Tax Management India. Com
Law and Practice  :  Digital eBook
Research is most exciting & rewarding
  TMI - Tax Management India. Com
Follow us:
  Facebook   Twitter   Linkedin   Telegram

Home Case Index All Cases Income Tax Income Tax + AT Income Tax - 2023 (5) TMI AT This

  • Login
  • Cases Cited
  • Summary

Forgot password       New User/ Regiser

⇒ Register to get Live Demo



 

2023 (5) TMI 1203 - AT - Income Tax


Issues Involved:
1. Jurisdiction of the Transfer Pricing Officer (TPO) to pass the Transfer Pricing (TP) order beyond the time limit prescribed by the Income Tax Act, 1961.
2. Non-grant of Foreign Tax Credit under the India-Singapore Tax Treaty.
3. Non-grant of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) credit.
4. Levy of excess interest under section 234B of the Income Tax Act.
5. Levy of interest under section 234C of the Income Tax Act on assessed income rather than returned income.

Detailed Analysis:

1. Jurisdiction of the TPO to Pass the TP Order Beyond the Time Limit
The assessee challenged the jurisdiction of the TPO to pass the TP order dated 30.01.2014, arguing it was beyond the time limit prescribed by section 92CA(3A) of the Income Tax Act. The assessee contended that the order should have been passed on or before 29.01.2014. The Tribunal agreed with the assessee, noting that the TPO passed the order on 30.01.2014, which was beyond the statutory time limit. The Tribunal relied on the judgment of the Hon'ble Madras High Court in DCIT v. M/s. Pfizer Healthcare India Pvt. Ltd. and other Tribunal orders to conclude that the TP order was time-barred and thus void. Consequently, the TP adjustments made by the TPO were quashed.

2. Non-grant of Foreign Tax Credit under the India-Singapore Tax Treaty
The assessee claimed a foreign tax credit of Rs.41,063,711/- under Article 25(2) of the India-Singapore Tax Treaty, read with section 90 of the Act. The Tribunal noted that this issue required factual verification and thus restored it to the file of the AO for de novo consideration. The AO was directed to compute the foreign tax credit due to the assessee in accordance with the law after providing a reasonable opportunity of hearing.

3. Non-grant of TDS Credit
The assessee also claimed a credit of TDS amounting to Rs.6,477,178/-. The Tribunal found that this issue also required verification by the AO. The AO was instructed to verify the TDS credit claimed and grant it in accordance with the law after hearing the assessee.

4. Levy of Excess Interest under Section 234B
The assessee contended that the AO had levied excess interest under section 234B of the Act. The Tribunal did not specifically adjudicate this issue, as it was consequential to the other issues being resolved.

5. Levy of Interest under Section 234C on Assessed Income
The assessee argued that interest under section 234C should be levied on the returned income rather than the assessed income. Similar to the issue under section 234B, the Tribunal did not specifically adjudicate this issue, as it was also consequential.

Conclusion
The appeal of the assessee was allowed for statistical purposes, with the Tribunal quashing the TP adjustments due to the TP order being time-barred and directing the AO to verify and grant the foreign tax credit and TDS credit claimed by the assessee. The issues regarding the levy of interest under sections 234B and 234C were deemed consequential and did not require separate adjudication. The order was pronounced in the open court on 22/12/2022.

 

 

 

 

Quick Updates:Latest Updates