2023 (4) TMI 1224 - AT - Income Tax

Employee s contribution of PF/ESI on or before the due date prescribed under the relevant PF/ESI - Determination of Due date - assessee said that due has to be reckoned within 15 days from the close of the month in which payment is made to the employee whereas according to Revenue the contribution has to be deposited within the 15 days from the close of the month for which salary/wages of the employee is due - HELD THAT - It will be appropriate if the term every month specified in Provident Fund scheme whether it is the month for which salary/wages are due or month of the payment is referred to Relevant Authorities for finding out with reference to any judicial precedent in respect of provisions of the relevant Act. Accordingly. we restore this issue back to the file of the Ld. Assessing Officer with the direction to find out from the relevant PF authorities about the term every month as mentioned in clause 38 of the employees provident fund scheme. Similarly he may find out from the ESI Authorities. Appeal of the assessee is allowed for statistical purposes.

Summary

Issues:
The judgment involves issues related to the addition made by CPC Bangalore, employee's contribution to ESI/PF, and the interpretation of the term 'every month' in the context of Provident Fund scheme.

Addition made by CPC Bangalore:
The appeal was against the order passed by the Ld. CIT(A) confirming the addition made by CPC Bangalore. The assessee contended that the addition should have been deleted. The Ld. CIT(A) upheld the disallowance of employee's contribution to ESI/PF based on a Supreme Court precedent. The assessee argued that the contributions were deposited as per the due date prescribed under the relevant Act.

Employee's Contribution to ESI/PF:
The dispute revolved around the due date for depositing employee's contribution to PF/ESI. The assessee argued that the due date should be within 15 days from the close of the month in which payment was made to the employee. The Revenue contended that the contribution should be deposited within 15 days from the close of the month for which salary/wages were due. The Tribunal referred to a Calcutta Tribunal decision for interpretation and directed the Assessing Officer to verify the term 'every month' from the relevant authorities.

Interpretation of 'Every Month' in Provident Fund Scheme:
The Tribunal considered the term 'every month' specified in the Provident Fund scheme and directed the Assessing Officer to seek clarification from the relevant PF and ESI authorities regarding the interpretation of this term. The issue was restored to the Assessing Officer for further examination, with the assessee to be given an opportunity to be heard. The grounds of appeal were allowed for statistical purposes.

Conclusion:
The appeal by the assessee was allowed for statistical purposes, and the matter was referred back to the Assessing Officer for clarification on the interpretation of the term 'every month' in the Provident Fund scheme. The decision was pronounced in the open court on 26/04/2023.