Crustum Products Private Limited , Hyderabad V. Dy. Commissioner of Income Tax , Circle-1(2), Hyderabad

ITA 946/Hyd/2019

• Counselvise Citation: [2021] 109 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 8776 (ITAT-HYDERABAD)
• Duration Of Justice: 1 year(s) 7 month(s) 2 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 06-01-2021
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Partly Allowed
• Bench Allotted: DB-B
• Assessment Year: 2013-2014
• Appeal Filed On: 04-06-2019
• Result in Favour of: Partly Allowed
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Assessee Lawyers: P MURALI MOHANA RAO
• Keywords: Proportionate interest; Capital expenditure; TDS
• Section: 143(3); 115JB; 37(1)

Judgement Text

1 IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL HYDERABAD BENCH B, HYDERABAD (THROUGH VIRTUAL HEARING) BEFORE SMT. P. MADHAVI DEVI, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND SHRI A. MOHAN ALANKAMONY, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER ITA NO. 946/HYD/2019 ASSESSMENT YEAR:2013 - 14 CRUSTUM PRODUCTS PRIVATE LIMITED, HYDERABAD. PAN: AACCC 5920 C VS. DY. CIT, CIRCLE - 1(2), HYDERABAD. (APPELLANT) (RESPONDENT) ASSESSEE BY: SHRI P. MURALI MOHANA RAO REVENUE BY: SHRI ROHIT MUJUMDAR, DR DATE OF HEARING: 16/12/2020 DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT: 06 /01/2021 ORDER PER A. MOHAN ALANKAMONY, AM.: THIS APPEAL IS FILED BY THE ASSESSEE AGAINST THE ORDER OF THE LD. CIT (A) - 1, HYDERABAD IN APPEAL NO. 0002/CIT(A) - 1, HYD/2016 - 17/2018 - 19, DATED 29/08/2018 PASSED U/S. 143(3) R.W.S 250(6) OF THE ACT FOR THE AY: 2013 - 14. 2. THE ASSESSEE HAS RAISED SIX GROUNDS IN ITS APPEAL HOWEVER, THE CRUXES OF THE ISSUES ARE THAT: - (I) THE LD. CIT (A) HAS ERRED IN UPHOLDING THE ORDER OF THE LD. AO WHO HAD MADE AN ADDITION OF RS. 15,61,749/ - TOWARDS 2 PROPORTIONATE INTEREST ON INTEREST FREE ADVANCES EXTENDED U/S. 36(1)(III) OF THE ACT. (II) THE LD. CIT (A) HAS ERRED IN UPHOLDING THE ORDER OF THE LD. AO WHO HAD MADE AN ADDITION OF RS. 2,73,183/ - BEING THE DISALLOWANCE OF INTEREST PAID ON LATE PAYMENT OF TDS RS. 1,19,167/ - AND THE PENALTY LEVIED THEREON AMOUNTING TO RS. 1,54,016/ - INVOKING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 37(1) OF THE ACT. 3. THE BRIEF FACTS OF THE CASE ARE THAT THE ASSESSEE IS A PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF MANUFACTURING AND SELLING THE PRODUCTS OF BREAD S TALK , FILED ITS RETURN OF INCOME FOR THE AY 2013 - 14 ON 28/09/2013 ADMITTING TOTAL LOSS OF RS. 1,39,15,934/ - UNDER NORMAL PROVISIONS AND BOOK LOSS OF RS. 1,72,74,712/ - U/S. 115JB OF THE ACT. INITIALLY THE RETURN WAS PROCESSED U/S. 143(3) OF THE ACT AND THE REAFTER, THE CASE WAS SELECTED FOR SCRUTINY UNDER CASS AND THE ASSESSMENT WAS COMPLETED ON 24/3/2016 U/S. 143(3) OF THE ACT WHEREIN THE LD. AO MADE ADDITION OF RS. 15,61,749/ - BEING THE DISALLOWANCE OF PROPORTIONATE INTEREST TOWARDS INTEREST FREE ADVANCES U/S. 36(1)(III) OF THE ACT AND RS. 2,73,183/ - BEING THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF INTEREST AND PENALTY PAID TOWARDS LATE PAYMENT OF TDS U/S. 37(1) OF THE ACT. ON APPEAL, THE LD. CIT (A) CONFIRMED THE ORDER OF THE LD. AO. 3 4. GROUND NO.(I): DISALLOWANCE OF PROPOR TIONATE INTEREST ON INTEREST FREE ADVANCES AMOUNTING TO RS. 15,61,749/ - U/S. 36(1)(III) OF THE ACT. 5. DURING THE COURSE OF SCRUTINY ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS, IT WAS OBSERVED BY THE LD. AO THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD EXTENDED INTEREST FREE ADVANCE TO ITS SISTER CONCERNS AGGREGATING TO RS. 7,81,85,990/ - . THE LD. AO OPINED THAT THE PROPORTIONATE INTEREST ON THE INTEREST FREE LOAN EXTEN DED HAS TO BE DISALLOWED AS PER SECTION 36(1)(III) OF THE ACT. THE LD. AO RELIED ON VARIOUS DECISIONS RENDERED BY HIGHER JUDICIARY WHILE ARRIVING AT SUCH DECISION. ACCORDINGLY, HE WORKED OUT THE DISALLOWANCE AT RS. 15,61,749/ - AND ADDED TO THE INCOME OF T HE ASSESSEE. ON APPEAL, THE LD. CIT (A) CONFIRMED THE ORDER OF THE LD. AO BY AGREEING WITH HIS VIEW. 6. AT THE OUTSET, THE LD. AR SUBMITTED BEFORE US THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD OWN FUNDS IN THE FORM OF CAPITAL AND RESERVES WHICH IS MORE THAN THE AMOUNT ADVANCE D TO ITS SISTER CONCERNS AS INTEREST FREE LOANS. THE LD. AR FURTHER SUBMITTED THAT , SINCE THE OWN FUND OF THE ASSESSEE WAS NON - INTEREST - BEARING , ADDITION CANNOT BE MADE INVOKING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 36(1)(III) OF THE ACT FOR EXTENDING INTEREST FREE L OANS FROM SUCH FUND TO ITS SISTER CONCERNS. IT WAS THEREFORE PLEADED THAT THE ADDITION MADE MAY BE DELETED. THE LD. DR ON THE OTHER HAND VEHEMENTLY ARGUED IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDERS OF THE LD. REVENUE AUTHORITIES AND PRAYED FOR CONFIRMING THE SAME. 4 7. WE HAVE HEARD THE RIVAL SUBMISSIONS AND CAREFULLY PERUSED THE MATERIALS ON RECORD. ON PERUSING THE BALANCE SHEET OF THE ASSESSEE, WE FIND THAT ASSESSEE COMPANYS PAID - UP EQUITY SHARE IS RS. 4 CRS AND TOTAL NET RESERVES AND SURPLUS IS RS. ( - ) 1,57,10,956/ - AS ON 31/3/2013 (PAPER BOOK PAGE NO.43). THUS, THE CAPITAL OF THE ASSESSEE COMPANY HAS ERODED TO RS. 2,42,89,044/ - (400,00,000 1,57,10,956) . HENCE, THE INTEREST FREE FUND OWNED BY THE ASSESSEE AS ON 31/3/2013 IS ONLY RS. 2,42,89,044/ - . THEREFORE, THE CLAIM OF THE LD. AR THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD EXTENDED INTEREST FREE LOAN OUT OF ITS NON - INTEREST - BEARING FUND IS ONLY PARTIALLY CORRECT . AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS ALSO OBVIOUS THAT THE LD. AO HAS NOT CONSIDERED THE INTEREST FREE FUND AVAILABLE WITH THE ASSESSEE DURING THE PERIOD OF INTEREST FREE LOAN EXTENDED TO ITS SISTER CONCERN. NEEDLESS TO MENTION THAT ADDITION CANNOT BE MADE IN THE HANDS OF THE ASSESSEE U/S. 36(1)(III) OF THE ACT FOR EXTENDING INTEREST FREE LOAN FROM ITS NON - INTEREST - BEARI NG FUND. THEREFORE, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE, WE HEREBY REMIT THE MATTER BACK TO THE FILE OF THE LD. AO TO COMPUTE THE PROPORTIONATE INTEREST WITH RESPECT TO THE INTEREST - BEARING FUND EXTENDED TO THE ASSESSEES SISTER CONCERN AND THEREAFTER PASS APPROPRI ATE ORDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW AND MERIT BASED ON OUR OBSERVATIONS MENTIONED HEREIN ABOVE. 8. GROUND NO.(II): DISALLOWANCE OF INTEREST TOWARDS LATE PAYMENT OF TDS RS. 1,19,167/ - ON PENALTY OF RS. 1,54,016/ - U/S. 37(1) OF THE ACT. 5 9. FROM THE FACTS OF THE CASE, IT IS APPARENT THAT THE LD. REVENUE AUTHORITIES HAVE DISALLOWED THE INTEREST AND PENALTY PAID BY THE ASSESSEE TOWARDS LATE PAYMENT OF TDS AGGREGATING TO RS.2,73,183/ - BY INVOKING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 37(1) OF THE ACT. PROVISIONS OF SECTION 37(1 ) OF THE ACT IS REPRODUCED HEREIN BELOW FOR REFERENCE: - SECTION 37(1): - ANY EXPENDITURE (NOT BEING EXPENDITURE OF THE NATURE DESCRIBED IN SECTION 30 TO 36 AND NOT BEING IN THE NATURE OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE OR PERSONAL EXPENSES OF THE ASSESSEE), LAID OUT OR EXPENDED WHOLLY AND EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE BUSINESS OR PR OFESSION SHALL BE ALLOWED IN COMPUTING THE INCOME CHARGEABLE UNDER THE HEAD PROFITS AND GAINS OF BUSINESS OR PROFESSION. [(EXPLANATION - 1)] FOR THE REMOVAL OF DOUBTS, IT IS HEREBY DECLARED THAT ANY EXPENDITURE INCURRED BY AN ASSESSEE FOR ANY PURPOSE WHI CH IS AN OFFENCE OR WHICH IS PROHIBITED BY LAW SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN INCURRED FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUSINESS OR PROFESSION AND NO DEDUCTION OR ALLOWANCE SHALL BE MADE IN RESPECT OF SUCH EXPENDITURE.] 10. FROM THE ABOVE IT IS APPARENT, THAT ANY EXPENDITURE INCURRED BY THE ASSESSEE FOR ANY PURPOSE WHICH IS AN OFFENCE OR WHICH IS PROHIBITED BY LAW SHALL NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE CLAIMED AS DEDUCTION. IN THE CASE OF THE ASSESSEE, THE LATE PAYMENT OF TDS AND THE PE NALTY LEVIED TOWARDS THE LATE PAYMENT OF TDS CANNOT BE TREATED AS AN OFFENCE OR AN ACT PROHIBITED BY LAW. THESE ARE ONLY DAMAGES THRUST ON THE ASSESSEE FOR NON - PAYMENT OF DUES TO THE REVENUE WITHIN THE STIPULATED PERIOD PROVIDED UNDER THE ACT. THEREFORE, THE LD. REVENUE AUTHORITIES HAS ERRED IN INVOKING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 37(1) OF THE ACT IN THE CASE OF THE ASSESSEE. HENCE, WE HEREBY DIRECT THE LD. AO TO DELETE THE ADDITION MADE OF RS. 2,73,183/ - IN THE HANDS OF THE ASSESSEE TOWARDS INTEREST AND PE NALTY PAID FOR LATE PAYMENT OF TDS. 6 11. IN THE RESULT, APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE IS PARTLY ALLOWED FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES AS INDICATED HEREIN ABOVE. PRONOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT ON THE SIXTH JANUARY, 2021 . SD/ - SD/ - (P. MADHAVI DEVI) ( A. MOHAN ALANKAMONY ) JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER HYDERABAD, DATED: SIXTH JANUARY, 2021. OKK COPY TO: - 1. CRUSTUM PRODUCTS PRIVATE LIMITED, C/O. P. MURALI & CO., CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS, 6 - 3 - 655/2/3, SOMAJIGUDA, HYDERABAD. 2. OFFICE OF THE DY. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, CIRCLE - 1(2), 4 TH FLOOR, AAYAKAR BHAVAN, BASHEERBAGH, HYDERABAD 500 004. 3. THE CIT (A) - 1, HYDER ABAD. 4. THE PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX - 1, HYDERABAD. 5. THE DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE, ITAT, HYDERABAD. 6. GUARD FILE