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TMI Blog2015 (11) TMI 867X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... se. The effective ground of appeal raised in all these appeals pertains to disallowance of ESOP (Employee Stock Option) expenses claimed by the assessee company as revenue expenditure. 3. The Brief facts of the case are that the assessee company filed its return of income for the assessment year 2007-08 declaring loss of Rs. 24,51,11,643/- and the assessment was completed by the assessing officer(hereinafter called "the AO") vide orders dated 24th November 2009 passed u/s 143(3) of Income Tax Act,1961(Hereinafter called "the Act") accepting the loss claimed by the assessee company. The assessment was re-opened u/s 147 of the Act read with section 148 of the Act on the ground that the assessee company has claimed an amount of Rs. 81,93,150/- as ESOP expenses which is actually the difference between the fair market value of the shares allotted to the employees and the price at which shares are allotted to employees and the same were claimed as revenue expenses by the assessee company. In the view of the AO, the said expenses are notional expenditure which can not be allowed as deduction under the Act as the same is not revenue expenditure rather the same is merely share premium fore ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... n held by Apex Court that provision made for leave encashment is an allowable expenditure. g) The assessee company also relied upon the decision of SSI Ltd. V. DCIT (2004) 85 TTJ 1049(Chen. Trib.) where the Chennai Tribunal allowed the claim of the tax payer under the similar facts. h) The assessee company submitted that Chandigarh Bench of Tribunal has allowed deduction with respect to issue of sweat equity shares at predetermined price for consideration other than cash. i) The liability for ESOP has accrued and arisen during the assessment year and it has been debited to Profit and Loss A/c and is an allowable expenditure. j) These ESOP expenses are taxable as perquisite in the hands of the employees u/s 17(2)(vi) of the Act read with section 115WB(1)(d) of the Act and hence the same are allowable expenses in the hands of the assesse company. k) The ESOP expenses are not capital as there is no increase in the capital base of the company which is Rs. 3,46,75,325 as at 31-03-2006 and also as at 31-03-2007. 6. The AO did not accepted the contentions of the assessee company and held that these are notional expenses and assessee has not actually incurred any expenditure. The sai ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ers v. CIT (2000) 245 ITR 428(SC) whereby Apex Court has held that provision made for leave encashment is an allowable expenditure. g) The assessee company also relied upon the decision of SSI Ltd. V. DCIT (2004) 85 TTJ 1049(Chen. Trib.) where the Chennai Tribunal allowed the claim of the tax payer under the similar facts. h) The assessee company submitted that Chandigarh Bench of Tribunal has allowed deduction with respect to issue of sweat equity shares at predetermined price for consideration other than cash. i) The liability for ESOP has accrued and arisen during the assessment year and it has been debited to Profit and Loss A/c and is an allowable expenditure. j) These ESOP expenses are taxable as perquisite in the hands of the employees u/s 17(2)(vi) of the Act read with section 115WB(1)(d) of the Act and hence the same are allowable expenses in the hands of the assesse company. k) The ESOP expenses are not capital as there is no increase in the capital base of the company which is Rs. 3,46,75,325 as at 31-03-2006 and also as at 31-03-2007. l) The assessee company also relied upon the decision of Hon'ble Special Bench- ITAT Bangalore in the case of Biocon Ltd. V. DC ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... h grant and on which the assessee company had no control. e) The liability of the assessee company under ESOP can be measured with reasonable certainty under the mercantile method of accounting as per guidelines issued by the SEBI and is definite liability and an allowable expenditure. f) The liability under the an ESOP is easily comparable with provision made for leave encashment and relied upon Hon'ble Supreme Court decision in Bharat Earth Movers v. CIT (2000) 245 ITR 428(SC) had held that provision made for leave encashment is an allowable expenditure. g) The assessee company also relied upon the decision of SSI Ltd. V. DCIT (2004) 85 TTJ 1049(Chen. Trib.) where the Chennai Tribunal allowed the claim of the tax payer under the similar facts. h) The assessee company submitted that Chandigarh Bench of Tribunal has allowed deduction with respect to issue sweat equity shares at predetermined price for consideration other than cash. i) The liability for ESOP has accrued and arisen during the assessment year and it has been debited to Profit and Loss A/c and is an allowable expenditure. j) These ESOP expenses are taxable as perquisite in the hands of the employees u/s 17(2) ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ll the four counsel are hereinafter collectively referred to as 'the ld. AR'). We have also heard Shri S.K. Ambastha, the ld. CIT representing the Revenue. The moot question is as to whether the Discounted premium on ESOP also called as the Discount on issue of ESOP or the Employee stock option compensation expense or the Employees compensation expense or simply the Discount etc., is an allowable deduction in the computation the income under the head "Profits and gains of business or profession"? This larger question can be answered in the following three steps, viz., I. Whether any deduction of such discount is allowable? II. If yes, then when and how much? III. Subsequent adjustment to discount 8. We will take up these three steps one by one for consideration and decision. I. WHETHER ANY DEDUCTION OF SUCH DISCOUNT IS ALLOWABLE? 9.1 The crux of the arguments put forth by the ld. AR is that discount under ESOP is nothing but employees cost incurred by the assessee for which deduction is warranted. On the other hand, the Revenue has set up a case that no deduction can be allowed as such discount is not only a short capital receipt but also a contingent liability. ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e tribunal in the case of S.S.I. Ltd. (supra) granting deduction of such discount by treating it as an employee cost. He submitted that the above view taken by the Chennai Bench has been approved by the Hon'ble Madras High Court in CIT v. PVP Ventures Ltd. [2012] 211 Taxman 554/23 taxmann.com 286. The learned AR argued that PVP Ventures Ltd. (supra) is a solitary judgment rendered by any High Court on the issue and hence the same needs to be followed in preference to any contrary Tribunal order. It was also pointed out that the Chennai bench's view has been subsequently followed by the Chandigarh Bench of the Tribunal in Asstt. CIT v. Spray Engineering Devices Ltd. [2012] 23 taxmann.com 267/53 SOT 70 (URO). 9.2.3 Let us examine the facts of the case of Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. (supra), which has been strongly relied by the learned Departmental Representative. It deals with a situation in which the assessee granted stock option to its employees. The shares were to be issued at Rs. 559 per share as against the face value of Rs. 10 and the market price on the date of grant at Rs. 738.95 per share. The assessee treated the difference between Rs. 738.95 and Rs. 595 as employe ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... mpletion of the vesting period in the service of the company, such options vest with the employees. The options are then exercised by the employees by making application to the employer for the issue of shares against the options vested in them. The gap between the completion of vesting period and the time for exercising the options is usually negligible. The company, on the exercise of option by the employees, allots shares to them who can then freely sell such shares in the open market subject to the terms of the ESOP. Thus it can be seen that it is during the vesting period that the options granted to the employees vest with them. This period commences with the grant of option and terminates when the options so granted vest in the employees after serving the company for the agreed period. By granting the options, the company gets a sort of assurance from its employee for rendering uninterrupted services during the vesting period and as a quid pro quo it undertakes to compensate the employees with a certain amount given in the shape of discounted premium on the issue of shares. 9.2.5 The core of the arguments of the ld. DR in this regard is two-fold. First, that it is not an ex ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... price and a part of the premium is given to the employees in lieu of their services and two, when the shares are directly issued to employees at a reduced rate. In both the situations, the employees stand compensated for their effort. If under the first situation, the company, say, on receipt of premium amounting to Rs. 100 from issue of shares to public, gives Rs. 60 as incentive to its employees, such incentive of Rs. 60 would be remuneration to employees and hence deductible. In the same way, if the company, instead, issues shares to its employees at a premium of Rs. 40, the discounted premium of Rs. 60, being the difference between Rs. 100 and Rs. 40, is again nothing but a different mode of awarding remuneration to employees for their continued services. In both the cases, the object is to compensate employees to the tune of Rs. 60. It follows that the discount on premium under ESOP is simply one of the modes of compensating the employees for their services and is a part of their remuneration. Thus, the contention of the ld. DR that by issuing shares to employees at a discounted premium, the company got a lower capital receipt, is bereft of an force. The sole object of issuin ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... deduction u/s 37(1) subject to the fulfilment of other conditions. At this juncture, it is imperative to note that the word 'expenditure' has not been defined in the Act. However, sec. 2(h) of the Expenditure Act, 1957 defines 'expenditure' as : 'Any sum of money or money's worth spent or disbursed or for the spending or disbursing of which a liability has been incurred by an assessee......'. When section 43(2) of the Act is read in conjunction with section 37(1), the meaning of the term 'expenditure' turns out to be the same as is there in the aforequoted part of the definition under section 2(h) of the Expenditure Act, 1957, viz., not only 'paying out' but also 'incurring'. Coming back to our context, it is seen that by undertaking to issue shares at discounted premium, the company does not pay anything to its employees but incurs obligation of issuing shares at a discounted price on a future date in lieu of their services, which is nothing but an expenditure u/s 37(1) of the Act. 9.2.8 Though discount on premium is nothing but an expenditure u/s 37(1), it is worth noting that the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of CIT v ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ascertained liability can arise. He submitted that during the entire vesting period, it is only a contingent liability and no deduction is admissible under the provisions of the Act for a contingent liability. The options so granted may lapse during the vesting period itself by reason of termination of employment or some of the employees may not choose to exercise the option even after rendering the services during the vesting period. It was, therefore, argued that the discount is nothing but a contingent liability during the vesting period not calling for any deduction. In the opposition, the learned AR submitted that the amount of discount claimed by the assessee as deduction is not a contingent liability but an ascertained liability. He stated that in the ESOP 2000, there is a vesting period of four years, which means that the options to the extent of 25% of the total grant would vest with the eligible employees at the end of first year after rendering unhindered service for one year and it would go on till the completion of four years. 9.3.2 It is a trite law and there can be no quarrel over the settled legal position that deduction is permissible in respect of an ascertained ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ld be certain is the incurring of the liability. It should also be capable of being estimated with reasonable certainty though the actual quantification may not be possible. If these requirements are satisfied the liability is not a contingent one. The liability is in praesenti though it will be discharged at a future date. It does not make any difference if the future date on which the liability shall have to be discharged is not certain." From the above enunciation of law by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, it is manifest that a definite business liability arising in an accounting year qualifies for deduction even though the liability may have to be quantified and discharged at a future date. We consider it our earnest duty to mention that the legislature has inserted clause (f) to section 43B by providing that "any sum payable by the assessee as an employer in lieu of any leave at the credit of his employee" shall be allowed as deduction in computing the income of the previous year in which such sum is actually paid. With this legislative amendment, the application of the ratio decidendi in the case of Bharat Earth Movers (supra) to the provision for leave encashment has been null ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... cation of the precise liability taking place at a future date, thereby not disturbing the otherwise liability which stood incurred at the end of the each year on availing the services. 9.3.6 As regards the contention of the ld. DR about the contingent liability arising on account of the options lapsing during the vesting period or the employees not choosing to exercise the option, we find that normally it is provided in the schemes of ESOP that the vested options that lapse due to non-exercise and/or unvested options that get cancelled due to resignation of the employees or otherwise, would be available for grant at a future date or would be available for being re-granted at a future date. If we consider it at micro level qua each individual employee, it may sound contingent, but if view it at macro level qua the group of employees as a whole, it loses the tag of 'contingent' because such lapsing options are up for grabs to the other eligible employees. In any case, if some of the options remain unvested or are not exercised, the discount hitherto claimed as deduction is required to be reversed and offered for taxation in such later year. We, therefore, hold that the disc ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ment, the natural corollary which follows is that such discount (i) is an expenditure; (ii) such expenditure is on account of an ascertained (not contingent) liability ; and (iii) it cannot be treated as a short capital receipt. In view of the foregoing discussion, we are of the considered opinion that discount on shares under the ESOP is an allowable deduction. II. IF YES, THEN WHEN AND HOW MUCH? 10.1 Having seen that the discount under ESOP is a deductible expenditure u/s 37(1), the next question is that 'when' and for 'how much' amount should the deduction be granted ? 10.2 The assessee is a limited company and hence it is obliged to maintain its accounts on mercantile basis. Under such system of accounting, an item of income becomes taxable when a right to receive it is finally acquired notwithstanding the fact that when such income is actually received. Even if such income is actually received in a later year, its taxability would not be evaded for the year in which right to receive was finally acquired. In the same manner, an expense becomes deductible when liability to pay arises irrespective of its actual discharge. The incurring of liability and the r ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... that case, the benefit which would have accrued to him at the end of the second, third and fourth years would stand forfeited. Thus it becomes abundantly clear that an employee becomes entitled to the shares at a discounted premium over the vesting period depending upon the length of service provided by him to the company. In all such schemes, it is at the end of the vesting period that option is exercisable albeit the proportionate right to option is acquired by rendering service at the end of each year. 10.4 Similar is the position from the stand point of the company. An obligation falls upon the company to allot shares at the time of exercise of option depending upon the length of service rendered by the employee during the vesting period. The incurring of liability towards the discounted premium, being compensation to employee, is directly linked with the span of service put in by the employee. In the above illustration, when 25 out of 100 shares vest in the employee after rendering one year's service, the company also incurs equal obligation at the end of the first year for which it becomes entitled to rightfully claim deduction u/s 37(1) of the Act. Similarly at the end ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... by directing the A.O. to disallow ESOP expenditure of Rs. 66.82 lakh. When the matter came up before the Tribunal, it was held that the expenditure in that behalf was an ascertained liability and not contingent upon happening of certain events. It was further noticed that the assessee claimed deduction of such discount on ESOP by following the SEBI Guidelines. As the expenditure itself was an ascertained liability, the Tribunal held that the same to be deductible. 10.7 Before proceeding further it would be befitting to take stock of the nutshell of the SEBI Guidelines in this regard. These Guidelines provide for granting of deduction on account of discount on issue of options during the vesting period. It has been so explained with the help of an example in Schedule I to the Guidelines. For the sake of simplicity, we are taking an instance under which an option of share with face value of Rs. 10 is given under ESOP to employees at the option price of Rs. 10 as against the market price of such shares at Rs. 110 on that date. Further suppose that the vesting period is four years with equal vesting @ 25% at the end of each year. Total discount comes to Rs. 100 (Rs. 110 - Rs. 10). T ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... this later stage that the provisional amount of discount on ESOP, initially quantified on the basis of market price at the time of grant of options, needs to be suitably adjusted with the actual amount of discount. 11.1.3 As regards the adjustment of discount when the options remain unvested or lapse at the end of the exercise period, it is but natural that there is no employee cost to that extent and hence there can be no deduction of discount qua such part of unvested or lapsing options. But, as the amount was claimed as deduction by the company during the period starting with the date of grant till the happening of this event, such discount needs to be reversed and taken as income. It is so because logically when the options have not eventually vested in the employees, to that extent, the company has incurred no employee cost. And if there is no cost to the company, the tentative amount of deduction earlier claimed on the basis of the market price at the time of grant of option ceases to be admissible and hence needs to be reversed. The ld. AR stated that the discount in respect of the unvested/lapsing options has been reversed on the happening of such events and the overall ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... tted or transferred, directly or indirectly, by the employer, or former employer, free of cost or at concessional rate to the assessee'. Clause (c) of Explanation to section 17(2)(vi) provides that: 'the value of any specified security or sweat equity shares shall be the fair market value of the specified security or sweat equity shares, as the case may be, on the date on which the option is exercised by the assessee as reduced by the amount actually paid by, or recovered from, the assessee in respect of such security or shares'. Two things surface from the above provisions. First, that the perquisite arises on the 'allotment' of shares and second, the value of such perquisite is to be computed by considering the fair market value of the shares on 'the date on which the option is exercised' by the assessee as reduced by the amount actually paid. The position that such amount was or was not taxable during some of the years in the hands of the employees is not relevant in considering the occasion and the amount of benefit accruing to the employee under ESOP. Any exemption or the deductibility of an allowance or benefit to employee from taxation does not ob ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... g period. But, since actual amount of employees cost can be precisely determined only at the time of the exercise of option by the employees, the provisional amount of discount availed as deduction during the vesting period needs to be adjusted in the light of the actual discount on the basis of the market price of the shares at the time of exercise of options. It can be done by making suitable northwards or southwards adjustment at the time of exercise of option. This can be explained with the following example with the assumption of vesting period of four years and the benefit vesting at 25% each at the end of 1st to 4th years:- At the time of granting option Market value per share 110 Option price 10 Employees compensation or Discount 100 11.1.7 From the above table it can be noticed that the market price of the shares at the time of grant of option was Rs. 110 against the option price of Rs. 10, which resulted in discount at Rs. 100. With the vesting period of four years with the equal vesting, the company can rightly claim deduction at the rate of Rs. 25 each at the end of first, second, third and fourth year of vesting. But this total deduction for di ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... n and price at the time of exercise of option. The argument seems to be that the SEBI Guidelines do not provide for such downward adjustment. It has been argued by the ld. AR that where the provisions of the Act specifically provide for treatment of a particular source of income in a particular manner, then the germane provision should be followed. If, however, there is no specific provision dealing with an issue in the Act, then the accounting principles should be adhered to while determining the total income of the assessee. In this regard, he relied on the judgment in the case of Challapalli Sugars Ltd.'s (supra), wherein the Hon'ble Supreme Court has held that the interest payable on capital borrowed by the assessee for purchase of plant and machinery before the commencement of business should be capitalized on the basis of accepted accountancy rule. Similarly in the case of U.P. State Industrial Development Corpn. (supra), the Hon'ble Apex Court held in the case of an underwriter that it would be right to consider the net investment, that is the purchase price less the underwriting commission received by the underwriter as investment as against treating the gross a ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... vi) dealing with the items specifically listed. However, the provision has been couched in such a way so as to include general items of receipts having character of income, even though not specifically mentioned. Similar is the position regarding deductions. Under the head 'Profits and gains of business or profession', there are sections granting deductions in respect of specific expenses or allowances. Similarly, there is section 37(1), which grants deduction for expenses not specifically set out in other sections, if the conditions stipulated in the section, are fulfilled. All other items of expenses, which fulfil the requisite conditions, gain deductibility under section 37(1). To put it in simple words, this section is a specific provision for granting deduction in respect of the unspecified or the general categories of expenses. Discount on ESOP is a general expense and hence covered by the specific provision of section 37. The contention of the ld. AR that there is no provision in the Act dealing with the deductibility of ESOP discount, is therefore, devoid of any merit. This concludes the question of granting of deduction of discount during the vesting period. 11.2 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... . If an accounting principle is in conformity with the mandate of taxing principle and reference is made to such accounting principle while deciding the issue, it does not mean that the accounting principle has been followed. It simply means that the taxation principle has been followed and the accounting principle, which is in line with such taxation principle, has been simply taken note of. If however, an accounting principle runs counter to the taxation principle, then there is no prize for guessing that it is only the taxation principle which shall prevail. 11.2.8 The plea now raised before us by the ld. AR, relying on the case of Challapalli Sugars Ltd. (supra), was also taken up before the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case ofTuticorin Alkalis Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd (supra). Dealing with the same, the Hon'ble Supreme Court held that : "The question in Challapalli Sugars Ltd.'s case (supra) was about computation of depreciation and development rebate under the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922. In order to calculate depreciation and development rebate it was necessary to find out "the actual cost" of the plant and machinery purchased by the company. This court held ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... t should be viewed in the context of the issue before it, which was about the deductibility of discount during one of the vesting years. In the earlier part of this order, we have held that the deductibility of discount during the vesting period, as prescribed under the SEBI Guidelines, matches with the treatment under the mercantile system of accounting. To that extent, we also hold that the SEBI guidelines are applicable in the matter of deduction of discount. Neither there was any issue before the Hon'ble Madras High Court nor it dealt with a situation in which the market price of the shares at the time of exercise of option is more or less than the market price at the time of grant of option. It is a situation which has also not been dealt with by the Guidelines. Accordingly, the aforenoted taxation principle of granting deduction for the additional discount and reversing deduction for the short amount of discount at the time of exercise of option, needs to be scrupulously followed. 11.3 We, therefore, sum up the position that the discount under ESOP is in the nature of employees cost and is hence deductible during the vesting period w.r.t. the market price of shares at t ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e to be listed on a stock exchange in a subsequent year. On a pointed query, the ld. AR furnished the details of such claim by showing that it granted 71,510 options with discount of Rs. 909 per option making total discount at Rs. 6.50 crore. He stated that the face value of shares is at Rs. 10 against which the deduction for discounted premium over the vesting period has been claimed at Rs. 909, meaning thereby that the market price of the share on the date of grant of option was taken at Rs. 919. No material worth the name has been placed on record to indicate as to how a share with face value of Rs. 10 has been valued at Rs. 919 for claiming deduction towards discount at Rs. 909 per share. This aspect of valuation of shares at Rs. 919 per share needs to be examined by the Assessing Officer. b. We have held above that the deduction of the discounted premium is to be claimed over the vesting period. The assessee claimed deduction for discount amounting to Rs. 3.38 crore for the A.Y. 2003-04. On being called upon to furnish bifurcation of such claim, the assessee filed a chart showing its detail comprising of four amounts. First amount of Rs. 1.62 crore has been shown as the firs ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... tions were granted on 1st April, 2002. The correct date of grant and vesting needs to be verified at the AO's end. d. The ld. AR has stated that the amount of discount claimed as deduction in the earlier years in respect of unvesting/lapsing options has been reversed at the relevant time. There is no finding either in the assessment or the impugned order in this regard. This fact should also be verified by the AO to ensure that the overall expenditure booked by the company is restricted only to the extent of the exercised options." The Hon'ble Special Bench in the case of Biocon Limited(supra) has held that discount under ESOP is in the nature of employees cost and is hence deductible during the vesting period w.r.t the market price of share at the time of grant of options to the employees. The Hon'ble Special Bench has held that the amount of discount claimed as deduction during the vesting period is required to be reversed in relation to the unvesting/lapsing options at the appropriate time , however, an adjustment to the income is called for at the time of exercise of option by the amount of difference in the amount of discount calculated with reference to the mar ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ention that the amount of discount claimed as deduction with respect to the ESOP is to be reversed in respect of unvesting/lapsing options during relevant assessment as per the Orders of Hon'ble Special Bench in Biocon Limited(supra) for which there is no finding of fact in the assessment order or the impugned orders. This fact should also be verified by AO to ensure that the overall expenditure booked by the assessee company is restricted only to the extent of the exercised options for which the assessee company will be given liberty to lead any fresh evidence in its defence and proper and adequate opportunity in accordance with law will be given by the AO to the assessee company in accordance with principles of natural justice.
15. Our decision in above order in the Appeal no. ITA No.6990/Mum./2013 for assessment year 2007-08 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the appeal Nos. ITA No.6986/Mum/2013 and ITA No.4979/Mum/2013 for assessment year 2008-09 and 2009-10 where identical issue is raised.
16. Thus, both the appeals of the Revenue and the appeal of the assessee company are partly allowed for statistical purposes.
This Order is pronounced in the open court on 21.10.2015. X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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