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Home e-Newsletters Index Year 2013 December Day 30 - Monday

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TMI Tax Updates - e-Newsletter
December 30, 2013

Case Laws in this Newsletter:

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



Articles

1. APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS UNDER NEW COMPANY LAW (Part -II)

   By: Dr. Sanjiv Agarwal

Summary: The article discusses the appointment and rotation of auditors under the new company law, focusing on the responsibilities of the Board of Directors and the Comptroller and Auditor General in appointing auditors for both private and government companies. It outlines the process for appointing first auditors, handling casual vacancies, and the reappointment of retiring auditors. The article emphasizes the role of the Audit Committee in these processes and highlights the draft rules under the Companies Act, 2013, regarding auditor rotation and appointment conditions. It also clarifies that auditor rotation applies to private companies, excluding One Person Companies and small companies.

2. Deployment of ATM machines for banks is not transfer of right to use goods

   By: AMIT BAJAJ ADVOCATE

Summary: The Punjab VAT Tribunal ruled that deploying ATM machines for banks does not constitute a transfer of the right to use goods and is not a sale under the Punjab Value Added Tax Act, 2005. The appellant, a service provider for ATM deployment, was penalized for allegedly evading tax due to not being registered under the Act. However, the Tribunal found that the appellant retained control and ownership of the ATMs, merely providing a service for which they received transaction fees. The Tribunal set aside the penalties, aligning with a similar ruling in a previous case, indicating no sales element was involved.


News

1. Inflation Indexed National Saving Securities- Cumulative (IINSS-C)

Summary: The Reserve Bank of India, in consultation with the Government of India, initially launched the Inflation Indexed National Saving Securities-Cumulative (IINSS-C) on December 23, 2013, with an issuance period set to close on December 31, 2013. However, after a review, the decision was made to extend the issuance period until March 31, 2014. The issuance may be concluded earlier than the new deadline with prior notice.

2. RBI Reference Rate for US $ and Euro

Summary: The Reserve Bank of India set the reference rate for the US dollar at Rs.62.0028 and for the Euro at Rs.85.1855 on December 30, 2013. The previous rates on December 27, 2013, were Rs.62.0595 for the US dollar and Rs.85.2748 for the Euro. The exchange rates for the British Pound and Japanese Yen against the Rupee were 102.1682 and 58.86, respectively, on December 30, compared to 102.0320 and 59.23 on December 27. The SDR-Rupee rate will be determined based on the reference rate.

3. Press Statement of the Finance Secretary on VCES

Summary: The Finance Secretary announced a strong response to the Voluntary Compliance Encouragement Scheme (VCES), with over 40,000 declarations and Rs 5,500 crores in service tax dues submitted by December 29, 2013. The scheme, which ends on December 31, 2013, will not be extended. To accommodate declarants, government offices and banks have extended their hours. Declarants must pay 50% of their tax dues by the deadline to qualify for the scheme. From January 1, 2014, strict actions, including arrest and prosecution, will be enforced against service tax evaders.

4. RBI releases Financial Stability Report – December 2013

Summary: The Reserve Bank of India's Financial Stability Report (FSR) for December 2013 highlights the impact of the US Federal Reserve's tapering of its bond purchase program starting January 2014, which could lead to market volatility. The report notes India's efforts to adjust its current account deficit and build foreign exchange reserves, although challenges like high inflation and fiscal deficit persist. The banking sector faces increased risks, with rising non-performing assets and stressed advances, particularly in sectors like infrastructure and mining. Regulatory reforms are underway, including reducing interconnectedness in the financial system and addressing gaps in interest rate derivatives markets.


Notifications

Customs

1. 132/2013 - dated 27-12-2013 - Cus (NT)

Regarding extension of the period upto 21st March, 2014 for submission of final findings on safeguard investigation concerning import of “Seamless Pipes, Tubes and Hollow profiles of iron or non-alloy steel

Summary: The Government of India, through the Ministry of Finance's Department of Revenue, has extended the deadline for submitting final findings on a safeguard investigation related to the import of "Seamless Pipes, Tubes, and Hollow profiles of iron or non-alloy steel" to March 21, 2014. This extension is in accordance with sub-rule (1) of rule 11 of the Customs Tariff (Identification and Assessment of Safeguard Duty) Rules, 1997. The notification, identified as No. 132/2013-Customs (N.T.), was issued on December 27, 2013, and is to be published in the Gazette of India.

Income Tax

2. 97/2013 - dated 26-12-2013 - IT

Exemption u/s 35(1)(iii) - Approved Scientific Research Expenditure - Approved Social Science or Statistical Research Associations or Institutions - Salim Ali Centre For Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore

Summary: The Central Government has approved the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, for tax exemption under section 35(1)(iii) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, effective from the 2013-2014 assessment year. This approval is granted for its activities as a 'Scientific Research Association,' with conditions including maintaining separate audited accounts for research funds and providing certified statements of donations and expenditures. The approval is contingent on compliance with these conditions, and failure to do so may result in withdrawal of the approval.


Circulars / Instructions / Orders

Customs

1. 44/2013 - dated 30-12-2013

Exemption from Special Additional Duty of Customs (SAD) on goods cleared from the SEZ / FTWZ into the DTA – Clarification – Regarding.

Summary: The circular clarifies the exemption from Special Additional Duty of Customs (SAD) on goods cleared from Special Economic Zones (SEZ) or Free Trade Warehousing Zones (FTWZ) into the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA). It specifies that the exemption under Notification No. 45/2005-Customs is not applicable when goods are transferred from SEZ/FTWZ to DTA for self-consumption, as these transactions are not subject to sales tax or VAT. Therefore, SAD is payable in such cases. The circular advises issuing trade or public notices to inform relevant parties and encourages reporting any implementation difficulties to the Board.


Highlights / Catch Notes

    Income Tax

  • Assessing Officers Must Clearly Communicate Interest Charges to Taxpayers for Transparency and Fairness.

    Case-Laws - HC : Levy of interest - Even if any provision of law is mandatory and provides for charging of tax or interest - Such charge by the assessing officer should be specific and clear and assessee must be made to know that the assessing officer has applied its mind and has ordered charging of interest - HC

  • Court Removes Additions Due to Discrepancy in Stock Value Between Bank Statement and Company Records.

    Case-Laws - HC : Difference in value of stock as per stock statement submitted to bank and stocks as per books - additions deleted - HC

  • Assessing Officer Lacks Evidence on Share Application Money Source; No Income Addition Made.

    Case-Laws - AT : Share application money received - No evidence has been brought on record by the Assessing Officer to prove that the share application money emanated from the coffers of the assessee - No addition - AT

  • Jewelry Investment Explained: Social and Financial Status of Donor and Recipient Justify Gifts' Value and Quantity.

    Case-Laws - AT : Unexplained investment in jewellery - The quantum and the worth of the gifts also depend upon the social as well as financial status not only of the donor but of the donee also - It cannot be said to be a case of unexplained jewellery - AT

  • Assessing Officer Wrong to Use Market Rent Over Municipal Ratable Value for Annual Letting Value Calculation.

    Case-Laws - AT : It is not warranted on the part of the AO to determine the income by taking the fair market rent of comparable properties let out in the localities by ignoring the ratable value fixed by the municipal authorities for arriving at the annual letting value - AT

  • Taxpayer Admissions Not Sole Basis for Income Classification in Assessments, Says Court.

    Case-Laws - AT : Issue regarding the relevant head of income - Admission by the assessee made during the survey cannot be the sole basis for taking a decision by the revenue authorities during the assessment proceedings - AT

  • CIT Cannot Revise Order u/s 263 if Revenue Consistently Accepted Issue; Must Be Erroneous and Prejudicial.

    Case-Laws - AT : Revision by CIT u/s 263 - Erroneous and prejudicial to revenue order - CIT cannot under Sec.263 interfere on an issue which has been accepted by the Revenue for a number of years particularly - AT

  • Bond Issue Costs Classified as Revenue Expenditure, Not Capital, for Tax Purposes Under Income Tax Rules.

    Case-Laws - AT : Bond issue expenses - Capital or revenue in nature - held as revenue expenditure - AT

  • Land Sale as Long-Term Gain, Superstructure as Short-Term; Taxpayer Gets Exemption u/ss 54, 54F of IT Act.

    Case-Laws - AT : Capital gain - Sale consideration received towards the land should be assessed as long-term capital gain and the profits arising out of the superstructure is to be assessed as short-term capital gain - the assessee is entitled to the benefit of exemption provided u/s 54 and 54F of the Act - AT

  • Additional Depreciation u/s 32(1)(iia) Not Allowed for Non-New Machinery Per Income Tax Act.

    Case-Laws - AT : Additional depreciation - Once it is not a new machinery or plant, allowance under Section 32(1)(iia) cannot be allowed - There is nothing in the statute which allows such claim of additional depreciation every year on machinery acquired in earlier year - AT

  • Assessing Officer's Error: Missed Notice u/s 153C, Incorrect Assessment Process Ignoring Section 153A of Income Tax Act.

    Case-Laws - AT : The AO has grossly erred in not issuing notice u/s 153C and in not making asstt u/s 153C read with section 153A of the Act - The provisions of section 153C specifically exclude the applicability of provisions of section 148 - AT

  • Service Tax

  • CENVAT Credit Eligibility: Debit Notes Accepted if They Contain All Required Invoice Elements.

    Case-Laws - AT : Denial of Cenvat credit – CENVAT Credit can be availed on the basis of debit notes which contained all the ingredients as required under the invoices - AT

  • Advance Tax Payment Made in December 2008 for April 2009 Obligation; Adjustment Permitted, Not Overpayment.

    Case-Laws - AT : The liability to pay the tax arose only in April 2009, but the payment was made in December 2008. Thus the payment made in December 2008, can only be an advance payment of tax and not an excess payment of tax - Adjustment allowed - AT

  • ISDs were not obligated to proportionately distribute service tax according to rules at the relevant time.

    Case-Laws - AT : Input service distributor - (ISD) - Proportionate distribution of service tax was not required under the Rules as applicable at the material time - AT

  • Court Examines Valuation of Business Support Services for Vehicle Parking Fees, No Malicious Intent Found by Appellant.

    Case-Laws - AT : Valuation - Business support services - Collection of adda fees for parking vehicles - The matter at the most involves interpretation of legal provision and cannot be held to be on account of any mala fide intent on the part of the appellant - AT

  • Rebate Claim for Software Export Rejected Due to Filing Error; Case Remanded for Further Review Under Notification No. 12/2005-S.T.

    Case-Laws - AT : Rejection of rebate claim - Notification No. 12/2005-S.T., dated 19-4-2005 - Input services used in development of software exported out of India - mistake in filing of ST-3 return showing rebate as Cenvat Credit - matter remanded back with directions - AT

  • No penalty for service tax paid before show cause notice due to lack of qualified staff as mitigating factor.

    Case-Laws - AT : Levy of penalty when service tax has been paid before issuance of show cause notice - lack of availability of qualified staff - no penalty - AT

  • Central Excise

  • R-Core Transformers Denied SSI Exemption Due to SEL Logo and Collaboration Sticker Indicating Manufacture by Instruments & Electronics.

    Case-Laws - AT : SSI Exemption - Brand Name – The goods R-Core Transformers manufactured are having a sticker with description “manufactured by Instruments & Electronics, Bhopal in Technical Collaboration with SEL“ and also showing the logo of M/s. SEL - Exemption denied - AT

  • Penalty for Issuing Fake Invoices u/r 25(1)(d) and Rule 26(1) of Central Excise Rules, 2002.

    Case-Laws - AT : Penalty - Bogus invoice issued without selling the goods – penalty would be attracted under Rule 25 (1) (d) as well as Rule 26(1) of the Central Excise Rules, 2002 - AT

  • Revenue's Objection to Transfer of CENVAT Credit Unjustified When Entitlement is Undisputed, Says Court.

    Case-Laws - AT : Transfer of the unutilized and accumulated cenvat credit - The objection raised by Revenue on technical ground cannot be appreciated in the absence of any dispute of availability of credit to the appellant - AT

  • VAT

  • High Court Rules Labels Lack Commercial Value, Exempt from Sales Tax Due to Work and Labor Nature.

    Case-Laws - HC : Printed materials (labels) supplied by the assessee have no commercial value in the sense that they cannot be marketed in the open market, the impugned transactions were purely ones of work and labour and not liable to sales tax - HC


Case Laws:

  • Income Tax

  • 2013 (12) TMI 1386
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1372
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1371
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1370
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1369
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1368
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1367
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1366
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1365
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1364
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1363
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1362
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1361
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1360
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1359
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1358
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1357
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1356
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1355
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1354
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1353
  • Customs

  • 2013 (12) TMI 1351
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1350
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1349
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1348
  • Service Tax

  • 2013 (12) TMI 1385
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1382
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1381
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1380
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1379
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1378
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1377
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1376
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1375
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1374
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1373
  • Central Excise

  • 2013 (12) TMI 1347
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1346
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1345
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1344
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1343
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1342
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1341
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1340
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1339
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1338
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1337
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1336
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1335
  • CST, VAT & Sales Tax

  • 2013 (12) TMI 1384
  • 2013 (12) TMI 1383
 

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