The basic philosophy underlying the ‘force of attraction’ rule is that when an enterprise sets up a PE in another country, it brings itself within the jurisdiction of that another country to such a degree that such another country can properly tax all profits that the enterprise derives from such country- whether the transactions are routed and performed through the PE or not
In the instant case, the moot question that arose for consideration before the Tribunal was “Whether services rendered by PE in India to Indian project could only be made taxable and similar services rendered by general enterprise of such PE outside India will not be taxable as the same doesn’t amount to income indirectly attributable to PE in India”
The Tribunal held in favour of revenue as under:
1) It held that not only the profits directly attributable to the work performed by the PE but the entire profits whether “directly” or “indirectly” attributable to the PE could be made taxable;
2) The connotations of “profits indirectly attributable to permanent establishment” do indeed extend to incorporation of the ‘force of attraction’ rule embedded in Article 7(1);
3) In addition to taxability of income in respect of services rendered by the PE in India, any income in respect of the services rendered to an Indian project, which is similar to the services rendered by the PE, should also to be taxed in India in the hands of the assessee irrespective of the fact whether such services are rendered through the PE, or directly by the general enterprise;
4) This indirect attribution, in view of the specific provisions of India UK tax treaty, was enough to bring the income from such services within ambit of taxability in India. The twin conditions to be satisfied for taxability of related profits are: (i) the services should be similar or relatable to the services rendered by the PE in India; and (ii) the services should be ‘directly or indirectly attributable to the Indian PE’, i.e., rendered to a project or client in India. In effect, thus, entire profits relating to services rendered by the assessee, whether rendered in India or outside India, in respect of Indian projects are taxable in India;
5) The Tribunal has taken a considered view on interpretation of the aforesaid article that the entire profit relating to services rendered by the assessee whether rendered in India or outside India, in respect of Indian Project are taxable in India and it was not permissible to review the decision of the Tribunal in the guise of rectification under section 254(2) - Linklaters & Paines v. ITO, International Taxation [2012] 28 taxmann.com 250 (Mumbai - Trib.)
In the instant case, the moot question that arose for consideration before the Tribunal was “Whether services rendered by PE in India to Indian project could only be made taxable and similar services rendered by general enterprise of such PE outside India will not be taxable as the same doesn’t amount to income indirectly attributable to PE in India”
The Tribunal held in favour of revenue as under:
1) It held that not only the profits directly attributable to the work performed by the PE but the entire profits whether “directly” or “indirectly” attributable to the PE could be made taxable;
2) The connotations of “profits indirectly attributable to permanent establishment” do indeed extend to incorporation of the ‘force of attraction’ rule embedded in Article 7(1);
3) In addition to taxability of income in respect of services rendered by the PE in India, any income in respect of the services rendered to an Indian project, which is similar to the services rendered by the PE, should also to be taxed in India in the hands of the assessee irrespective of the fact whether such services are rendered through the PE, or directly by the general enterprise;
4) This indirect attribution, in view of the specific provisions of India UK tax treaty, was enough to bring the income from such services within ambit of taxability in India. The twin conditions to be satisfied for taxability of related profits are: (i) the services should be similar or relatable to the services rendered by the PE in India; and (ii) the services should be ‘directly or indirectly attributable to the Indian PE’, i.e., rendered to a project or client in India. In effect, thus, entire profits relating to services rendered by the assessee, whether rendered in India or outside India, in respect of Indian projects are taxable in India;
5) The Tribunal has taken a considered view on interpretation of the aforesaid article that the entire profit relating to services rendered by the assessee whether rendered in India or outside India, in respect of Indian Project are taxable in India and it was not permissible to review the decision of the Tribunal in the guise of rectification under section 254(2) - Linklaters & Paines v. ITO, International Taxation [2012] 28 taxmann.com 250 (Mumbai - Trib.)
No comments:
Post a Comment