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Home e-Newsletters Index Year 2014 October Day 8 - Wednesday

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TMI Tax Updates - e-Newsletter
October 8, 2014

Case Laws in this Newsletter:

Income Tax Customs Service Tax Central Excise CST, VAT & Sales Tax



Articles

1. VAT Problems In E-Commerce Transactions – Amazon’s Karnataka Case Study (A Potential Noscitur Principle Issue)

   By: CA.Ankit Gulgulia

Summary: E-commerce in India is rapidly expanding, raising tax challenges under existing laws. A notable issue involves Amazon in Karnataka, where VAT authorities view e-commerce companies storing goods as 'dealers' liable for VAT. This classification is based on the definition of 'dealer' under the Karnataka VAT Act, which includes those supplying or distributing goods. Authorities insist on compliance with registration and record maintenance. However, Amazon argues it operates as a service provider, not an agent, facilitating transactions between buyers and sellers. The Noscitur Principle could influence interpretation, potentially affecting e-commerce tax liabilities across various states.

2. Paper Board notified for the purpose of E-ICC and E-Trip-some interesting analysis

   By: AMIT BAJAJ ADVOCATE

Summary: The Punjab Excise and Taxation Department has mandated that paper boards sold by manufacturers in Punjab must be reported through E-ICC and E-Trip systems under the Punjab VAT Rules, 2005. Unlike other goods, no monetary threshold is set for reporting paper board transactions, meaning all such transactions must be reported regardless of value. The maximum transition times for transporting paper boards are specified based on distance, with different rules for inter-state and intra-state transactions. These requirements apply only to manufacturers, raising questions about the obligations of traders. The order details the specified goods and transition times.


News

1. DIPP on a Overdrive to Boost Manufacturing

Summary: The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) has approved 33 pending applications for industrial licenses, significantly boosting the Make In India initiative. This includes 19 proposals for defense production from major companies. The approvals follow the simplification of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy, which increased the FDI cap in defense from 26% to 49% and removed the requirement for 51% ownership by a single Indian entity. Additionally, many defense items have been delicensed, allowing companies to manufacture without lengthy processes. The government aims to enhance the Ease of Doing Business through various measures, including online application processes and extended license validity.

2. Commerce Secretary Inaugurates India Pavilion at CPHI Worldwide 2014

Summary: The India Pavilion at CPhI Worldwide 2014 in Paris was inaugurated by the Commerce Secretary and other Indian officials, marking India's third consecutive participation in the event. The India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) led the Brand India Pharma campaign, showcasing India's commitment to responsible healthcare. Approximately 230 Indian companies participated, highlighting India's growing influence in the global pharmaceutical industry. The campaign aimed to increase awareness of India's pharmaceutical strengths and commitment to affordable healthcare. High-level meetings with global stakeholders and media were organized to reinforce India's position as a responsible healthcare provider.

3. Gross Direct Taxes Collections during April-September of the Current Financial Year 2014-15 is up by 15.00 percent and stood at ₹ 3,46,144 crore as against ₹ 3,01,063 crore Collected during the same Period Last Year

Summary: Gross direct taxes collections for April-September in the financial year 2014-15 increased by 15% to Rs. 3,46,144 crore, compared to Rs. 3,01,063 crore in the same period last year. Corporate tax collections rose by 15.31% to Rs. 2,22,616 crore, while personal income tax, including STT and wealth tax, increased by 14.37% to Rs. 1,23,528 crore. Securities Transaction Tax grew by 45.83% to Rs. 3,223 crore. Net direct tax collections rose by 7.09% to Rs. 2,68,836 crore. Advance tax collections grew by 15.28%, while growth in Tax Deduction at Source was 9.47%, down from 14.22% the previous year.

4. RBI Reference Rate for US $

Summary: The Reserve Bank of India set the reference rate for the US Dollar at Rs. 61.3595 on October 7, 2014, compared to Rs. 61.7511 on October 1, 2014. Based on this reference rate and the middle rates of cross-currency quotes, the exchange rates for the Euro, British Pound, and Japanese Yen against the Rupee were updated. On October 7, 2014, the rates were 1 Euro at Rs. 77.4664, 1 British Pound at Rs. 98.7090, and 100 Japanese Yen at Rs. 56.50. The SDR-Rupee rate is also determined using this reference rate.


Notifications

Income Tax

1. 48/2014 - dated 30-9-2014 - IT

Income-tax (10th Amendment) Rules, 2014 - Prescribed authority under section 133C

Summary: The Income-tax (10th Amendment) Rules, 2014, issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, amends the Income-tax Rules, 1962. Effective upon publication in the Official Gazette, it introduces Rule 12D, designating the Principal Director General, Director General, Principal Director, or Director of Income-tax as the prescribed authority under section 133C of the Income-tax Act, 1961. These officials are authorized by the Central Board of Direct Taxes to act as the prescribed authority for the purposes outlined in section 133C. This amendment follows the previous 9th Amendment to the Income-tax Rules, 2014.

2. G.S.R. 624(E) - dated 28-8-2014 - IT

U/s 120 of the Income Tax Act 1961 - Jurisdiction of Direct Taxes Regional Training Institutes (DTRTIs)

Summary: The notification issued by the Ministry of Finance, Central Board of Direct Taxes, outlines the jurisdictional changes for Direct Taxes Regional Training Institutes (DTRTIs) following the approval of the Cadre Restructuring Plan 2014. The notification specifies that each DTRTI will cover the entire territorial jurisdiction of the respective Principal Chief Commissioner(s) of Income-tax (Pr. CCIT) in various regions across India. The regions include Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, and others, with specific DTRTIs assigned to each. This notification is effective from its publication date in the Gazette of India.

3. G.S.R 625(E) - dated 28-8-2014 - IT

U/s 120 of the Income Tax Act 1961 - Jurisdiction of Ministerial Staff Training Units (MSTUs)

Summary: The notification issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes under the Ministry of Finance outlines the jurisdictional framework for Ministerial Staff Training Units (MSTUs) following the Cadre Restructuring Plan of 2014. The MSTUs, listed by location, are assigned jurisdiction over specific regions corresponding to the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income-tax (Pr. CCIT) or Chief Commissioner of Income-tax (CCIT). Each MSTU's supervisory authority is a Direct Taxes Regional Training Institute (DTRTI). The notification specifies the territorial jurisdiction for various regions across India, detailing the Pr. CCIT/CCIT region and the corresponding supervisory DTRTI for each MSTU.

4. 1/2014 - dated 21-7-2014 - IT

Notification u/s 35AC - Notifies the various institutions Approved by the National Committee.

Summary: The notification issued by the Ministry of Finance under Section 35AC of the Income Tax Act, 1961, approves various institutions and their projects for tax deductions. It lists 17 organizations, including charitable trusts, medical research centers, educational institutions, and welfare societies, each with specified projects ranging from healthcare, education, housing, and vocational training. The approved projects have designated costs eligible for deduction, effective for three financial years starting from 2014-15 to 2016-17. The notification specifies the maximum amount of cost allowed for deduction for each project during the approval period.


Highlights / Catch Notes

    Income Tax

  • Improper Service of Notice Invalidates Assessment Reopening u/s 148, Lacking Jurisdiction, Says High Court.

    Case-Laws - HC : Reopening of assessment u/s 148 – when notice u/s 148 of the Act is not duly served on the assessee, the proceedings u/s 147 of the Act is one without jurisdiction and the Tribunal has rightly set aside the order - HC

  • Interest-Free Loans to Sister Concerns: Interest Deduction Disallowed During Litigation or Arbitration Proceedings Involving Sister Entity.

    Case-Laws - HC : Interest on borrowed funds disallowance - interest free loan given to sister concerns - The sister concern getting into litigation or involving itself in a arbitration proceedings to which the holding company is nowhere responsible, cannot be made a ground for allowing deduction - HC

  • High Court Allows Expense Claim for Abandoned Project u/s 37(1) After Initial Disallowance and "Work-in-Progress" Status.

    Case-Laws - HC : Claim of expenses disallowed u/s 37(1) - expenditure/loss incurred on abandoned project – for the first two years the expenditure is shown as “work-in-progress” - claim of expenses allowed - HC

  • High Court Remands Tribunal's Decision on 5% ALP Reduction for Reassessment u/s 92C(2) Proviso.

    Case-Laws - HC : Reduction of 5% of ALP u/s 92CA(2) – the order of the Tribunal in relation to the claim of reduction of 5% of arm's length price of international transaction in view of proviso to section 92C(2) is set aside and the matter is remitted back to the Tribunal for fresh consideration - HC

  • High Court Rules Expenses on Interior Modifications as Revenue in Nature, Resulting in Long-term Rent Savings for Taxpayer.

    Case-Laws - HC : Classification of expenses - Expenses on wooden partitions, electric wiring, power connections, interior layout and carpeting - the assessee made substantial savings in monthly rent for a period of 39 years by expending these amounts - held as revenue in nature - HC

  • Capital Gains Tax: Use Original Owner's Holding Period for Indexed Cost on Inherited Assets.

    Case-Laws - HC : Computation of indexed cost of acquisition – capital gain on transfer of capital asset acquired through succession - for the purpose of 'Indexed Cost of Acquisition', it has to be understood as the first year in which the previous owner held the said property - HC

  • Technical service fees are non-taxable in India without a Permanent Establishment; no tax deduction if services not made available.

    Case-Laws - HC : Fees for technical services paid, taxable or not – No Permanent Establishment in India - when once factually it is held the technical services has not been made available, then, there is no liability to deduct tax at source - HC

  • Customs

  • 4% Special Additional Duty Refunds via Re-Credit Post-June 2013 Deemed Improper.

    Case-Laws - AT : Whether sanctioning of 4% of SAD refunds by way of re-credit in the respective licenses after 30.06.2013 was proper or not - held as not proper - AT

  • High Protein Poultry Mash rightly classified under CETA chapter 2302 and CTA chapter 2309, not CETA chapter 2301.

    Case-Laws - AT : Classification of High Protein Poultry Mash (HPPM) - HPPM is rightly classifiable under chapter 2302 of CETA and 2309 of CTA and not under chapter 2301 of CETA - AT

  • Service Tax

  • Refund Claim Rejected: Attempted Adjustment Against Unconfirmed Demand Lacks Legal Authority.

    Case-Laws - AT : Rejection of refund claim - adjustment of unconfirmed demand with refund - there was no legal authority to adjust the amount as the same cannot be held to be a confirmed demand for the reasons recorded - AT

  • Appellants can offset excess service tax paid this month against next month's liabilities.

    Case-Laws - AT : Adjustment of excess service tax - Whether the excess service tax paid in same months can be adjusted by the appellants in the following months - held yes - AT

  • Appellant's Creative Activities Not Classified as "Sound Recording" for Service Tax Purposes, Court Concludes.

    Case-Laws - AT : Activities undertaken by the appellant involves writing of scripts, recording voices of artists, producing the program, providing musical background and recording of sound - prima facie appellant's activity does not fall within the statutory definition of “sound recording“- AT

  • Clearing Agent Allowed to Sell Goods in Small Lots, Not Just Acting for Principal.

    Case-Laws - AT : Nature of activity - Clearing and forwarding agents - appellant is free to sell the goods to his customers in small lots. Such permission given to the assessee in the present case is indicative of the fact that he is not working as clearing and forwarding agent of the principal. - AT

  • Small Scale Industry Exemption Under Notification No. 6/2005-S.T. Allowed Despite Non-Opt-In by Assessee.

    Case-Laws - AT : Benefit of Notification No. 6/2005-S.T. - SSI exemption - revenue argue that SSI benefit cannot be extended when the assessee has not opted for the same - benefit of small scale exemption allowed - AT

  • Central Excise

  • Appellant Settles Interest on 100% CENVAT Credit in First Year; No Recovery Needed for 50% Credit.

    Case-Laws - AT : CENVAT Credit - Capital goods - 100% credit availed in the first year - Since the appellant has already compensated the Central Government by paying the interest, the question of recovery of the Cenvat Credit of the 50% availed by them in the same financial year does not arise. - AT

  • Suppliers can claim CENVAT Credit if job workers pay duty on manufactured goods, creating a revenue-neutral situation.

    Case-Laws - AT : CENVAT Credit - Job work - Even if a job worker pays duty on the goods manufactured by him the same will be eligible as CENVAT Credit to the supplier of the raw material making it a totally revenue neutral situation - AT

  • Input Credit Allowed as Bills of Entry Endorsed in Appellant's Name Despite Head Office Issue.

    Case-Laws - AT : Denial of input credit - Bills of Entry were in the name of their Head Office - it is not in dispute that lorry receipts and the Bills of Entry are having endorsements in the name of the appellant - credit allowed - AT

  • Extended Limitation Period Not Applicable for Captive Consumption u/r 6(b) Valuation Rules in Central Excise Law.

    Case-Laws - AT : Extended period of limitation - captive consumption - As the issue is that whether Rule 6 (b)(i) is applicable to the facts of this case or Rule 6(b) (ii) of the Valuation Rules is applicable to this case, therefore we hold that the extended period of limitation is not invokable - AT


Case Laws:

  • Income Tax

  • 2014 (10) TMI 114
  • 2014 (10) TMI 113
  • 2014 (10) TMI 112
  • 2014 (10) TMI 111
  • 2014 (10) TMI 110
  • 2014 (10) TMI 109
  • 2014 (10) TMI 108
  • 2014 (10) TMI 107
  • 2014 (10) TMI 106
  • 2014 (10) TMI 105
  • 2014 (10) TMI 104
  • 2014 (10) TMI 103
  • 2014 (10) TMI 102
  • 2014 (10) TMI 101
  • 2014 (10) TMI 100
  • Customs

  • 2014 (10) TMI 123
  • 2014 (10) TMI 119
  • 2014 (10) TMI 118
  • 2014 (10) TMI 117
  • 2014 (10) TMI 116
  • 2014 (10) TMI 115
  • Service Tax

  • 2014 (10) TMI 139
  • 2014 (10) TMI 138
  • 2014 (10) TMI 137
  • 2014 (10) TMI 136
  • 2014 (10) TMI 135
  • 2014 (10) TMI 134
  • 2014 (10) TMI 133
  • 2014 (10) TMI 132
  • Central Excise

  • 2014 (10) TMI 129
  • 2014 (10) TMI 128
  • 2014 (10) TMI 127
  • 2014 (10) TMI 126
  • 2014 (10) TMI 125
  • 2014 (10) TMI 124
  • 2014 (10) TMI 122
  • 2014 (10) TMI 121
  • 2014 (10) TMI 120
  • CST, VAT & Sales Tax

  • 2014 (10) TMI 131
  • 2014 (10) TMI 130
 

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