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 - 2022 (1) TMI AT This

  • Login
  • Cases Cited
  • Summary

Forgot password       New User/ Regiser

⇒ Register to get Live Demo



 

2022 (1) TMI 538 - AT - Income Tax


Issues Involved:
1. Disallowance of claim under Section 80IA.
2. Disallowance of interest expenditure under Section 14A.
3. Addition towards inflated expenditure by way of sub-contract payments.
4. Eligibility of MAT credit for deduction under Section 80IA.

Detailed Analysis:

1. Disallowance of Claim under Section 80IA:
- Facts: The assessee filed its return for AY 2012-13 declaring an income of ?48,04,09,560/-. The AO disallowed the claim under Section 80IA amounting to ?47,66,23,235/- due to lack of supporting details.
- CIT(A) Decision: The CIT(A) allowed the claim, noting that the deduction under Section 80IA had been consistently allowed in preceding and succeeding years for the same infrastructural projects.
- ITAT Decision: The ITAT upheld the CIT(A)'s decision, confirming that the projects were identical to those in previous years, and no contrary evidence was presented by the revenue.

2. Disallowance of Interest Expenditure under Section 14A:
- Facts: The AO disallowed ?50,26,69,200/- under Section 14A, observing that the assessee had made substantial investments in equity shares and given interest-free loans to group companies while having interest-bearing loans.
- CIT(A) Decision: The CIT(A) restricted the disallowance to the extent of dividend received by the assessee, i.e., ?1,48,970/-, and directed the AO to delete the balance amount.
- ITAT Decision: The ITAT found no infirmity in the CIT(A)'s order and upheld the decision, dismissing the ground raised by the assessee.

3. Addition Towards Inflated Expenditure by Way of Sub-Contract Payments:
- Facts: The AO made an addition of ?5,45,60,000/- towards inflated expenditure by observing several discrepancies, including unexplained bank accounts, immediate cash withdrawals, and lack of books of accounts by subcontractors.
- CIT(A) Decision: The CIT(A) upheld the addition, noting that the assessee used confidante persons and other concerns to make inflated sub-contract payments and withdrew surplus funds through trusted employees.
- ITAT Decision: The ITAT directed the AO to allow the deduction under Section 80IA on the enhanced expenditure towards sub-contract payments, following a similar decision in the assessee's own case for earlier AYs. The ITAT noted that the disallowed expenditure related to the business activity and thus qualified for deduction under Section 80IA as per CBDT Circular No. 37/2016.

4. Eligibility of MAT Credit for Deduction under Section 80IA:
- Facts: For AY 2013-14, the AO restricted the claim of deduction under Section 80IA by ?24,06,93,000/-, including MAT credit of ?2,48,96,334/-.
- CIT(A) Decision: The CIT(A) confirmed the disallowance of MAT credit for deduction under Section 80IA, citing that MAT credit is not directly linked to the eligible business but arises due to statutory provisions.
- ITAT Decision: The ITAT upheld the CIT(A)'s decision, agreeing that MAT credit is not eligible for deduction under Section 80IA, relying on the Supreme Court decision in Liberty India vs. CIT.

Conclusion:
- Appeal ITA No. 608/Hyd/2020: Partly allowed.
- Appeal ITA No. 609/Hyd/2020: Dismissed.
- Appeals ITA Nos. 635 & 636/Hyd/2020: Dismissed.

The ITAT's decisions were pronounced on January 11, 2022.

 

 

 

 

Quick Updates:Latest Updates