Mumbai ITAT grants interest on tax refund even if refund was less than 10% of gross tax

Facts:

a) The assessee claimed interest under section 244A. The Assessing Officer held that, since the refund determined was less than 10 per of gross tax, no interest would be payable to the assessee under section 244A and thus, he rejected the rectification application.

b) On appeal, the Commissioner (Appeals) affirmed the order of the Assessing O􀁹icer. The Tribunal held in favour of assessee as under:

1) There was no proper justification on the part of the revenue to withhold the amount of refund beyond the date of issuance of intimation/order under section 143(1).

2) Upto the date of passing order/intimation under section 143(1), no interest shall be payable by the department to the assessee because of clear provisions of law on the statute in this regard, but for the period of delay in issuing the refund after the date of passing of the order under section 143(1), the assessee is entitled for interest.

3) Thus, the Assessing Officer was directed grant the interest under section 244A for the period falling between the date of passing of order under section 143(1) and actual date of granting of refund, at the rate of interest as would have been applicable if the refund amount would have been for an amount more than 10 per cent of the gross tax. - [2016] 73 taxmann.com

228 (Mumbai - Trib.)