECK1635Q Assessee by : None Revenue by : Sh. Shri Bhagwati Charan, Sr. DR Date of Hearing: 24.11.2022 Date of Pronouncement: 24.01.2023 ORDER Per Dr. B. R. R. Kumar, Accountant Member: The present appeal has been filed by the Revenue against the order of ld. CIT(A)-44, New Delhi dated 20.08.2019. 2. The revenue has raised the following grounds of appeal: “1. In the facts and circumstances of the case, whether the ld. CIT(A) was right in deleting the penalty imposed u/s 271G of the Act. 2. In the facts and circumstances of the case, whether the ld. CIT(A) was right in ignoring the fact that there was failure on the part of the assessee in filing the documentation as prescribed in Rule 10D of the Income Tax Rules, 1962 despite several opportunities provided.” Page | 2 3. The relevant provision of the Income Tax Act and facts are as under: Specified Domestic Transactions as defined 92BA of The Income Tax Act: “Meaning of specified domestic transaction 92BA. For the purposes of this section and sections 92, 92C, 92D and 92E, "specified domestic transaction” in case of an assessee means any of the following transactions, not being an international transaction, namely:— (i) any expenditure in respect of which payment has been made or is to be made to a person referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 40A: (ii) any transaction referred to in section 80A: (iii) any transfer of goods or services referred to in sub- section (8) of section 80-1 A: (iv) any business transacted between the assessee and other person as referred to in sub-section (10) of section 80-1 A: (v) any transaction, referred to in any other section under Chapter VI-A or section I0AA, to which provisions of sub-section (8) or sub-section (10) of section 80-1A are applicable; or (Vi) any other transaction as may be prescribed.” and where the aggregate of such transactions entered into by the assessee in the previous year exceeds a sum of five crore rupees. 4. In the instant case the payment for expenditure made to persons referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 40A are as below: Page | 3 Name of Associated Persons/ Enterprises Description of transaction Amount Paid or Payable As per books of Account Arm Length Price Hindustan power projects Private Limited Consultancy Charges 10,531,645 10,531,645 Hindustan Cleanenergy Limited Reimbursement of Expenses 15,479,042 15,479,042 Hindustan EPC Co. Limited Operation and Maintenance charges 16,641,626 16,641,626 Hindustan EPC Co. Limited Reimbursement of Expenses 70,312 70,312 Mr. Salil Bhalla Director Remuneration 311,400 311,400 Total 43,034,025 43,034,025 5. The above stated sum does not exceed the threshold of Rs.5 crores and therefore the provisions of section 92BA are not applicable. 6. In case of Mayar India Limited (ITA No.1872/Del/2014), Delhi Bench of ITAT has observed that though the AO had not pointed out the details of how the information furnished by the Assessee was late and even if Assessee had delayed in filing the information, it was not a fit case for imposition of penalty since Assessee’s international transactions were accepted to be Arm’s length. In case of Worlds Window Impex (India) Pvt. Ltd (ITA No.3721/Del/20I4), Delhi Bench of ITAT had held that based on the documentation provided by the Assessee no adjustment was proposed by the TPO and further the penalty levied for non-furnishing “TP Study Report”, which was not a specified document under Rule 10D in time, was not sustainable even though available before passing of the order. Page | 4 7. The provisions of Section 271G reads as under: “Penalty for failure to furnish information or document under section 92D. 271G. If any person who has entered into an international transaction or specified domestic transaction fails to furnish any such information or document as required by sub-section (3) of section 92D, the Assessing Officer or the Transfer Pricing Officer as referred to in section 92CA or the Commissioner (Appeals) may direct that such person shall pay, by way of penalty, a sum equal to two per cent of the value of the international transaction or specified domestic transaction for each such failure.” 8. The Hon’ble Delhi High Court in the case of CIT vs Leroy Somer and Controls India Pvt. Ltd. in ITA No. 410/2012 dated 30.08.2013 has held that it is sufficient if there is general and substantive compliance of the provisions of Rule 10D. The Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Hindustan Steel Ltd. v/s State of Orissa - [1972] 83 ITR 23 (SC), held as follows:- “Whether penalty should be imposed for failure to perform a statutory obligation is a matter of discretion of the authority to be exercised judicially and on a consideration o al the relevant circumstances. Even if a minimum penalty is prescribed, the authority competent to impose the penalty will be justified in refusing to impose penalty, when there is a technical or venial breach of the provisions.” 9. At the outset, the transactions did not cross threshold prescribed. In accordance with the doctrine of judicial discipline following order of the Co-ordinate Bench of ITAT in the case of CIT v/s Leroy Somer & Controls India Pvt. Page | 5 Ltd. in ITA No. 410/2012 dated 30.08.2013, we decline to interfere with the order of the ld. CIT(A). 10. In the result, the appeal of the Revenue is dismissed. Order Pronounced in the Open Court on 24/01/2023. Sd/- Sd/- (Yogesh Kumar US) (Dr. B. R. R. Kumar) Judicial Member Accountant Member Dated: 24/01/2023 *Subodh Kumar/AK, Sr. PS* Copy forwarded to: 1. Appellant 2. Respondent 3. CIT 4. CIT(Appeals) 5. DR: ITAT ASSISTANT REGISTRAR