Friday, May 29, 2015

CLB grants 30 days’ time to ‘Unitech Ltd.’ for repayment of deposits; appoints committee to monitor repayment


Companies Act: Where Unitech Ltd. failed to repay matured FDs despite making profits yet it wanted to reschedule payment thereof, it was to be directed to repay the deposits as rescheduling of deposits was not allowed under new Companies Act, 2013 and, accordingly, directed the ‘Unitech Ltd’ to repay deposits within 30 days.

Facts:


Unitech Ltd. defaulted in repaying matured fixed deposits even when it had made profits. It made no serious effort in clearing the deposits of though it wanted to reschedule the repayment. It approached Company Law Board to grant extension of time for repayment of deposits.

The Company Law Board held as under:

Companies Act, 2013 mandates repayment of all deposits collected within the ambit of repealed Companies Act, 1956 on or before 01.04.2015, notwithstanding the fact whether they have matured or premature. 30 days’ time was to be granted to Unitech Ltd. to clear all matured deposits alongwith interest @ 12%.

Further, Committee would be appointed to ascertain progress of the company in making repayment to the depositors.- UNITECH LTD., IN RE [2015] 57 TAXMANN.COM 423 (CLB - NEW DELHI)

Editor’s comment:

The Companies Act, 2013 (‘the Act’) was enforced with effect from April 1, 2014. A company which has accepted deposits prior to commencement of Companies Act, 2013 has to repay the same within one year from the commencement of the Act, i.e., upto 31.03.2015 or on the due date of such payments, whichever is earlier.

Any company failing to repay the deposit within aforesaid time-limit shall be liable to pay minimum fine of one crore rupees which may be extended upto ten crores. Every officer of the company who is in default shall be liable to imprisonment which may be extended upto 7 years plus a fine of upto 2 Crores.

However, Company Law Board, after considering the financial position of the Company, may grant extension of time for repayment of deposits. In case of Jaiprakash Associates Ltd., [2015] 56 taxmann.com 212 (CLB - New Delhi) the CLB had given 30 days’ time to the applicant-company to repay all deposits as company was making bona fide efforts in making repayments to the depositors. In the instant case applicant (Unitech Ltd.) wanted to reschedule the repayment of deposits but under the Act there is no provision to reschedule repayment of deposits.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

No denial of sec. 11 relief to hospital just because it didn't provide concessional treatment to poor patients


Section 11 exemption could not be denied to a hospital on the ground that it didn’t provide concessional treatment to poor patients as there is no provision under Income-tax Act which would disentitle assessee to claim exemption on this ground.

Facts:


a)Assessee-trust, running a multi-specialty hospital, claimed exemption of income under section 11 of the Income-tax Act (‘Act’).

b)Assessing Officer (AO) denied exemption on ground that assessee was earning profit from its activity and it had failed to provide concessional treatment to poor patients.

c)On appeal, the CIT(A) reversed the findings of the AO and allowed exemption to the assessee. Aggrieved by the order of CIT(A), the AO filed the instant appeal before the Tribunal.

The Tribunal held in favour of assessee as under:

1)The CBDT in its Circular No. 11, dated 19-12-2008 had clarified that where the purpose of trust or institution is relief to the poor, education or medical relief, it would constitute charitable purpose, even if it incidentally involves carrying on the commercial activities

2)In the instant case, assessee was engaged in carrying on objects of providing medical relief to people at large which has been recognised as charitable activity under the Act. Therefore, exemption under section 11 could not be denied merely because surplus was generated from such activities

3)Further, there is no provision under the Act which would disentitle assessee to claim exemption on the ground that it did not provide concession to poor patients and, therefore, this could not be a ground to disallow exemption under section 11 - ITO V. NOBLE MEDICAL FOUNDATION & RESEARCH CENTRE [2015] 57 taxmann.com 333 (Pune - Trib.)

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Clearances of intermediate parts by job-worker to its principal has to be valued as per general rule of valuation


Clearances of 'motor vehicles parts' manufactured by job-worker for use in manufacture of 'motor vehicles' by principals, would be valued as per rule 11 and valuation rules 8 and 9 cannot apply thereto.

a)Assessee, a job-worker, was manufacturing motor vehicle parts for use by principal in manufacture of motor vehicles

b)Assessee and principal were related in terms of section 4(3)(b)(i) viz. interconnected undertaking.

c)Department sought valuation of 'parts' under rule 8 or proviso to rule 9 as captively consumed goods.

d)Assessee claimed valuation as per rule 11 at 'cost of materials plus job-work charges' treating assessee/job-worker's premises as deemed factory gate.

Supreme Court held in favour of assessee as under:

1)Since parts were not captively consumed by assessee-jobworker or on his behalf in production or manufacture of other articles, hence, rule 8 was inapplicable.

2)Rule 9 and consequently, proviso to rule 9, was inapplicable Since assessee and principal were interconnected undertaking related in terms of section 4(3)(b)(i). This is because rule 9 mentions relationship that is visualised in sub-clauses (ii) to (iv) only and excludes clause (i). Further, since main rule 9 is not attracted, question of applicability or proviso thereto does not arise.

3)Once it was concluded that above rules is not applicable in the case of the assessee, it is rule 11 only which becomes applicable as that is residuary provision for arriving at the value of any excisable goods which are not determined under any other rule - Commissioner of Central Excise, Pune v. Mahindra Ugine Steel Co. Ltd. (2015) 57 taxmann.com 299 (SC).

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Even refund of excess self-assessment tax paid by assessee would be entitled to interest


Assessee would be entitled to interest under section 244A(1)(b) on amount of refund which was deposited by it by way of self-assessment tax under section 140A

The issue that arose before the High Court was as under:


Whether assessee was entitled to interest on the amount of refund arising due to excess self-assessment tax paid by it?

The Punjab and Haryana High Court held in favour of assessee as under-

1)Section 244A deals with the grant of interest on refund of any amount of tax which becomes due to the assessee in terms of the provisions of Act.

2)Clauses (a) and (b) of sub-section (1) of section 244A deal with two different situations. Clause (a) deals with refund of taxes which have been paid under section 115WJ or collected at source under section 206C or paid by way of advance tax or treated as paid under section 199. Clause (b) deals with refund of taxes in any other case.

3)It was clear that assessee’s case would not fall under clause (a) of section 244. However, revenue contends that cause (b) is confined to situations where the tax refund has been paid in terms of a notice of demand issued by the Assessing Officer under section 156.

4)It was held that once self-assessment tax so paid gets adjusted against the tax determined by the Assessing Officer upon assessment, it takes the imprint of a tax paid in pursuance notice of demand issued under section 156.

5)Section 244A was inserted in the statute as a measure of rationalization to ensure that the assessee is duly compensated by the Government, by way of payment of interest for monies legitimately belonging to the assessee and wrongfully retained by the Government.

6)The tax deducted at source, advance tax and also tax paid by way of self-assessment, after its adjustment in the tax liability of the assessee loses its original character and becomes tax paid in pursuance of the liability. Therefore, assessee was entitled to interest under section 244A(1)(b) on excess self-assessment tax paid by it- CIT V. PUNJAB CHEMICAL & CROP PROTECTION LTD. [2015] 57 taxmann.com 283 (Punjab & Haryana)

Editor’s Note:

Even after this verdict this issue is not resolved as judiciary differs on this issue. The Delhi High Court in the case of CIT v. Engineers India Ltd.[2015] 55 taxmann.com 1 (Delhi)denied to grant interest on excess self-assessment tax paid by assessee.

Monday, May 25, 2015

AO to transfer VAT collected on activation of SIM cards to Service Tax Department – such transaction is a service and not sales


Haryana VAT - Where collection of VAT from assessee was without authority of law and Service Tax department had raised service tax demand upon assessee for period for which Assessing Authority had levied and collected VAT, Assessing Authority was to be directed to transfer amount of VAT to Service Tax department.

1)Assessing Authority collected VAT from assessee pursuant to assessment orders on premise that activation of SIM cards was a sale.

2)Assessee approached State of Haryana for refund of amount of VAT on ground that activation of SIM card was a service and not a sale.

3)The Assessing Authority dismissed the assessee's representation for refund of the amount of VAT on the grounds that the assessee did not challenge its liability before the Assessing Authority, it did not file any appeal against the assessment orders, and as the assessee had charged VAT from its customers, the amount could not be refunded.

High Court held in favour of assessee as under:

a)Supreme Court in Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. v. Union of India (2006) 3 STT 245 held that activation of SIM cards is a 'service' and not a 'sale'. The assessee is, therefore, liable to pay service tax on the activation of SIM cards and not VAT.

b)Since Supreme Court had clearly held that VAT could not be collected on activation of SIM cards, levy and collection of VAT was without authority of law and violative of article 265 of Constitution.

c)The Union of India has raised a demand for service tax for the period for which the State of Haryana has levied and collected VAT. If the assessee is called upon to pay VAT and service tax, it would be the case of double taxation.

d)In view of the aforesaid, the revenue was to be directed to transfer the amount of VAT collected from the assessee to the Service Tax department of the Union of India - Idea Cellular Ltd. v. Union of India (2015) 57 taxmann.com 293 (Punjab & Haryana).

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Subway doesn't have dominant position in fast foods restaurant chains due to presence of Pizza Hut, KFC, etc: CCI


Competition Act: Due to the presence of many competitors in the market of fast food restaurant chains, like Pizza Hut, KFC, Mc. Donald's, Cafe Coffee Day, etc., consumers have several options to choose from. Subway neither has strength to operate independently of its competitors, nor the ability to affect its competitors and consumers. Therefore, Subway does not enjoy a dominant position in the relevant market of fast food restaurant chains.

Facts:

a)The Informant and Subway Systems India Private Limited ('Subway') entered into a franchise agreement for operating "Subway" at Chennai. The Informant alleged that certain clauses of the franchise Agreement contravened the provisions of section 4 of the Competition Act, 2002 ('the Act').

b)The Informant alleged that the market share of Subway in the market of fast food restaurant chain exceeded 30%, thus, Subway had abused its dominant position by imposing unfair conditions in franchisee agreement.

c)Based on the above allegations, the Informant prayed for initiation of an investigation against the Subway under section 26(1) of the Act

The Competition Commission of India held as under:

1)Commission observed that these allegations did not have any appreciable adverse effect on the competition in the market of fast food restaurant chains since the size of such market was huge as compared with the market size of Subway. Therefore, the impact of alleged unfair conditions in franchise agreement, if any, was negligible. Thus, conduct of Subway would not contravene any provision of section 3 of the Act

2)Due to the presence of many competitors in the market of fast food restaurant chains, like Pizza Hut, KFC, Mc. Donald's, Cafe Coffee Day, etc., consumers had several options to choose from. Subway neither had strength to operate independent of its competitors, nor the ability to affect its competitors and consumers. Therefore, Subway did not enjoy a dominant position in the relevant market of fast food restaurant chains. - RAMAMURTHY RAJAGOPAL V. DOCTOR'S ASSOCIATES INC (2015) 57 TAXMANN.COM 357 (CCI)

Thursday, May 21, 2015

FAQs on Gold Monetization Scheme


The Government has released the draft Gold Monetization Scheme (GMS). The main objective of the Scheme is to mobilize gold held by the households in lieu of interest and to make it available to the gems and jewellery sector as raw material on loan. This scheme aims at reducing reliance on import of gold to meet the domestic demand.

According to the draft scheme, a person can open a "gold savings account" in banks for a minimum period of one year and earn interest on the gold deposited under the scheme.

The minimum quantity of gold that a customer can deposit is proposed to be 30 grams. The gold can be in any form, i.e., bullion or jewellery.

The banks will pay interest on ‘Gold Savings Account’ after 30/60 days of account opening. The rate of interest is proposed to be decided by banks directly. Both principal and interest to be paid to the depositor shall be valued in terms of gold

Amount earned from “Gold Saving Account” under this scheme is likely to be exempted under Income-tax Act.

Click here to read FAQs on Gold Monetization Scheme

Click here to read the Gold Monetization Scheme

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Harayana VAT must incorporate provisions to exclude value of land from works contract


Where assessee, a builder/developer, entered into agreements with prospective buyers to construct flats, etc. and thereafter sell same with some portion of land against valuable consideration, activity of assessee would be covered under term 'works contract' but Assessing Authority was to be directed to pass fresh assessment order

Facts :


1)Assessee, a builder/developer, entered into agreements with prospective buyers to construct flats, etc., and thereafter sell same with some portion of land against valuable consideration.

2)Assessing Authority in terms of circulars dated 7-5-2013, 4-6-2013 and 10-2-2014 providing for levy of VAT on builders, etc., levied VAT on transaction of sale of flats, floors and villas effected by assessee.

3)Assessee filed writ petition for declaring provisions which include value of land for charging VAT on developers to be ultra vires the Constitution.

High Court held partly in favour of assessee as under :

a)From a consideration of various decisions of the Supreme Court arising under article 366(29A) of the Constitution, it follows that the agreement between the promoter/builder/developer and the flat purchaser to construct a flat and thereafter sell the flat with some portion of land does involve construction which would be covered under the term 'works contract'.

b)Rule 25 provides for exclusions in respect of labour, services and other like charges and does not provide for any mechanism for exclusion of the value of land. Wherever developer/builder/promoter or the sub-contractor who carries on construction work in a works contract maintains proper accounts, it shall be on the basis of actual value addition on account of goods utilized in the property. Rule 25(2) provides for deduction of charges towards labour, services and like charges and where they are not ascertainable from the books of account maintained by a developer, etc., the percentage rates are prescribed in the table provided in the said rule.

c)It is necessarily required to provide mechanism to tax only the value addition made to the goods transferred after the agreement is entered into with the flat purchaser. The 'deductive method' thereunder does not provide for any deduction which relates to the value of the immovable property. The legislature has not made any express provision in rule 25 for exclusion of value of immovable property from the works contract and its method of valuation has been left to the discretion of the rule making authority.

d)Essentially the value of immovable property and any other thing done prior to the date of entering into the agreement of sale is to be excluded from the agreement value. The value of goods in a works contract in the case of a developer, etc., on the basis of which VAT is levied would be the value of the goods at the time of incorporation in the works even where property in goods passes later on.

e)Further, VAT is to be directed on the value of the goods at the time of incorporation and it should not purport to tax the transfer of immovable property. Consequently, rule 25(2) is held to be valid, but State Government shall bring necessary changes in the said rule inconsonance with the above observations - CHD Developers Ltd. v. State of Haryana (2015) 57 taxmann.com 315 (Punjab & Haryana).

Monday, May 18, 2015

Compilation of data and its transformation into e-book for foreign clients held as export of software u/s 10B


Where assessee was collecting text, compiling material, designing same and exported it in form of computer software, assessee was entitled to claim benefit of section 10B

Facts:


a)The assessee was involved in process of collecting text, compiling material, designing layout, scanning, etc., for projects of foreign clients. She claimed herself to be a software exporter and, accordingly, claim exemption under section 10B.

b)The Assessing Officer (AO) disallowed said claim holding that process deployed by the assessee was neither manufacture nor did it amount to creation of software.

c)On appeal, CIT(A) upheld the order of the AO which was reversed by the tribunal. Aggrieved with the order of tribunal, revenue filed the instant appeal before the High Court.

The High Court held in favour of assessee as under:

1)Section 10B uses the expression "manufactures or produces…… things or computer software". The four stage process of collecting text , compiling material, designing the layout, scanning, digital image editing (to remove distortion) and final arrangement of the data, ultimately transmitted according to the customer's specification - and ready to be used for printing, (or even e-Book publication) is undoubtedly manufacture or production.

2)CBDT vide Notification No. 11521, dated 26.09.2000 had specified ‘content Development or animation’ or ‘Data Processing’ as information technology enabled products or services.

3)"Content Development or animation" covers compilation of material or data and its transformation into a ready to print/ready to publish book.

4)In the instant case, the work which ultimately results in the culmination of the assessee's efforts of compiling, editing, digital designing, etc. “is transmitted or exported from India to any place outside India by any means”. It is, therefore, computer software that is produced or manufactured, to qualify for benefit under section 10B.

5)Hence, tribunal rightly allowed assessee’s claim of deduction under section 10B. - CIT v. Ms. Kiran Kapoor [2015] 57 taxmann.com 39 (Delhi)

Saturday, May 16, 2015

SC rejects High Court's order quashing search warrant due to non-communication of reasons thereof to assessee


Facts :

a)The block assessment of the assessee was sought to be initiated under Section 153A of the Income-tax Act ('the Act') following a search conducted on the assessee. The same has been interdicted by the High Court rejecting the validity of the warrant authorizing the search under section 132 of the Act;

b)The High Court held that it was the Director General who took the decision to issue the search warrant but the said decision was not on the basis of its own satisfaction but was issued on the basis of the satisfaction recorded by the Director of Income-tax (Investigation). Consequently, the High Court held that the satisfaction mandated by Section 132 of the Act was not that of the authority who issued the search warrant, there by vitiating the authorization issued;

c)Aggrieved by the order of High Court the revenue filed the instant appeal.

Supreme Court held in favour of revenue as under :

1)The necessity of recording of reasons in case of search under Section 132 has been repeatedly stressed upon by the Courts so as to ensure accountability and responsibility in the decision making process;

2)The necessity of recording of reasons also acts as a cushion in the event of a legal challenge being made to the satisfaction reached. Reasons enable a proper judicial assessment of the decision taken by the Revenue. However, it would not confer on the assessee a right of inspection of the documents or to a communication of there a sons at the stage of issuing of the authorization. Any such view would undermine the entire exercise contemplated by Section 132 of the Act. It is only at the stage of commencement of the assessment proceedings after completion of the search and seizure, if any, that the requisite material may have to be disclosed to the assessee;

3)The High Court had committed a serious error in reproducing in great details the contents of the satisfaction notes containing the reasons for the satisfaction arrived at by the authorities under the Act. We have already indicated the time and stage at which the reasons recorded may be required to be brought to the notice of the assessee. Thus, we could not approve of the aforesaid part of the exercise undertaken by the High Court which has the potential of conferring an undue advantage on the assessee;

4)A careful reading of the order of the Director General would go to show that all he did was to record the view that the satisfaction of the Director, Income-tax (Investigation) was reasonable and therefore administrative approval should be accorded. The view taken by the High Court, therefore, could not be sustained. In view of the foregoing discussions the order of the High Court was to be set aside. - DGIT (Investigation) v. Spacewood Furnishers (P.) Ltd. (2015) 57 taxmann.com 292 (SC)

Friday, May 15, 2015

No sec. 80QQB relief on royalty received for writing a cookery book as it wasn’t earned in exercise of profession


Facts:

a)Assessee received royalty for writing a cookery book on which she claimed deduction under Section 80QQB.

b)The Assessing officer (AO)disallowed deduction on ground that coking was not an 'art' and was a 'skill'.

c)Further, the CIT(A) sustained the disallowance made by AO for the reasons that firstly, according to requirement of Section 80QQB, such income should have been earned in the exercise of the profession and secondly, the cookery does not come in the definition of "art". The aggrieved-assessee filed the instant appeal before the Tribunal.

Tribunal held in favour of revenue as under:

1)"Profession includes vocation" as per the definition of profession given under Section 2(36) of income-tax Act. There should be some special qualification of a person apart from skill and ability which are required for carrying on any activity which could be considered as "profession". This could be education in a particular system either in the college or university or it may be through experience.

2)In the instant case, the Ld. Counsel for assessee submitted that assessee did not write any other book before or after release of cookery book. Further, no particulars had been placed on record to show that assessee was specially qualified apart from skill and ability to write book.

3)There was also no material available on record to show that assessee was having education in the field of cookery either in the college or university or even by experience. Thus, there was no material on record to suggest that the assessee had qualified the parameters laid down for considering particular activity as a professional activity.

4)Income earned by assessee as royalty could not be said to be have been earned"in exercise of her profession". Thus, non-fulfillment of such condition would disentitle the assessee to claim deduction under Section 80QQB.Mrs. Pratibha A. Kothavale v. DCIT [2015] 57 taxmann.com 257 (Mumbai - Trib.)

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Effluent couldn't be regarded as goods; its transportation through pipeline not liable to service tax


Movable property in general trade parlance is considered as a property in goods which can fetch certain price; hence, effluent waste, which is not being purchased by any person, cannot be regarded as 'goods' and transport thereof through pipeline cannot be charged to service tax.

Assessee was providing services of transportation/disposal of 'effluent waste' through its pipeline or conduit on certain consideration. Department demanded service tax thereon under Section 65(105)(zzz).

Section 65(105)(zzz) reads as under:

'Taxable service' means any service provided or to be provided to any person by any other person, in relation to transportation of goods other than water, through pipeline or other conduct.

Assessee argued that effluent waste is not goods; hence, service is not taxable.

Tribunal held in favour of assessee as under:

As per definition of 'goods' given in Section 65(50) of the Finance Act, 1994 the meaning of 'goods' for the purpose of Service Tax law has to be as assigned in Clause (7) of Section 2 of the Sale of Goods Act, 1930.

As per the provisions of Section 2(7) of Sale of Goods Act, 1930 the goods has to be a category of 'movable property'. Movable property in general trade parlance is considered as a property in goods which can fetch certain price.

In the present facts and circumstances of the case the effluent discharge facility is for disposal of a waste which is not being purchased by any person but is only being disposed of by utilizing the services of the appellant. As the relevant facilities/services of transportation provided by appellant are not for the 'goods' as defined in Section 2(7) of the Sale of Goods Act, 1930, the same cannot be considered as a service provided for transportation of goods, hence not taxable - Gujarat State Fertilizers And Chemicals Ltd. v. Commissioner of Central Excise, Vadodara [2015] 56 taxmann.com 448 (Ahmedabad - CESTAT).

Editor's note:

Under present law, if waste is not 'goods', transport thereof is taxable because negative list contains transport of 'goods' only.

Monday, May 11, 2015

Sum Received in lieu of relinquishment of right to sue 'Coca-Cola' was capital receipt: ITAT


Consideration received on relinquishment of right to sue is not taxable under section 28; it is a capital receipt

Fact:

a)The assessee-company entered into a franchisee soft drink bottling agreement with Cadbury Schweppes Beverages India (P) Ltd. (CSBIPL) to sell its soft drinks. CSBIPL transferred its soft drink brands to Coca Cola. Coca Cola refused to encourage sale of cold drink sold by assessee to avoid competition to its own products.

b)Assessee suffered huge losses, thus filed a complaint under Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act (MRTP) before the MRTP Commission. Thereafter, the assessee and coca cola had entered into a settlement agreement through which the assessee had transferred its bottling business assets as well as immovable property to Coco Cola against a consideration.

c)Assessee submitted that the entire compensation received was in lieu of withdrawing the right to sue against Coca Cola and was patently a capital receipt. But Assessing Officer treated the compensation as revenue in nature under section 28(ii)(c) and taxed accordingly.

d)CIT (Appeals) held that provisions of section 28(va) were applicable and not section 28(ii)(c).Consequently the part of compensation indicated by Assessing Officer was held taxable under section 28(va). Aggrieved-assessee filed instant appeal before tribunal.

Tribunal held in favour of assessee as under:

1)All the clauses of the agreement between the assessee and coca colareflect that the real intent, objective and purpose of the payment of compensation as per settlement agreement was to ensure withdrawal of all the pending litigation by assessee, from various forums instituted for breach of terms or conditions.

2)The dominant consideration for compensation being surrendering the right to sue; its neither in lieu of surrender of any agency or agreement for non-competition and thus, the compensation neither fell in the ambit of section 28(ii)(c) nor under section 28(va).

3)Assessee had vehemently denied having anywhere admitted that part of the compensation was for non-competition. The compensation in question was meant, intended and paid for withdrawal of aforesaid litigation instituted by assessee which could have resulted in many adverse consequences for the reputation of Coca Cola besides entailing huge cost and efforts of litigation.

4)Thus, the impugned amount was a capital receipt hence not liable to Income-tax. Satyam Food Specialities (P.) Ltd. v. DCIT [2015] 57 taxmann.com 194 (Jaipur - Trib.)

Friday, May 8, 2015

In case of transit sales via dealer, consignee can take credit on basis of invoice issued by manufacturer/importer


The Government vide Notification No. 8/2015 - Central Excise (NT), dated 1-3-2015inserted 3rd and 4th proviso to rule 11 of Central Excise Rules, 2002. The amendment provided facility to direct dispatch of goods to customer’s premises without bringing them to premises of dealer/importer.

It has been clarified that the purpose of inserting said provisos is to allow an additional facility for direct transport of goods from the manufacturer/importer to the consignee where the consignee can avail Cenvat Credit on the basis of the Cenvatable invoice issued by the registered dealer/registered importer. This facility obviates the need for the goods to be brought to the premises of the registered importer/registered dealer for subsequent transport of the goods to the consignee.

Further, various issues referred by the trade are clarified as follows:

1)Consignee can avail cenvat on the basis of invoice issued by the manufacturer/registered importer where registered dealer negotiates-

osale of an entire consignment from manufacturer/registered importer and orders direct transport of goods to the consignee

osale of goods from the total stock ordered on a manufacturer/importer to multiple buyers and orders direct transportation of goods to the consignees where the manufacturer/importer is willing to issue individual invoices for each sale in favour of the consignees for such individual sale. In both the forgoing cases, dealer won’t issue cenvatable invoice but it can issue commercial invoice.

2)Consignee can avail cenvat on the basis of invoice issued by registered dealer where such dealer negotiates sale by splitting a consignment procured from a manufacturer/registered importer and issues Cenvatableinvoices for each of the sale. In such case, it would now be possible for the dealer to order direct transport of the consignments as per the individual sales to the consignee without bringing the goods to his godown.

3)Where goods are sold by the registered importer to an end-user (say a manufacturer) who would avail credit on the basis of importer's invoice and the goods are transported directly from the port or warehouse at the port to the buyer's premises, the amendment prescribes that for such movement the factum of such direct transport to the buyer's premises needs to be recorded in the invoice - CIRCULAR NO.1003/10/2015-CX, DATED 5-5-2015.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

LPG subsidy isn't taxable as it is for welfare of people; Govt. clarifies provision in Finance Bill, 2015


A subsidy is a form of financial aid or support extended to an economic sector (or institution, business, or an individual) generally with the aim of promoting economic and social policy. Subsidies come in various forms - direct one (cash grants, interest-free loans) and indirect ones (tax breaks, insurance, low-interest loans, depreciation write-offs, rent rebate etc.).

There was an unendingdispute between the revenue and the taxpayers about the tax treatment of the subsidy received from Government or any other authority. The revenue always tried to treat subsidy as revenue receipt but the assessees always opposed such treatment and wanted to treat it as capital receipt.

The Government tried to settle this dispute by proposing amendments to the Finance Bill, 2015 as passed by Lok Sabha. It has been proposed that assistance in the form of a subsidy or grant or cash incentive or duty drawback or waiver or concession, etc. (by whatever name called) by the Government or any authority or body or agency, in cash or kind to the assesse (other than one considered under Explanation 10 to Section 43(1)) would be includible in income.

In view of aforesaid amendment certain doubts had arisen on tax treatment of LPG subsidy received by individuals under direct benefit transfer. Certain tax experts were of the view that this proposal would deem such LPG subsidy as income of individuals and they would be required to pay taxes on subsidy received in their bank accounts.

In this regard, the CBDT has clarified that the proposed amendment in the Finance Bill, 2015 would not be applicable to individuals not having any income chargeable under the head "Profits and gains of business or profession" and receiving LPG subsidy or any other subsidy which is for the welfare of the individuals. Thus, it has been clarified that LPG subsidy received by Individuals would not be taxable.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

CAT dismisses complaint of Adidas against Nike as latter had taken permission of ICC to use Sachin’s name on T-shirts


Where pursuant to sponsorship agreement with International Cricket Association Nike was permitted to use names of cricketers including Sachin Tendulkar on its sports products for purpose of advertising, it could not be said that Nike had violated separate agreement between Adidas and Tendulkar entered for advertising Adidas sports product; unfair trade practice could not be alleged

Facts:

a)The complainant-company Adidas and the respondent-company Nike were engaged in business of manufacturing, distributing and selling quality footwear, sports equipments and other products and were competitors in the market.

b)The Complainant's brand, i.e., Adidas was endorsed by Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar pursuant to an agreement between both parties.

c)Later on, Nike signed an agreement for sponsorship and supply of footwear, apparel and related cricketing accessories with International Cricket Association and sold T-shirts bearing names of various members of Indian Cricket Team including Sachin Tendulkar’s

d)Accordingly, Adidas filed complaint alleging unfair and restrictive trade practice indulged by Nike.

The Competition Appellate Tribunal held as under:

1)Since sponsorship and licence agreement entered between Nike and Cricket association permitted former to use name of members of cricket team for purpose of advertising in different ways, same did not amount to unfair trade practice

2)The products such as T-shirts and Tees manufactured by Nike did not violate agreement entered between Adidas and Tendulkar; hence, Nike could not be held to have indulged in any unfair trade practice and, thus, complaint was to be dismissed - ADIDAS INDIA MARKETING (P.) LTD. V. NIKE INDIA (P.) LTD. [2015] 56 TAXMANN.COM 344 (CAT)

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

MCA simplifies incorporation process; releases new integrated Form INC-29 for Cos applying for incorporation


With a view to simplify the process of incorporation of a company, MCA has introduced new ‘Integrated Incorporation Form – INC.29’ which is effective from 01.05.2015. Form No. INC.29 is a single integrated from for incorporating a company. Form No. INC. 29 comprises of three separate segments namely, 1) Application for allotment of DIN; 2) Application for reservation of Name, 3) Application for incorporation of Company. The key features of Form No.INC.29 are as follows:

a)Now, applicant of the proposed company can propose only one name for approval in this e-form.

b)Application for DIN is permissible upto 3 directors through this INC-29. Personal details in relation to the director or subscriber is not required in case director/subscriber already has DIN. Scanned copy of Memorandum and Articles of Association need to be attached with the form.

c)There will be an additional Fee for the form is Rs. 2000/- in addition to the normal registration fee.

d)Facility for using ‘integrated form’ is not available for incorporating Section 8 companies.

Introduction of this new form has resulted in doing away with filing of the following e-forms:

1.Form DIR-3 (Application for allotment of DIN in case proposed Directors have no DIN)

2.Form INC-1/INC-2 (Application for Reservation of name)

3.Form INC-7 (Application for incorporation of a company other than OPC)

4.Form DIR-12 (Details of Directors)

5.Form INC-22 (Details of registered office) (Optional at the time of incorporation)

However, it is to be noted that the facility to file single integrated application form for incorporation in Form No INC.29 is optional. If any stakeholder wants to avail the existing process for incorporating company he may use aforesaid forms instead of filing single integrated form.

Saturday, May 2, 2015

Rental income taxable as business income if main object of Co. as per MOA is to earn income by letting out properties


Where in terms of memorandum of association, main object of assessee-company was to acquire properties and earn income by letting out same, said income was to be brought to tax as business income and not as income from house property.

Facts:


a)The assessee-company was incorporated with main object, as stated in the Memorandum of Association (MOA)of acquiring the properties and letting out of those properties.

b)It had rented out such properties and shown the rental income received therefrom as income from business.The Assessing Officer (AO) held that since the income was received from letting out of the properties, it was in the nature of rental income. He, thus, treated it as income from house property and taxed accordingly.

c)Assessee filed appeal before CIT(A) who treated such rental income as income from business, which was confirm by the Tribunal. d)On further appeal, the High Court set-aside orders of lower authorities. The aggrieved-assessee filed instant appeal before the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court held in favour of assessee as under:

1)The main object of the company was to acquire and hold the properties and to let out those properties.

2)In 'Karanpura Development Co. Ltd. v. Commissioner of Income Tax, West Bengal' [44 ITR 362 (SC)] the leasing out of the coal fields to the collieries and other companies was the business of the assessee. The income received from letting out of those mining leases was shown as business income. Department took the position that it was to be treated as income from the house property. The Court pointed out that the deciding factor was not the ownership of land or leases but the nature of the activity of the assessee and the nature of the operations in relation to them. It was highlighted and stressed that the objects of the company must also be kept in view to interpret the activities. It held that such income was to be treated as business profits.

3)The judgment in case of Karanpura Development Co. Ltd (Supra)was squarely applied to the facts of the present case. Thus, after applying the aforesaid principle to the facts, which were there before the Court, it came to the conclusion that income had to be treated as income from business and not as income from house property.

4)In the instant case, in the return of income that was filed by the assessee,the entire income was shown through letting out of properties. There was no other income of the assessee except the income from letting out of these two properties.Thus, assessee had rightly disclosed the income under the Head Income from Business as it could not be treated as 'income from the house property'. - CHENNAI PROPERTIES & INVESTMENTS LTD. V. CIT[2015] 56 taxmann.com 456 (SC)