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2021 (1) TMI 413

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..... ME-TAX [ 1996 (2) TMI 5 - SUPREME COURT] The assessee could not have added back the provision for doubtful debts to the net profit for the purpose of computation under Section 115JB of the Act in the years prior to insertion of clause (i) as those years had already elapsed and the assessee could not have given effect to the provision, which was inserted at a later point of time. The assessee therefore, could not have added back the provision for bad and doubtful debts to the net profit. It is also pertinent to note that even if the provision for doubtful debt is added back to the net profits, the resultant book profit is still negative and even though the assessee was prevented from adding back the provision for bad and doubtful debts to the net profit due to reasons beyond its control, it has at the first opportunity demonstrated to the authorities that book profits are still negative on adding back the provision for bad and doubtful debts and therefore, no adverse inference could have been drawn against the assessee. It is also pertinent to note that the assessee had added the provision for bad and doubtful debts for Assessment Years 1998-99 to 2000-01. Decided in favour of t .....

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..... under section 115JB and thereby importing the provision of section 14A read with rule 8D into the MAT provisions on the facts and circumstances of the case? 2. The factual background, in which the aforesaid substantial questions of law arise for our consideration need mention. The assessee is a company and is an undertaking of Government of Karnataka. The assessee is engaged in financing industrial units in the State of Karnataka. The assessee filed the return of income for the Assessment Year 2009-10 on 30.09.2011 declaring 'NIL' income under normal provisions of the Act. Thereafter, the assessee returned income of ₹ 13,60,88,457/- under the provisions of Section 115JB of the Act. The return of the assessee was selected for scrutiny and assessment was completed under Section 143(3) of the Act. The Assessing Officer vide order dated 21.11.2011 determined the loss at ₹ 1,73,60,700/- under the normal provisions of the Act and determined the book profits under Section 115JB of the Act at ₹ 30,01,07,991/-. 3. The assessee thereupon filed an appeal before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) who by an order dated 31.08.2012 partly allowed the claim .....

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..... he provision for bad and doubtful debts, based on a provision, which was inserted later. It is also pointed out that the assessee had added the provision for Assessment Years 1998-99 to 2000-01. It is also argued that any disallowance computed under Section 14A of the Act pertains to computation of income under normal provisions of the Act and cannot be read into provisions of Section 115JB of the Act pertaining to computation of book profits by levy of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT). In support of aforesaid submissions, reliance has been placed on decisions in 'LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION OF INDIA VS. CIT (1996) 219 ITR 401 (SC), 'CITY UNION BANK LTD. VS. ACIT', (2020) 425 ITR 475 (MADRAS), 'HUDA AND ANOTHER VS. DR.BABESWAR KANHAR AND ANOTHER', (2005) 1 SCC 191, 'CIT VS. GOKALDAS IMAGES P. LTD.', (2020) 122 TAXMANN.COM 160 (KAR.), 'CIT VS. BENGAL FINANCE INVESTMENTS PVT LTD.', ITA NO.337 OF 2013 DATED 10.02.2015 and 'CIT VS. M/S ESSAR TELEHOLDINGS LTD.', ITA NO.438 OF 2012 DATED 07.08.2014. 6. On the other hand, learned counsel for the revenue submitted that the assessee has earned income which is exempt under Section 10(2A) and Section .....

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..... retrospective effect i.e., from 01.04.2001 and therefore, no fault can be found with the view taken by the authorities. It is also urged that the decisions relied upon by the learned Senior counsel for the assessee were rendered prior to 2009. 8. We have considered the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties and have perused the record. The Supreme Court in 'CIT VS. HCL Comnet Systems and Services Ltd.', (2008) 305 ITR 409 (SC) held that provisions for bad and doubtful debts cannot be added under Explanation to Section 115JB of the Act. In order to ensure that provision for bad and doubtful debts debited to profit and loss account, is increased to the net profit for the purposes of computation of book profit under Section 115JB of the Act. Clause (i) in Explanation to Section 115JB(2) has been inserted by Finance Act, 2009 with retrospective effect i.e., from 01.04.2001. From perusal of para 40.2 of Circular dated 03.06.2010, it is evident that clause (i) in Explanation after Section 115JB(2) has been inserted so as to provide that if any provision for diminution in the value of any asset has been debited to the profit and loss account, it shall be added to .....

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