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2019 (1) TMI 2065 - AT - Income Tax


ISSUES PRESENTED and CONSIDERED

The Tribunal considered several issues related to disallowances and deductions claimed by the assessee and the revenue's objections to such claims. The core legal questions included:

  • Whether the disallowance of interest on bonds issued during the amalgamation of Standard Pharmaceuticals Ltd. was justified.
  • Whether the disallowance of 5% of "other expenses" was appropriate.
  • Whether employer's contributions to PF paid after the end of the previous year but before the due date of return were disallowable under Section 43B.
  • Whether the disallowance of PF damages levied under Section 14B of the PF Act was correct.
  • Whether the disallowance of salary and wages of employees of the Packart Press Unit was justified.
  • Whether the disallowance under Section 40A(9) concerning payments to Ambalal Sarabhai Foundation was appropriate.
  • Whether the disallowance of 50% of foreign travel expenses of the working directors was justified.
  • Whether the disallowance of employees' PF contribution paid within the previous year was correct under Sections 2(24)(x) and 36(1)(VA).
  • Whether the deletion of buying commission to Teknoserv (Jersey) Ltd. was appropriate.
  • Whether various other expenses, including festival allowance, selling expenses, and prior period expenses, were allowable.

ISSUE-WISE DETAILED ANALYSIS

1. Interest on Bonds Issued during Amalgamation:

The Tribunal upheld the disallowance of interest on bonds issued during the amalgamation of Standard Pharmaceuticals Ltd. The CIT(A) had previously decided that such interest was not allowable as it was not for business purposes, and the Tribunal agreed with this reasoning.

2. Disallowance of 5% of Other Expenses:

The Tribunal found that the disallowance of 5% of other expenses was not justified. The assessee had substantiated the expenses, and similar disallowances were allowed in previous years. The Tribunal allowed this ground in favor of the assessee.

3. Employer's Contributions to PF:

The Tribunal allowed the employer's contributions to PF paid after the end of the previous year but before the due date of the return. The CIT(A) had followed earlier decisions in favor of the assessee, and the Tribunal upheld this decision.

4. PF Damages under Section 14B:

The Tribunal confirmed the disallowance of PF damages levied under Section 14B, following previous ITAT orders against the assessee.

5. Salary and Wages of Packart Press Unit:

The Tribunal set aside the issue of disallowance of salary and wages of the Packart Press Unit to the file of the A.O. for re-examination, following ITAT directions.

6. Payment to Ambalal Sarabhai Foundation:

The Tribunal allowed the payment to Ambalal Sarabhai Foundation, holding it outside the scope of Section 40A(9) of the Income Tax Act, following previous ITAT decisions.

7. Foreign Travel Expenses:

The Tribunal allowed the foreign travel expenses of the working directors, as the directors had engaged in business-related activities, and similar expenses were allowed in previous years.

8. Employees' PF Contribution:

The Tribunal dismissed the ground regarding the disallowance of employees' PF contributions, following the Gujarat High Court decision in the GSRTC case.

9. Buying Commission to Teknoserv (Jersey) Ltd.:

The Tribunal upheld the CIT(A)'s decision to delete the disallowance of the buying commission, as the issue was decided in favor of the assessee in previous years.

10. Miscellaneous Expenses:

The Tribunal dismissed the revenue's appeal concerning miscellaneous expenses, as similar expenses were allowed in previous ITAT decisions.

11. Prior Period Expenses:

The Tribunal dismissed the revenue's appeal regarding prior period expenses, following the Supreme Court's decision in the Saurashtra Cement case.

SIGNIFICANT HOLDINGS

The Tribunal's significant holdings include:

  • Interest on bonds issued during amalgamation is not allowable as it is not for business purposes.
  • Employer's contributions to PF paid after the end of the previous year but before the due date of return are not disallowable under Section 43B.
  • PF damages under Section 14B are not allowable as business expenditure.
  • Payments to Ambalal Sarabhai Foundation are outside the scope of Section 40A(9).
  • Foreign travel expenses incurred for business purposes are allowable.
  • Prior period expenses can be allowed based on the Supreme Court's decision in the Saurashtra Cement case.

The Tribunal's final determinations included allowing several grounds in favor of the assessee while dismissing the revenue's appeal on multiple grounds. The Tribunal's decisions were largely based on precedents and previous ITAT orders.

 

 

 

 

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