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TMI BlogNO TAX CAN BE IMPOSED BY INFERENCE OR BY ANALOGYX X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... NO TAX CAN BE IMPOSED BY INFERENCE OR BY ANALOGY - By: - Mr. M. GOVINDARAJAN - Value Added Tax - VAT and CST - Dated:- 16-3-2018 - - A taxing statute is to be construed strictly. Lord Wensleydale said that the subject is not to be taxed without clear words for that purpose. Every Act of Parliament must be read according to the natural construction of its words. This has been affirmed by Lord Halsbury and Lord Simonds. Lord Cains stated that if the person sought to be taxes comes within the letter of the law he must be taxed, however great the hardship may appear to the judicial mind to be. On the other hand, if the Crown seeking to recover the tax, cannot bring the subject within the letter of the law, the subject is free, however ap ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... parently within the spirit of law the case might otherwise appear to be. In fiscal legislation a transaction cannot be taxed on any doctrine and the substance of the matter as distinguished from its legal signification, for a subject is not liable to tax on supposed spirit of the law or by inference or by analogy . In A.V. Fernandez V. State of Kerala 1957 (4) TMI 46 - SUPREME COURT OF INDIA the Supreme Court has held that in construing fiscal statutes and in determining the liability of a subject to tax one must have regard to the strict letter of the law. If the Revenue satisfies the Court that the case falls strictly within the provisions of the law, the subject can be taxed. If, on the other hand, the case is not ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... covered within the four corners of the provisions of the taxing statute, no tax can be imposed by inference or by analogy or by trying to probe into the intentions of the Legislature and by considering what was the substance of the matter. In Sales Tax Commissioner V. Modi Sugar Mills 1960 (10) TMI 65 - SUPREME COURT OF INDIA the Supreme Court held that in interpreting a taxing statute, equitable considerations are entirely out of place. Nor can taxing statutes be interpreted on any presumptions or assumptions. The Court must look squarely at the words of the statute and interpret them. It must interpret a taxing statute in the light of what is clearly expressed. It cannot imply anything which is not expressed. It cannot ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... import provisions in the statute so as to supply and assumed deficiency. In Martand Diary and Farm V. Union of India 1975 (4) TMI 100 - SUPREME COURT OF INDIA , the Supreme Court observed that taxation consideration may stem from administrative experience and other factors of life and not artistic visualization or neat logic and so the literal, through pedestrian interpretation must prevail. In Kapil Mohan V. Commissioner of Income Tax, Delhi 1998 (12) TMI 3 - SUPREME Court , it has been held that in the field of taxation, hardship or equity has no role to play in determining eligibility to tax and it is for the legislature to determine the same. In Indo International Industries V. Commissioner of Sales Tax, Uttar ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... Pradesh 1981 (3) TMI 77 - SUPREME COURT OF INDIA the Supreme Court highlighted the object of taxing statute. The Supreme Court held that primary object of the Sales Tax and the Excise Tax Acts is to raise revenue and for which purpose they classify diverse products, articles and substances, therefore, resorts should not be had to the scientific and technological meaning of the terms or expressions used but to their popular meaning attached to them. If any term or expression has been defined in the enactment then it must be understood in the sense in which it is defined but in the absence of any definition being given in the enactment the meaning of the term in common parlance or commercial parlance has to be adopted. From the abo ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ve case laws it is vivid that before taxing any person it must be shown that he falls within the ambit of charging section by clear words used in the section. If the words are ambiguous and reasonably open to two interpretations benefit of interpretation is given to the subject. But equitable considerations are not relevant in construing a taxing statute and similarly logic or reason cannot be much avail in interpreting a taxing statute. - Reply By Abhishek Panicker as = Respected Sir. This is a Gem of an article. Thanks for enriching readers with such well-researched write ups. Each article of yours is a must-share and must-keep in one's personal library. regards abhishek panicker Dated: 16-3-2018 Reply By MARIAPPAN GOVIND ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ARAJAN as = Thanks Sir. This is with your full support. Dated: 16-3-2018 Reply By Srikanthan S as = Principles of Interpretation of Taxing statutes nicely explained. With permission from Mr Govindarajan, adding a few more case laws for those interested to read further: Viscount Simon quoted with approval a passage from Rowlatt, J expressing the principle in the following words: [Cape Brandy Syndicate v IRC (1921) 1 KB 64] In a taxing Act one has to look merely at what is clearly said. There is no room for any intendment. There is no equity about a tax. There is no presumption as to tax. Nothing is to be read in, nothing is to be implied. One can only look fairly at the language used . In fiscal legislation, a transaction can ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... not be taxed on any doctrine of the substance of the matter as distinguished from its legal signification, for a subject is not liable to tax on supposed spirit of the law or by inference or by analogy [IRC v Duke of Westminister (1936) AC 1 HL]. In W.M.Cory Sons Ltd v IRC [(1965) 1 All ER 917], Lord Reid said: The words of a taxing Act must never be stretched against a tax-payer. There is a very good reason for that rule. So long as one adheres to the natural meaning for the charging words the law is certain, or at least as certain as it is possible to make it, but if courts are to give to charging words what is sometimes called a liberal construction who can say just how far this will go. It is much better that evasion shoul ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... d be met by amending legislation . It may be taken as maxim of tax law, which although not to be overstressed ought not to be forgotten that the subject is not to be taxed unless the words of the taxing statute unambiguously impose the tax on him [Russel v Scott (1948) 2 All ER 1 HL; Mathuram Agrawal v State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 2000 SC 109]. Commissioner of Wealth Tax, Gujarat v Ellis Bridge Gymkhana [ 1997 (10) TMI 2 - SUPREME COURT ] : Before taxing any person it must be shown that he falls within the ambit of the charging section by clear words used in the section . Therefore, if the words used are ambiguous and reasonably open to two interpretations, benefit of interpretation is given to the subject. [ Express Mill v ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... Municipal Committee, Wardha 1957 (12) TMI 23 - SUPREME COURT ]. If the Legislature fails to express itself clearly and the tax-payer escapes by not being brought within the letter of the law, no question of unjustness as such arises. [ CIT v Jalgaon Electric Supply Co 1960 (5) TMI 3 - SUPREME Court ]. SRD Nutrients Pvt Ltd v The Commissioner, 2017 (11) TMI 655 - SUPREME COURT OF INDIA by judgement dt.10.11.2017, the Supreme Court of India allowed refund of Education Cess and Secondary and Higher Education Cess which were paid along with Central Excise Duty, once the said Excise Duty itself was exempted in case of Units located in North-East States and in J K. Relying on two CBEC Circulars, the Apex Court was of the view th ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... at when excise duty is exempted, Education Cess in the nature of surcharge, partaking character of excise duty, would also be exempted. It was held that there cannot by any surcharge when basic duty itself is Nil. The Court in this regard also reiterated that if two views are possible, one in favour of the assessee has to be adopted. Dated: 17-3-2018 Reply By MARIAPPAN GOVINDARAJAN as = Very nice Shrikanthan Sir Dated: 17-3-2018 - Scholarly articles for knowledge sharing authors experts professionals Tax Management India - taxmanagementindia - taxmanagement - taxmanagementindia.com - TMI - TaxTMI - TMITax ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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