Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Transactions among Indian subsidiaries pursuant to contract with their parent co’s out of purview of TP

Assessee sold its medical imaging business to another Indian Co. namely, 'C' Ltd. in pursuance of a transaction whereby holding co. of assessee sold its imaging business to holding co. of 'C' on global basis. Both transactions were independent of each other, therefore, revenue authorities were not justified in making TP adjustment to such transaction.

In the instant case, assessee, an Indian company sold its medical imaging business to ‘C’, Indian company disclosing sale transaction as normal domestic transaction. On perusal of documents, AO concluded that such transaction was on global basis, wherein holding company of assessee sold its imaging business to C Inc. TPO proceeded to determine ALP based on worldwide revenue break up amongst countries submitted by assessee.

The Tribunal held as follows:

a) It was undisputed that the transaction involved two domestic companies who were individual and independent subsidiaries of their own and independent holding companies;

b) Transaction could only become international transaction, if either both of the associated enterprises (‘AE’) or one of the AEs was non-Resident.

c) As per the wordings of section 92B, there had to be an AE, with whom there existed international transaction, only then it could be examined as to whether international transaction with ‘such other person’ existed or not;

d) Transactions entered into by holding foreign companies and subsidiary Indian companies were independent of each other. Though the instant transaction was as a consequence of the global agreement entered into by the holding companies, yet the entire exercise of transfer of imaging segment was independently done on its own terms by the assessee and the other party, i.e, 'C' India.

e)
No element of international transaction was involved in sale of imaging segment by assessee of its business to C and it was purely a domestic transaction.

f) Therefore, the impugned adjustment made by revenue authorities was to be set aside - Kodak India v. Addl.CIT [2013] 37 taxmann.com 233(Mumbai –Trib.)

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