Intricacies of Taxation on Interconnect Charges in Telecom: Unraveling the Concept of 'Use or Right to Use'

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... me Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) concerning interconnect charges (IUC) in the telecom sector, focusing on the concept of 'use or right to use' in the context of international telecommunication services. 1. Background of the Dispute At the heart of this case was a Spain-based telecom company that provided global telecommunications services. It entered into agreements with Indian telecom o .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... 8203;​. 4. Tribunal's Analysis of 'Royalty' and 'Use or Right to Use' The ITAT meticulously examined whether IUC charges fell under the definition of 'royalty', both under the Income-tax Act and the India-Spain DTAA. The Tribunal emphasized that for a payment to be considered as 'royalty', it must involve the 'use or right to use' of a process or equ .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... nd Key Takeaways The judgment is pivotal for interpreting 'royalty' in the realm of international telecommunications. It clarifies the application of 'use or right to use' in such transactions, setting a precedent for telecom operators and tax authorities. The decision underscores the DTAA's supremacy over domestic tax laws in cases of conflict and highlights the intricacies invol .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X