9911796707
TMI Blog2004 (7) TMI 309X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... est allegedly accrued and receivable from Godavari Capital Limited for the year under appeal under the mercantile system of accounting - Ground Nos. 6 and 7. Disallowance of legal expenses of Rs. 21,84,009 incurred for conducting legal proceedings against the defaulting debtors - Ground Nos. 8 and 9. 3. The assessee is a company deriving income from business of finance and leasing. The facts relating to the first issue are as follows. The assessee made a note in the computation statement stating that in accordance with prudential norms prescribed by Reserve Bank of India for income recognition which are binding on the company, an amount of Rs. 1,23,59,180 was not included. In this connection, the Assessing Officer asked the assessee to explain in detail the reasons for non-recognition of income and non-inclusion of the same in the total income. The assessee furnished a detailed explanation stating that during the accounting year relevant for assessment year 1999-2000 the assessee company had not included the following unpaid finance charges as income in the accounts:- On hire purchase agreement 24,00,077 On lease rental 97,50,771 On loans and advances 2,08,332 The assesse ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... Financial Companies headed by Dr. A.C. Shah (Shah Working Group), the RBI through its circular dated 12-4-1993, advised all Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and Residuary Non-Banking Companies (RNBCs) that RBI would be introducing capital adequacy norms based on risk weights for different types of assets and off - balance sheet items and it would also prescribe prudential norms for income recognition, transparency of accounts and provisioning for bad and doubtful debts etc. The RBI introduced these prudential norms initially through its Circular No. DFC. COC. No. 1707.174.93-94 dated 13-6-1994, a copy of which has been placed at pages 120-128 of the paper book. Para 2.1 of the said prudential norms clearly laid down that income from non-performing assets (NPA) may not be recognized merely on the basis of accrual. An asset becomes non-performing when it ceases to yield income. The income from NPAs should be recognized only when it is actually received. It was further stated by the RBI in the said circular that interest on NPAs should not be booked as income if such interest has remained outstanding for more than six months on and from 31st March, 1995. Similarly, para 2.3 of ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... said four years without bringing to tax the so-called allegedly accrued income by way of interest and/or finance charges on hypothetical basis, even though the method of accounting adopted by the assessee company continued to be mercantile, as before. 6. The learned counsel for the assessee drew our attention towards the details of unpaid hire purchase finance charges and unpaid lease finance charges at pages 21-24 and page 25 of the paper book filed by him. He submitted that it is apparent that in a large number of cases no payments had been received by the assessee company for a very long time. All these cases were NPA as per the Directions of the RBI under Notification No. DFC. 119/DG (SPT) - 98 issued under section 45JA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, viz., "Non Banking Financial Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Direction 1998" dated 31-1-1998. The assessee company, therefore, did not provide in its books of account for the 'unpaid hire finance charges' in the aggregate sum of Rs. 24,00,077 and 'unpaid lease finance charges' in the aggregate sum of Rs. 97,57,771, in its books of account drawn for the financial year ending 31-3-1999 correspondi ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e earlier years, in the aggregate sum of Rs. 47,90,510, which was claimed as bad debts under section 36(1)(vii) read with section 36(ii) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, and para 3(3) of the NBFC Prudential Norms, RBI Directions, 1998, issued by the RBI on 31-1-1998. However, the learned Assessing Officer had arbitrarily added the said sum of Rs. 1,23,59,180 in the total income of the assessee company for the year under appeal, on account of allegedly accrued interest and finance charges which was upheld by the CIT(A). 8. The arguments of the learned counsel for the assessee are summarized as under:- Both the Assessing Officer and the CIT(A) did not appreciate the basic fact that there was no accrual of income in the facts and circumstances of the instant case. It is by now well settled by several judicial pronouncements that there can be no accrual of interest or finance-charges on hire purchase/leases/loans & advances, even under the mercantile system of accounting, when the principal amount itself is doubtful of recovery. Regular mode of accounting only determines the mode of computing taxable income and the point of time at which the tax liability is attracted. It cannot determi ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... on 45 JA contained in Chapter IIIB of the RBI Act override the Income-tax Act, 1961, as well as the agreements entered into between the assessee company and its hirer/lessees/loanees. In Peerless General Finance & Investment Co. Ltd. v. RBI [1992] 2 SCC 343; the Apex Court, dealing with similar provisions contained in sections 45K(3) & (4) and 45L(1)(b) and forming part of Chapter IIIB of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, clearly laid down that the directions issued under Chapter IIIB of the said Act were statutory regulations. Non-banking institutions are bound to comply with such directions and non-compliance thereof attracts penal action. This principle was reiterated by Hon'ble Supreme Court in RBI v. Peerless General Finance & Investment Co. Ltd. [1996] 1 SCC 642. In view of the aforesaid decisions of the Supreme Court, the Assessing Officer and the CIT(A) were not right in alleging and/or observing that the assessee company had changed its accounting policy according to its convenience, and had not observed certain standards. The assessee had not changed its accounting policy or system in not providing for the unrealized interest and finance charges totaling Rs. 1,23 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... in the assessment order. He also distinguished the decision of the ITAT, Jaipur Bench, in Bank of Rajasthan Ltd.'s case referred to by the CIT(A), on facts. He submitted that the decision of Hon'ble Calcutta High Court in CIT v. UCO Bank [1993] 200 ITR 68, relied upon by the Tribunal in that case has already been overruled by Hon'ble Supreme Court in UCO v. CIT [1999] 240 ITR 355." Furthermore, no directions issued by the RBI under Chapter IIIB of the RBI Act, 1934, were claimed by the assessee in that case to be applicable and/or sought to be applied there. That apart, the provisions of Chapter IIIB, more particularly sections 45JA, 45K and/or 45L and/or 45Q were not brought to the notice of and/or considered by the Tribunal in that case. The decision of the Supreme Court in Peerless General Finance & Investment Co. Ltd's case as to the binding nature of these directives and the provisions of Chapter IIIB and the directions issued thereunder being statutory in nature, had not been brought to the notice of the Tribunal. In that case, the Tribunal considered a question as to whether losses on account of revaluation of securities held by the bank should be allowed in ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ition similarly made by the Assessing Officer is Rs. 2,47,123 on account of unpaid interest accrued and receivable from Godavari Capital Ltd. The learned counsel for the assessee submitted that as against an amount of Rs. 4,47,123 due from Godavari Capital Ltd., the assessee had received only a sum of Rs. 2,00,000 on 14/15-7-1998 by cheque. A copy of the covering letter of the party dated 14-7-1998 has been placed at page 66 of the assessee's paper book. The payment was made in full and final settlement of all its dues. The assessee wrote off the balance sum of Rs. 2,47,123. However, instead of debiting Rs. 2,47,123 directly to profit and loss account, the assessee deducted the said amount from the gross interest received/receivable. The net effect, however, was the same. The learned counsel submitted that in view of the settlement, the balance interest of Rs. 2,47,123 was no longer realizable and cannot lawfully be assessed on deemed accrual basis. 11. In view of the aforesaid submissions, the learned counsel contended that the additions on account of unrealized finance charges, unrealized lease rentals and unrealized interest, sustained by the first appellate authority, shou ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... araswati Insurance Co. Ltd. v. CIT [2001] 252 ITR 430. In this connection, the learned DR also referred to the order of the ITAT, Hyderabad Bench in the case of Shakunthala Rathi [IT Appeal No. 699 (Hyd.) of 2002 dated 10-5-2003], as also the recent judgment of Hon'ble Rajasthan High Court in the case of S.M.S. Investment Corpn. (P.) Ltd. v. CIT [2003] 132 Taxman 279. 13. The learned DR further submitted that it is not disputed that the assessee is maintaining accounts on mercantile basis and therefore income should have been computed on the basis of accrual, in view of clear provisions of section 5 and section 145 of the Income-tax Act, 1961. As far as accounting standards prescribed by Government vide Notification No. SO 69(E) dated 25-1-1996, are concerned, the learned DR submitted, it is clearly stated in paragraph 5 of Part A that fundamental accounting assumptions are relating to accrual. Accrual has been further explained in para 6(b). As for the reference of the learned counsel for the assessee to paragraph 9 which falls in ASH relating to disclosure of prior period and extraordinary items and changes in accounting policies, the learned DR submitted that in the present ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... IT [1986] 158 ITR 102, followed in the case of Shiv Prakash Janak Raj & Co. (P.) Ltd., and subsequent cases. He stated that it would be relevant to mention that the assessee never claimed that non-recognition of accrued income was based on any concept of real income enunciated by Hon'ble Courts. If the assessee were to claim benefit of this theory, it has to show case by case as to what were the factors effacing the accrual of income in the relevant previous years. Since the assessee has not discharged the onus in any manner, there was no validity of taking this ground at the stage of appeal before the ITAT, without any evidence having been furnished case-wise before the lower authorities. The learned DR further submitted that the decisions of Hon'ble Supreme Court in State Bank of Travancore's case, CIT v. UP State Industrial Development Corpn. [1997] 225 ITR 703 and Godhra Electricity Co. Ltd.'s case relied upon by the learned counsel for the assessee, actually support the department's stand rather than the assessee's case since it has been held in the aforesaid decisions that the concept of real income has to be applied in the reality of the situation and ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... of the non-banking companies. Hence, the provisions of section 45Q have to be understood with reference to the aims and objects of the RBI Act and the context in which the guidelines were issued thereunder. These objects do not in any way infringe on the area of taxation which is covered by the Income-tax Act, 1961, which is also an Act of Parliament operating in its particular field. Thus, there is no inconsistency or anomaly between the Income-tax Act and the RBI Act, because these Acts operate in different fields. For the proposition that Income-tax Act and RBI Act have different fields of operation, the learned DR place relianced on the following case laws:- Coca-Cola Export Corpn. v. ITO [1998] 231 ITR 200 (SC) CIT v. Super Scientific Clock Co. [1999] 238 ITR 731 (Guj.) CIT v. Kodak India Ltd. [2002] 253 ITR 445 (SC) UCO Bank [1999] 240 ITR 355 (SC) 17. The learned DR lastly submitted that the ground taken by the learned counsel for the assessee that RBI guidelines have to be followed in the matter of taxation also notwithstanding the accrual of income under the income-tax law, is devoid of any legal merit and such contention would make the charging section of the Inc ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... interest part was not offered to tax. In fact, there had been some recovery of principal amount in the financial year 2000-2001 as is evident from page 72 of the paper book. On similar facts and circumstances, it has been held by the ITAT, Hyderabad, in its order in the case of Shakuntala Rathi, that in the absence of any evidence to prove that the recovery of debt was in doubt, interest automatically accrues and is assessable to tax. Decision of the Calcutta Bench of the ITAT in the case of Jayanti Commerce Ltd. v. Asstt. CIT [1997] 61 ITD 183, and the decision of Hon'ble Calcutta High Court in CIT v. Hindustan Motors Ltd. [1993] 202 ITR 839 and that of Hon'ble Rajasthan High Court in S.M.S. Investment Corpn. (P.) Ltd. v. CIT [1993] 203 ITR 1001, also advance the same principle. 19. As regards unpaid interest of Rs. 2,47,123 in the case of Godavri Capital Ltd., the learned DR argued that the letter filed at page 66 of the assessee's paper book, showing that there was a mutual settlement between the parties as per which the amount was written off, was not found on the record of the Assessing Officer. The contentions of the letter had not been considered by either the A ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... roneous basis. The learned counsel further submitted that it is now well settled through repeated judicial pronouncements that the accrual must be real taking into account the actuality of the situation. Whether an accrual has taken place or not must be judged on the principal of the real income theory taking the probability or improbability of realization in a realistic manner. When the principal amount itself is doubtful of recovery, interest and finance charges cannot be said to accrue merely on the ground that the assessee has been following the mercantile system of accounting. The question whether real income has materialized to the assessee has to be considered with reference to commercial and business realities of the situation and not with reference to the assessee's system of accounting. The decision of Hon'ble Supreme Court in State Bank of Travancore's case, went against the assessee only because of the conduct of the assessee bank in continuing to debit the debtors account with the interest and crediting such interest to interest suspense account. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in that case laid great emphasis on the concept of real accrual taking into accoun ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... nt received by it into principal and interest depending upon the period during which the entire instalments were payable. The Special Bench held that the apportionment carried out by the assessee was proper. In paragraph 26 of its order, the Special Bench has set out the various principles of law vis-a-vis sections 4, 5 and 145 of the IT. Act. The learned counsel submitted that there is no quarrel with those principles, which are well-settled, but the issue in the instant case is quite different. The issue here is whether there has been any accrual of interest/finance charges in the real sense in the facts and circumstances of the instant case and the decision of the Special Bench in Nagarjuna Investment Trust Ltd.'s case does not deal with this issue. 23. As regards Government's Accounting Standard reported in 218 ITR (St.) 1, the learned counsel for the assessee submitted that it only helps the assessee insofar as it talks about prudence as a major consideration in the matter of adopting accounting policy as explained in paragraph 4(a) thereof and the fact that it also talks about change in accounting policies being made if it is required by statute. He further submitted ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ns from the RBI, has not been recognised from the assessment year 1995-96 to the assessment year 1998-99. During the present assessment year, i.e., 1999-2000, the same method of accounting is being followed by the company. There is no change in the method of accounting during the assessment year under consideration. Section 145 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, reads as follows: "Method of accounting. "145 (1) Income chargeable under the head 'profits and gains of business or profession' or 'income from other sources' shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), be computed in accordance with either cash or mercantile system of accounting regularly employed by the assessee. (2) The Central Government may notify in the Official Gazette from time to time accounting standards to be followed by any class of assesses or in respect of any class of income. (3) Where the Assessing Officer is not satisfied about the correctness or completeness of the accounts of the assessee, or where the method of accounting provided in sub-section (1) or accounting standards as notified under sub-section (2), have not been regularly followed by the assessee, the Assessing Offic ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... nting assumptions relating to going concerns, consistency and accrual are followed in financial statements, specific disclosure in respect of such assumptions is not required. If a fundamental accounting assumption is not followed, such fact shall be disclosed. (6) For the purpose of paragraphs (1) to (5), the expressions,- (a) 'Accounting policies' means the specific accounting principles and the methods of applying those principles adopted by the assessee in the preparation and presentation of financial statements; (b) 'Accrual' refers to the assumption that revenues and costs are accrued, that is, recognised as they are earned or incurred (and not as money is received or paid) and recorded in the financial statements of the periods to which they relate; (c) 'Consistency' refers to the assumption that accounting policies are consistent from one period to another; (d) 'Financial statements' means any statement to provide information about the financial position, performance and changes in the financial position of an assessee and includes balance sheet, profit and loss account and other statements and explanation notes forming part thereof ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... v. Birla Gwalior (P.) Ltd. [1973] 89 ITR 266 where the assessee maintained its accounts on the mercantile system. In that case this court, after referring to the decision in Morvi Industries Ltd. v. CIT [1971] 82 ITR 835 (SC), which was also a case where the accounts were maintained on the mercantile system, has said: 'Hence, it is clear that this court in Morvi Industries' case [1971] 82 ITR 835 did emphasise the fact that the real question for decision was whether the income had really accrued or not. It is not a hypothetical accrual of income that has got to be taken into consideration but the real accrual of the income.' In Poona Electric Supply Co. Ltd. v. CIT [1965] 57 ITR 521 this court has said: 'Income-tax is a tax on the real income, i.e., the profits arrived at on commercial principles subject to the provisions of the Income-tax Act.' In that case the Court has approved the following principle laid down by the Bombay High Court in H.M. Kashiparekh & Co. Ltd. v. CIT [1960] 39 ITR 706, 707: 'The principle of real income is not to be so subordinated as to amount virtually to a negation of it when a surrender or concession or rebate in resp ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... "The question whether there was real accrual of income to the assessee-company in respect of the enhanced charges for supply of electricity has to be considered by taking the probability or improbability of realisation in a realistic manner. If the matter is considered in this light, it is not possible to hold that there was real accrual of income to the assessee-company in respect of the enhanced charges for supply of electricity which were added by the Income-tax Officer while passing the assessment orders in respect of the assessment years under consideration. The Appellate Assistant Commissioner was right in deleting the said addition made by the Income-tax Officer and the Tribunal had rightly held that the claim at the increased rates as made by the assessee-company on the basis of which necessary entries were made represented only hypothetical income and the impugned amounts as brought to tax by the Income-tax Officer did not represent the income which had really accrued to the assessee-company during the relevant previous years. The High Court, in our opinion, was in error in upsetting the said view of the Tribunal." 28. The argument of the learned departmental representati ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... Government. In fact, they define what is 'prudence' and also require assessees to go by the substance of the issue rather than the form. [See para (4) of AS I and Prudential Norms issued by RBI.] The revenue cannot require the assessee to change his method of accounting unless para 9 of AS II which reads as under, is satisfied [218 ITR (St) 1]: "(9) A change in an accounting policy shall be made only if the adoption of a different accounting policy is required by statute or if it is considered that the change would result in a more appropriate preparation or presentation of the financial statements by an assessee." Thus, when the revenue could not demonstrate that the consistent method of accounting followed by the assessee is in violation of AS I, the disallowance made on that ground cannot be sustained. 29. It is significant to note that the Assessing Officer has accepted the stand of the assessee-company in respect of the reversed finance income, recognised in earlier years, in the aggregate sum of Rs. 47,90,510. This reversal was done based on the NBFC Prudential Norms RBI Directions, 1998, issued by RBI on 31-1-1998. Thus, while accepting reversal, non-recognition ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ctions and non-compliance thereof visits them with penal action. Thus, the accounting policies and the consistent method of recognizing income adopted by the assessee are not merely on its 'ipse dixit, but are in consonance with statutory regulations, and it cannot be said that such accounting policies do not result in representing a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the business. 31. As our view is in consonance with the view of the Delhi Bench of the Tribunal, we follow the same and uphold the contention of the assessee and allow this ground of appeal. Thus, the addition of Rs. 1,23,59,180 is hereby deleted. 32. On the issue of inclusion in total income of Rs. 2,47,123 being unpaid interest from Godavari Capital Limited, the learned DR submitted that the letter given at page 66 of the paper book, showing that there was a mutual settlement between the parties as per which the amount had been written off, was not considered either by the Assessing Officer or by the CIT(A). In these circumstances, we deem it proper to set aside the issue to the file of the Assessing Officer for considering this document and disposing of the issue in accordance with law. 33. The ot ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... d letter dated 5-3-2002 addressed by the assessee to the Assessing Officer at page 75 and details of legal expenses at pp. 76-79 of the paper book. He submitted that the legal expenses in question had been actually incurred by the assessee-company during the previous year relevant for the assessment year under appeal in filing cases against the debtors concerned for realization of the dues. The legal expenses were debited by the assessee company in its books of account to the account of each of the relevant debtors instead of charging the same to the debit of profit and loss account. Legal expenses were carried to the debtors' account in order to keep a track of expenditure incurred in respect of the parties. Awarding of costs to the assessee-creditor was a matter wholly in the discretion of the law courts. The legal expenses had been actually incurred by the company wholly and exclusively for its business purposes. The learned counsel therefore, submitted that these expenses are admissible and the mere fact that these were not charged to the profit and loss account was no ground to disallow the same. According to him, the treatment of an expenditure in the books of account in ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... been filed. In view of this, the learned DR argued that the ground of appeal taken by the assessee on this issue has to be dismissed. 36. In reply, the learned counsel for the assessee submitted that the stand taken by the learned DR is wholly devoid of any merit. He further submitted that the decision of Hon'ble A.P. High Court cited by the learned DR has no application in the facts and circumstances of the instant case. From a reading of the last paragraph at page 365 of the report, it may be noted that the legal expenses of Rs. 69,190 had not been incurred by the assessee in that case. The said expenditure had been incurred by the Hindu undivided family in different years and after the decision of the City Civil court on 30-12-1964, the said expenditure was taken over through a transfer entry by the assessee firm from the said HUF. It was in these circumstances that the High Court held that the liability of the assessee firm to pay the said sum of Rs. 69,190 by way of legal expenditure was not allowable prior to the assessment year 1966-67. At the top of page 366, the court clearly held that the expenditure in question was clearly allowable as a revenue expenditure in the ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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