2000 (4) TMI 270 - AT - Central Excise

Summary

Issues:
1. Includibility of expenses in the assessable value.
2. Forwarding charges.
3. Special secondary packing.
4. Interest on receivables.

Includibility of expenses in the assessable value:
The appellant's representative conceded that the cost of duty paid sales depots should not be pressed due to a Supreme Court judgment against them. The Tribunal decided on the remaining issues.

Forwarding charges:
The appellant argued that forwarding charges are part of transport costs, citing a Supreme Court judgment. The department contended that only directly attributable transportation charges are deductible. The Tribunal agreed that loading and unloading costs for transportation are part of transport charges but noted that charges indirectly linked to transportation, like preparing documents, could also be excluded. The Assistant Commissioner was tasked with determining the directly related transport costs based on evidence.

Special secondary packing:
The appellant claimed that special secondary packing costs were unnecessary as goods are usually sold in corrugated cartons. However, the Tribunal found the packing essential as most goods leave the wholesale market in corrugated packing. Therefore, the cost of special packing was deemed includible in the assessable value.

Interest on receivables:
There was a discrepancy in the appellant's stance regarding interest on receivables. Initially, it was presented as interest due from customers for delayed payments, but later clarified as interest paid to banks for advances on unsold stocks. The Tribunal highlighted the need for re-examination by the Assistant Commissioner to determine the nature of these charges and their deductibility based on relevant Supreme Court judgments.

The appeal was partly allowed, with the appellant instructed to provide evidence for re-examination within two months. The Assistant Commissioner was directed to review the identified elements and issue orders in compliance with the law.