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Home e-Newsletters Index Year 2012 July Day 26 - Thursday

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TMI Tax Updates - e-Newsletter
July 26, 2012

Case Laws in this Newsletter:

Income Tax Customs Service Tax Central Excise Wealth tax



Articles

1. “Manufacture or production of goods” – an exemption or a litigation in negative list

   By: Pradeep Jain

Summary: The article discusses the complexities and potential legal disputes surrounding the inclusion of "manufacture or production of goods" in the negative list for service tax exemptions. It highlights the differences between processing, production, and manufacture, noting that while manufacture is clearly defined under the Central Excise Act, production is not, leading to varying interpretations. Judicial rulings have clarified that production includes processes that bring new goods into existence, even if not amounting to manufacture. The article explores how the negative list's exemption could broaden the scope of tax exemptions, contrasting it with the previous positive list regime, and anticipates departmental resistance to broadly applying these exemptions.

2. COURT CANNOT INTERFERE WITH THE TRANSFER OF EMPLOYEE UNLESS IT WAS MALA FIDE OR IN VIOLATION OF STATUTORY PROVISIONS.

   By: DR.MARIAPPAN GOVINDARAJAN

Summary: The Supreme Court has established that courts cannot interfere with employee transfer orders unless they are made with mala fide intent or violate statutory provisions. In a case involving a transport corporation, union leaders claimed their transfers were retaliatory following a strike for employee benefits. The corporation argued the transfers were necessary for administrative reasons. The court found no evidence of mala fide intent in the transfers and emphasized that while employees can advocate for their rights, strikes in essential services can harm the public. Courts should not replace the judgment of competent authorities unless transfers are clearly unjust or arbitrary.


News

1. For the First Time A Commemorative Postage Stamp and Coffee Table Book on Customs to be Released Tomorrow to Mark 50 Years of Achievements under the Customs Act 1962.

Summary: A commemorative postage stamp and a coffee table book on Indian Customs will be released to mark 50 years of the Customs Act, 1962. The Union Minister of Communication and Information Technology will unveil the stamp, while the Minister of State for Finance will release the book at Vigyan Bhawan on July 26, 2012. This event is part of the Central Board of Excise and Customs' Golden Jubilee celebrations, acknowledging the Customs Department's contributions to nation-building. The Customs Act, 1962, consolidated earlier customs laws and has been in force since February 1, 1963, safeguarding India's economic borders.

2. Anand Sharma to Attend Global Investment Conference in London Tomorrow.

Summary: The Union Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Textiles from India is attending the Global Investment Conference in London. He will participate in a session on Global Trade Partnerships alongside officials from the UK and Nigeria. The minister plans to discuss global economic challenges and India's new trade partnerships. He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with British and Czech officials to review and enhance economic ties. In 2011, trade between India and the UK reached $16.395 billion, a 41% increase from 2010. For January-May 2012, trade totaled $6.146 billion, with exports at $3.374 billion and imports at $2.772 billion.

3. Foreign Investment Promotion Board Approves 14 FDI Proposals Worth Rs.1584.11 Crore.

Summary: The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) of India approved 14 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) proposals totaling approximately Rs. 1584.11 crore. These approvals span various sectors, including commerce, electronics, financial services, healthcare, and telecommunications. Notable approvals include foreign equity induction in companies like Abhijeet Power Limited and Bajaj Finserv Limited. Additionally, 15 proposals were deferred, 7 were rejected, and 3 were advised that FIPB approval was not required. Three proposals were withdrawn from consideration. The decisions were based on the FIPB meeting held on June 29, 2012.

4. Imposing Fees on Certain E-Forms Filed with ROC, RD OR MCA(HQ) under MCA-21 Where at Present No Fee is Prescribed.

Summary: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs in India has introduced fees for certain e-forms filed under the MCA-21 system with the Registrar of Companies, Regional Director, or MCA headquarters. These forms, previously exempt from fees, now incur charges as specified in Schedule X to the Act or the Companies (Fee on Application) Rules, 1999. The affected forms include those related to the Investor Education and Protection Fund, statutory auditor information, receiver's abstracts, and various applications to the Registrar of Companies and the Central Government. The fee imposition took effect on July 22, 2012.

5. Income Tax Department Starts Two More Taxpayer Friendly Initiatives : ‘Register for Home Visit’ and ‘Online Tax Help’.

Summary: The Income Tax Department has introduced two initiatives, 'Register for Home Visit' and 'Online Tax Help', to simplify tax return filing. Taxpayers can access these services via the website, choosing between online assistance or a home visit. Online queries are addressed within 24 hours by tax experts, while home visits are scheduled with trained Tax Return Preparers (TRPs) in select cities, with plans to expand. TRPs, trained by the department, charge up to Rs. 250 per return. This initiative aims to ease compliance costs for small and marginal taxpayers, with TRPs also receiving incentives based on tax return outcomes.


Notifications

DGFT

1. 07 (RE – 2012)/2009-2014 - dated 23-7-2012 - FTP

Amendment in ITC (HS) 2012 Schedule 1 – Import Policy.

Summary: The notification amends the Import Policy in the ITC (HS) 2012 Schedule 1, under the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-2014. Changes include updates to descriptions and policy conditions for various commodities such as tobacco products, iron ores, copper, brass, nickel, aluminum, lead, and zinc scrap. Notable amendments involve adjustments to the length specifications of cigarettes and the classification of iron ore based on iron content. Additionally, the notification revises the classification of paper products and updates the ISRI code descriptions for various metal scraps. These amendments align with the Budget 2012 updates.

VAT - Delhi

2. F.7(450)/Policy/VAT/2012/361-371 - dated 23-7-2012 - DVAT

Security Waiver to Dealers in Registration.

Summary: The Commissioner of Value Added Tax in Delhi has issued a notification under the Delhi Value Added Tax Act, 2004, stating that dealers applying for registration with the department will not be required to furnish security for a period of two months from the notification date, July 23, 2012. This waiver aims to facilitate the registration process for dealers during this specified period.


Circulars / Instructions / Orders

VAT - Delhi

1. F 7 (420)Policy/VAT/2012/PF/372-374 - dated 23-7-2012

Agenda for discussion in the meeting held on 04.07.2012 at 3.30 P.M. with the Sales Tax Bar Association.

Summary: The meeting on 04.07.2012 with the Sales Tax Bar Association addressed several key issues. Recent amendments to the Act now require reversal of Input Tax Credit for Inter-State Sales against "C" Forms, with rules pending government approval. Concerns about default assessments and penalties due to form mismatches were reviewed, confirming no system errors. Instructions were issued to ensure refund claims are not rejected without orders. Circular No. 5 remains voluntary. The deadline for quarterly returns has been extended. Tax under the CST Act is under review. Public utility improvements are underway, with a committee recommending facility enhancements.

FEMA

2. 09 - dated 24-7-2012

Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 250 million to the Government of Nepal.

Summary: Exim Bank has established a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 250 million with the Government of Nepal to finance infrastructure projects such as highways, airports, and hydropower. The agreement, effective from June 29, 2012, mandates that at least 75% of the goods and services must be sourced from India, with the possibility of reducing this requirement upon request. The LOC allows for the opening of Letters of Credit and disbursement up to 72 months from the agreement's execution date. No agency commission is payable under this LOC, and compliance with FEMA regulations is required.

3. 10 - dated 24-7-2012

Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 47 million to the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

Summary: Exim Bank of India has established a USD 47 million Line of Credit (LOC) with the Government of Ethiopia to support the development of the Ethiopian sugar industry. The agreement, effective from July 9, 2012, stipulates that at least 75% of the goods and services must be sourced from India, with the remainder potentially sourced internationally. The LOC allows for project and supply contract financing, with specific deadlines for credit and disbursement. No agency commission is payable, but exporters can use their resources for commission payments. The circular is issued under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.


Highlights / Catch Notes

    Income Tax

  • Section 40(a)(ia) Disallowance Not Applicable When TDS Deducted, Even with Short Deduction Allegations.

    Case-Laws - AT : Disallowance u/s 40(a)(ia) of the Act - disallowance cannot be made when there has been deduction of tax at source on the allegation that there is a short deduction of tax - AT

  • High Court Rules Casual and Contractual Workers Count Toward Section 80-IB Employment Requirement for Tax Deductions.

    Case-Laws - HC : Deduction u/s 80-IB - condition of employment of ten or more workers – Casual or contractual worker are workers. - HC

  • Capital Gains Tax Applied During Firm Dissolution or Asset Distribution u/s 45(4) of the Income Tax Act.

    Case-Laws - HC : Levy of capital gains tax - in the year in which the dissolution of the firm takes place or year in which consequent to such dissolution the distribution of assets takes place as per Section 45[4] - HC

  • High Court Clarifies Deductions u/ss 80C-80U and Disallowance u/s 14A of Income Tax Act.

    Case-Laws - HC : Disallowance u/s 14A and deductions under Sections 80C to 80U (Chapter VIA) - the income on which the deduction is allowed forms a part of the total income, though not included in the amount or quantum on which tax is paid - HC

  • Discrepancy in Accounting Methods: EMI for Tax, SOD for Financial Statements Sparks Legal Concerns on Tax Assessments.

    Case-Laws - HC : Difference in method of accounting adopted - EMI method to account the finance charges for the income tax purposes and SOD Method to arrive at balance sheet and profit and loss statements - HC

  • Software Development Costs: Classified as Revenue Expenditure, Fully Deductible in Year Incurred for Tax Purposes.

    Case-Laws - HC : Development of software - a revenue expenditure or capital expenditure? - only a revenue expenditure - HC

  • Court Examines Tax Deduction Eligibility for AMC Charges on Components u/ss 80IB and 80IC of Income Tax Act.

    Case-Laws - AT : Deduction u/s 80IB/80IC on AMC charges - on bought out components, used for the erection - AT

  • Capital Gains Reinvestment: Can Proceeds from Multiple Property Sales Fund One Home Purchase? Legal Clarity Needed.

    Case-Laws - AT : No rulings have been brought on record by the ld. DR to show that the capital gain arising from sale of more than one residential houses cannot be invested in one residential house - AT

  • Taxpayer's Deduction Claim u/s 54 Denied: Two Nearby Flats Not a Single Residential Property.

    Case-Laws - AT : Allowance of claim of deduction u/s 54 - the two flats cannot be treated as one residential property only on the ground that two buildings in which the flats were located were within the walking distance as claimed by assessee - - AT

  • Assessee Trust's Income Exempt from Maximum Marginal Tax Rate; Section 161(1A) Provisions Not Applicable.

    Case-Laws - AT : Taxability of Income as assessee trust - maximum marginal rate. - provisions of sec. 161(1A) are not applicable in the case of the assessee. - AT

  • Assessee Qualifies for Tax Deduction u/s 10A After STPI Approval Confirms Exemption Claim Validity.

    Case-Laws - AT : Eligibility for deduction u/s 1OA - the assessee has demonstrated that first invoice has been raised after it has obtained the approval of STPI. Thus claim of exemption u/s 10A is admissible. - AT

  • Are Share Sale Gains Long-Term or Short-Term? Determining Tax Implications Based on Dematerialization Date.

    Case-Laws - AT : Sale of shares - long term capital gains or short term - Whether purchase of the shares can be considered only on the date of dematerialization – AT

  • DGFT

  • DGFT Updates ITC (HS) 2012 Schedule 1: Import Policy Changes Affecting Goods Categorization and Compliance for Importers.

    Notifications : Amendment in ITC (HS) 2012 Schedule 1 – Import Policy. - Notification

  • FEMA

  • Exim Bank Grants USD 250 Million Credit Line to Nepal for Development Projects Under FEMA Guidelines.

    Circulars : Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 250 million to the Government of Nepal. - Circular

  • Exim Bank Grants USD 47M Credit Line to Ethiopia for Economic Development and Bilateral Cooperation Projects.

    Circulars : Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 47 million to the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. - Circular

  • Indian Laws

  • Indian Tax Law: Defining "Manufacture or Production of Goods" for Exemptions and Compliance in Business Activities.

    Articles : “Manufacture or production of goods” – an exemption or a litigation in negative list - Article

  • Wealth-tax

  • Assessee denied Wealth Tax exemption u/s 5(1)(vi); house deemed uninhabitable due to missing essential features.

    Case-Laws - AT : Wealth tax - the assessee is not entitled to exemption u/s. 5(1)(vi) of the Wealth Tax Act,1957, for the reasons that the house is not habitable in view of the fact that plastering, flooring, drainage and electricity is not done, doors and windows are not installed, the ceilings are in damaged condition. - AT

  • VAT

  • Sales Tax Bar Association Discusses VAT Circulars, Recent Changes, and Alerts for Practitioners at 2012 Meeting.

    Circulars : Agenda for discussion in the meeting held on 04.07.2012 at 3.30 P.M. with the Sales Tax Bar Association. - Circular

  • Dealers Granted Security Waiver for VAT and Sales Tax Registration to Simplify Processes and Boost Compliance Efforts.

    Notifications : Security Waiver to Dealers in Registration. - Notification


Case Laws:

  • Income Tax

  • 2012 (7) TMI 628
  • 2012 (7) TMI 627
  • 2012 (7) TMI 626
  • 2012 (7) TMI 625
  • 2012 (7) TMI 624
  • 2012 (7) TMI 623
  • 2012 (7) TMI 622
  • 2012 (7) TMI 621
  • 2012 (7) TMI 620
  • 2012 (7) TMI 619
  • 2012 (7) TMI 618
  • 2012 (7) TMI 617
  • 2012 (7) TMI 616
  • 2012 (7) TMI 615
  • 2012 (7) TMI 614
  • 2012 (7) TMI 613
  • 2012 (7) TMI 612
  • 2012 (7) TMI 611
  • 2012 (7) TMI 610
  • 2012 (7) TMI 609
  • 2012 (7) TMI 599
  • 2012 (7) TMI 598
  • 2012 (7) TMI 597
  • 2012 (7) TMI 596
  • 2012 (7) TMI 595
  • 2012 (7) TMI 594
  • 2012 (7) TMI 593
  • 2012 (7) TMI 592
  • 2012 (7) TMI 591
  • 2012 (7) TMI 590
  • 2012 (7) TMI 589
  • 2012 (7) TMI 588
  • 2012 (7) TMI 587
  • 2012 (7) TMI 586
  • 2012 (7) TMI 585
  • 2012 (7) TMI 584
  • 2012 (7) TMI 583
  • 2012 (7) TMI 582
  • 2012 (7) TMI 581
  • 2012 (7) TMI 580
  • 2012 (7) TMI 579
  • 2012 (7) TMI 578
  • 2012 (7) TMI 577
  • 2012 (7) TMI 576
  • Customs

  • 2012 (7) TMI 575
  • Service Tax

  • 2012 (7) TMI 633
  • 2012 (7) TMI 632
  • 2012 (7) TMI 631
  • 2012 (7) TMI 630
  • 2012 (7) TMI 629
  • 2012 (7) TMI 602
  • 2012 (7) TMI 601
  • 2012 (7) TMI 600
  • 2012 (7) TMI 574
  • 2012 (7) TMI 573
  • Central Excise

  • 2012 (7) TMI 607
  • 2012 (7) TMI 606
  • 2012 (7) TMI 605
  • 2012 (7) TMI 604
  • 2012 (7) TMI 603
  • 2012 (7) TMI 572
  • 2012 (7) TMI 571
  • 2012 (7) TMI 570
  • 2012 (7) TMI 569
  • Wealth tax

  • 2012 (7) TMI 634
 

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