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Wednesday, April 29, 2020

FROM MY ARCHIVES-ITAT, KOLKATA UNREPORTED DECISIONS ( Part 4)


FROM MY ARCHIVES-ITAT, KOLKATA UNREPORTED DECISIONS   ( Part 4)


1. Brahmaputra Carbon Ltd. vs. CIT, Kolkata-1, ITA No.894/K/2013;
    Date of Order : 01.06.2016
 Sec. 263- The view taken by the AO cannot be considered to be erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of the revenue where the CIT has exercised the jurisdiction on the ground that the AO had failed to make proper inquiries when the issues raised by the CIT are covered by  the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court inasmuch as such an inquiry by the A.O would be a futile exercise.
The Assessee  company was engaged in the business of manufacture of calcined petroleum   coke. For   A.Y.2008-09 the assessee filed return of income declaring total income at Rs. Nil. The assessee was entitled to claim deduction u/s 80IC(2)(a)(iii) of the Act.
While arriving at the profits on which the aforesaid deduction was claimed by the assessee, the assessee considered the transport subsidy, Central Insurance subsidy, power subsidy and interest subsidy as profits derived from the business of manufacture of article or thing viz., calcined petroleum coke which was manufactured in a new central unit at Industrial Estate, P.O.and Dist. New Bongaigaon, Assam. The AO passed order of assessment dated 15.11.2010 u/s 143(3) of the Act accepting the claim of deduction u/s 80IC(2)(a)(iii) of the Act. The CIT in exercise of his powers  u/s 263 of the Act was of the view that the subsidies that were considered as profits of the business for allowing deduction u/s 80IC of the Act cannot be so considered for allowing deduction u/s 80IC of the Act.  According to the CIT the aforesaid subsidies had to be considered as income from other sources and therefore was not eligible for deduction u/s.80-IC(2)(a)(iii) of the Act. Aggrieved by the order of CIT, the assessee had preferred the appeal before the Tribunal.

it was brought to the notice of the bench that the Hon’ble Gauhati High Court in the case of CIT vs Meghalaya Steels Ltd. (2013) 34 Taxman.com 34 had decided the issue in favour of the assessee holding that all the above subsidies have to be considered as profits and gains derived from the business of the assessee and therefore have to be considered for the purpose of allowing deduction u/s 80IC of the Act. It was also brought to the bench’s notice that the Hon’ble Supreme Court has confirmed the order of Hon’ble Gauhati High Court in the case of CIT vs Meghalaya Steels Ltd.(2016) 67 taxmann.com 158(SC).

2.  ACIT vs. Durga Krishna Store, ITA No. 1348/K/200 & C.O. No. 100/K/2008; Order dated 27.01.2015
Sec 145(3) r.w sec 28: Where the AO found that books of account were not properly maintained, CIT(A) was right in holding that the A.O should have rejected the same and estimated the net profit. He could not have picked up sundry creditors and deposit figures out of the same accounts which were liable to be rejected and make additions on this account.
The assessee is a civil contractor. The total turn over of the assessee was Rs.12,06,81,735/- and Gross profit was Rs.77,13,029/-. On examination of the books of account AO found that the assessee was not maintaining proper books which were mostly supported by self made vouchers. The assessee also showed sundry creditors of Rs.1,47,54,422/- in the name of three persons who happened to be the employees of the assessee. The assessee had explained that these persons were employees of the assessee firm and money was transferred to them to make payments on account of expenses incurred in different work sites. AO was not satisfied by the explanation submitted in this regard. AO found that the explanation of the assessee is not satisfactory and AO added an amount of Rs.1,47,54,222/-. He also noted that the assessee has made security deposit of Rs.33,08,848/- which were not reflected. He also added the same.
In appeal the ld. CIT(A) found in the assessee’s submission that by making the above addition of Rs.1,47,54,422/- and Rs33,08,848/- the income computed by the AO was 16% of the gross receipts which was excessive and unreasonable. As regards addition on account of security deposit ld. CIT(A) held as under :-

“I have carefully considered the submission of the Ld. AR and also gone through the assessment order. It appears that the ld. AO has made this addition on the ground without appreciating the facts of the case. On going through the assessment records, it appears that no clarification was asked, so far as the mode of making the security deposits and its accounting procedure. It is clear that the deposit was not made by the assessee, neither it was given by the sub-contractors. One part of the payment to the assessee was deducted by the contractee and kept as security deposits. For completion of the work, the amount was returned to the assessee which, in turn, was adjusted with the sub-contractor. However, the same was not properly reflected in the books of a/cs of the assessee. For that reason, the proper course would have been to invoke the provisions of Sec.145(3) of the Act. Without doing so, the AO has made the addition u/s 69 of the Act. This addition cannot be sustained subject to the observation given subsequently against the additional grounds taken by the assessee.”
Further the ld. CIT(A) was of the opinion that when the AO found that books of account were not properly maintained he should have rejected the same and estimated the net profit. The ld. CIT(A) proceeded to hold that in assessee’s case the profit should have been estimated at 5% of the total receipts. Accordingly the ld. CIT(A) directed the AO that the addition in this case be restricted to 5% of the total receipts as taxable income of the assessee.
Against the above order the revenue and assessee were in cross appeal before the Hon’ble Tribunal.
Held
In analogical situation in assessee’s own case the Tribunal vide ITA No.704/Kol/2009 for A.Yr.2004-05 vide order dated 28.08.2009 has considered similar additions. In that case the assessee had similarly not maintained proper books of account on a total turnover of Rs.18,73,50,356/- and the income was shown at Rs.50,09,320/-. The assessee had also shown five sundry creditors for Rs.1,62,87,188/-. The AO had rejected the books of account u/s 145 of the IT Act and estimated the net profit at 5% of the gross receipts. The assessee appealed before the ld. CIT(A) and ITAT held that estimation of net profit at 5% was justified.
Finally the Tribunal held as under –
As rightly found by the ld. CIT(A) the best course available for the AO to reject the books of account and making an estimation of profit . AO cannot pick up sundry creditors and deposit figures out of the same accounts which were liable to be rejected and make additions on this account. Hence we find that the ld. CIT(A) is correct in holding that AO should have invoked the provision of section 145(3) of the Act to reject the books of account and estimate the profit of 5% in assessee’s own case this approach justified. Accordingly we note that the ld. CIT(A) has passed a reasonable order. He has elaborately dealt with the issues and found that on the facts and circumstances of the case AO should have rejected the books of account and rejected the additions and added profit @5% of the net profit. This estimation of profit has also been accepted by the Tribunal in assessee’s own case for another order in similar situations. In this view of the matter respectfully following the precedent as above we do not find any infirmity in the order of the ld. CIT(A).”

3.  M/s Mangilal Estates (P) Ltd. vs. DCIT, Central Circle-1(3) , ITA   No. 156/K/2015,Order dated : 21.02.2018
Issue 1:
The assessee being a body corporate has to incur the expenses for its existence despite of no business activity as held by the Hon’ble Calcutta High Court in the case of Ganga Properties Limited (Supra). Therefore the disallowance of the entire expenses cannot be made.

Issue 2:
Capital gains is to be taxed in the year of entering into agreement for sale when the assessee got part payment and assessee also parted with the possession of the property as per the provision of sec 2(47)(v) r.w sec 53A 0f  Transfer of property Act and not in the year of its registration.



Issue 1
The assessee was  engaged in business of letting out of immovable property. There was no income shown by the assessee from the business activity but the assessee claimed certain expenses to maintain the status of the company active. During the instant year the assessee had suffered business loss of Rs. (-) 4,73,950/- which was disallowed the AO on the ground that no business activity was carried on the assessee. Being aggrieved the assessee preferred an appeal before CIT(A),  who has confirmed the addition made by the AO.
In further appeal filed by the assessee before the Tribunal, Hon’ble partly allowed the appeal holding as under –
“Indeed, the assessee being a body corporate has to incur the expenses for its existence despite of no business activity as held by the Hon’ble Calcutta High Court in the case of Ganga Properties Limited (Supra). Therefore the disallowance of the entire expenses cannot be made. But at the same time the amount of expenditure necessary for the sustenance of the company and which has nexus with the business activity of the assessee is eligible for deduction.    
However the expenses incurred in connection with the rental income cannot be allowed as deduction. It is because the assessee for the rental income entitled for the deduction as per the provisions of section 24(a) of the Act which it has already claimed. 
Thus in the absence of the information we are of the view that all the expenses incurred by the assessee cannot be treated as business expenses. Therefore in our view after considering the entire facts of the case the justice shall be served if the disallowance made by the AO is restricted to the reasonable extent. Hence, in the interest of justice & fair play we are inclined to restrict the disallowance of the expenses to the tune of 10% of the expenses claimed by the assessee.”
Cases referred to :
Hon'ble Calcutta  High Court in the case of CIT vs. Ganga Properties Ltd. reported in 199 ITR 94 (Cal)



Issue 2:
During the instant year i.e, AY: 2012-13, the assessee had transferred immovable property by a registered deed of conveyance, whose stamp duty was valued by the District Registrar,  Chaibasa at Rs. 1,90,83,227/-. The assessee did not offer any amount to taxation.
Earlier, vide an agreement dated 22.03.1992, the assessee received an advance of Rs. 19,000/- and handed over the possession of the property on the said date.  But the registration could not be executed due to some problem relating to the title of the property.
The AO observed that the assessee transferred the property during the instant year: i.e, AY: 2012-13 and such transfer is liable to be taxed for the year under consideration. Accordingly the AO treated the stamp duty of Rs. 1,90,83,227/- as sale consideration u/s 50C and determined the capital gains income  and added Rs. 18,91,170/- to the total income of the assessee .
Being aggrieved the assessee preferred an appeal before CIT(A), where the CIT(A) confirmed the addition of the AO.
In the instant appeal filed by the assessee, the Hon’ble Tribunal held that the capital gains is to be taxed in the year of entering into agreement for sale when the assessee got part payment and assessee also parted with the possession of the property as per the provision of sec 2(47) r.w sec 53A 0f  Transfer of property Act and not in the year of its registration. Therefore, the taxability of capital gains at the hands of the assessee did not fall in the assessment year 2012-2013.

Following:
·                 Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of Chaturbhuj Dwarkads Kapadia Vs. CIT reported in 260 ITR 491
·                Bombay Tribunal in the case of Ms. Rubab M. Kazerani Vs. JCIT, reported in 91 ITD 429

Distinguished:
·                Bagri Impex (P) Ltd. vs. ACIT  (2013) 31 taxmann.com 39 (Cal)

Monday, April 27, 2020

Ten escape routes from the mischief of sec 14A r.w Rule 8D ( Part II )



Second and concluding part of the write up providing ready reference to the relevant and latest case-laws on the subject

        5. NETTING OF INTEREST INCOME IS  ALLOWED
        [Relevant prior to 2-6-2016]
Courts have held that Interest expenditure has to be netted against interest income and only the difference, if any, can be considered for disallowance.
In Trade Apartment Ltd’s case ,I.T.A. No. : 1277/ Kol . / 2011, order  dtd 30.03.2012,
ITAT  Kolkata  held that  as the interest income was more than interest expense and the assessee was having net positive interest income, the interest expenditure cannot be considered for disallowance u/s 14A and Rule 8D. Following further decisions may be gainfully used in this regard by the assessees-       

( ITAT Kolkata)

(d) Dismissing the appeal of the revenue, the Court held that; Prior to its amendment with effect from 2-6-2016, amount of expenditure by way of interest would be interest paid by assessee on borrowings minus taxable interest earned during financial year. (AY. 2008-09)
PCIT v. Nirma Credit & Capital (P.) Ltd (2017) 85 taxmann. com 72 / (2018) 300 CTR 286/ 161 DTR 333 (Guj)HC)
(e)  Disallowance of expenditure-Exempt income –Net of interest-Benefits of netting of interest under rule 8D(2)(ii) be allowed without even emphasising on need of having any inextricable link between interest earned and interest paid prior to 2-6-2016. [R. 8D(2)(ii)]
Dy. CIT v. UMIL Share & Stock Broking Services Ltd. (2018) 171 ITD 713 / 170 DTR 441 / 196 TTJ 91(Kol.)(Trib.)


6.  EXPENSES SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO TAXABLE INCOME IS TO BE EXCLUDED
Courts have held that Rule 8D is not mandatory and should be applied as a last resort. In this regard reference may be made to the case of M/s. Soyuz Trading Co. Ltd. Versus I.T.O., No.- ITA.2530/Kol/2013,  ITAT Kolkata; order dtd July 8, 2016 wherein ITAT held as under-

“We find that the total expenses debited to profit and loss account is 2,28,25,154/- and out of this, direct expenses of consultancy and professional charges amounting to 1,96,48,885/- for earning consultancy income i.e taxable income would be automatically out of the purview of computing disallowance u/s 14A of the Act. The remaining common expenses of 31,76,269/- have to be apportioned between taxable and non-taxable income. We find that the ratio of apportionment adopted by the assessee at 45.5% in the income component is very fair and accordingly direct the Learned AO to disallow 14,45,202/- being 45.5% of 31,76,269/- u/s 14A of the Act to meet the ends of justice.
We hold that the Learned AO cannot mechanically apply the provisions of Rule 8D for the purpose of disallowance u/s 14A of the Act. In our opinion, the same could be used only as a last resort only in the event of the AO not able to make a fair substitution of the disallowance figure as contemplated u/s 14A(2) of the Act. In any case, the provisions of the Act would always prevail over the Rules as admittedly the Rules are only subordinate piece of legislation and are meant only to support the Act. Rules could act only as a guiding force to effectively implement the provisions of the Act. If the manner so contemplated in the Act fails, then as a last resort, the AO should go to Rules for making disallowance u/s 14A . Hence we hold that the Learned AO has got sufficient powers to substitute the disallowance figure at 14,45,202/- in terms of section 14A(2) of the Act itself and hence Rule 8D need not be followed in the facts of the instant case. - Decided partly in favour of assessee.”

Further decisions in this connection are as under-

(a) ITO vs. Narain Prasad Dalmia (ITAT Kolkata). Order dated: 27.1.2014
interest expenditure on loans taken for taxable business purposes has to be excluded.

Interest on loans for specific taxable purposes to be excluded.

Expense specifically relatable to taxable income cannot be disallowed.

(d) REI Agro Ltd vs. DCIT (ITAT Kolkata), Order dated: 19.06.2013
Interest on Loans taken for specific business purposes cannot be included under Rule 8D(2)(ii)

(e) CIT vs Shreno Ltd. (2018) 409 ITR 401/ (2019) 261 Taxman 239 (Guj)(HC)


7. THE DISALLOWANCE CANNOT EXCEED THE EXPENSES CLAIMED.
i) PCIT vs Adani Agro (P) Ltd. (2018) 253 Taxman 507 (Guj) (HC)

8. THE DISALLOWANCE CANNOT EXCEED THE EXEMPTED INCOME.
i) Pragathi Krishna Gramin Bank vs JCIT (2018) 256 Taxman 349 (Karn) (HC)

ii) Gold Seal Engineering Products P. Ltd. vs ACIT (2018) 66 ITR  37 (SN) (Mum) (Trib.)

            Following –
Daga Global Chemicals (P) Ltd. vs. ACIT, ITA No. 5592/M/12 dated     01.01.2015 ( disallowance limited to the extent of dividend income)

iv) Delhi High Court order in the case of Joint Investments (P) Ltd. vs. CIT 372 ITR 694 (Del) dated 25.02.2015  ( disallowance limited to the extent of dividend Income.

(v) Magic Share Traders Ltd. DCIT (2019) 174 ITD 230 (Ahd) (Trib.)

(vi) PCIT v. State Bank of Patiala (2018) 99 taxmann.com 285 / 259 Taxman 315 (P& H) (HC)
Note:  
SLP of revenue is dismissed, PCIT v. State Bank of Patiala (2018) 259 Taxman 314(SC)


9.  Where assessee maintains separate final accounts for personal investments recording investments generating exempt income and has not claimed expenses in personal  accounts –  sec14A/R 8D cannot be applied.


a)   Pawan Kumar Parmeshwarlal, ITA No 530/Mum/2009, dtd 11.01.2011

b)  ACIT, Kolkata vs  Usha Ranjan Sarkar, ITA 2674/K/2013 dtd. 24/05/2017

        10.  NON- APPLICATION IN COMPUTATION OF BOOK PROFIT 
N         (CONSIDERING CLAUSE (f) OF EXPLANATION 1 TO SEC 115JB)
   

 In  Universal Industrial Fund Ltd. (in the matter of Hill top Holdings India Ltd. since   amalgamated) Versus DCIT,  2016 (5) TMI 1259 - ITAT KOLKATA, addition of  expense including the interest disallowed u/s. 14A r.w. R. 8D of the IT Rules in computing the book profit u/s. 115JB fell for consideration. It was held that no addition to the book profit shall be made on account of alleged expenditure incurred to earn exempt income while computing income u/s115JB of the Act. Following Quippo Telecom Infrastructure Ltd. case [2011 (2) TMI 1400 - ITAT DELHI.

However, adverse view has been taken in CIT vs. Goetze (India) Ltd (Delhi High       Court) , Order dated 9.12.2013
 
But Spl Bench at Delhi in ACIT vs Vireet Investments P. Ltd.(2017) 165 ITD 27/ 154   DTR  241/ 188 TTJ 1 (SB)(Delhi)(Trib.) has held that the computation of BP 
( considering  clause (f) of Explanation 1 to section 115JB) is to be made without resorting to the computation as contemplated u/s 14A r.w.r. 8D .  It has considered Delhi High Court in CIT vs. Goetze (India) Ltd but didn’t found to be binding since the said decision was rendered on the basis of conset by the parties to the lis.





Sunday, April 26, 2020

Ten escape routes from the mischief of sec 14A r.w Rule 8D ( Part I )



This write up  in two partes will provide ready reference to the relevant and latest case-laws on the subject

1. WHERE NO TAX FREE INCOME IS RECEIVED

1.1 The CBDT has issued  in which the issue as to whether disallowance under section 14A and Rule 8D can be made in cases where the corresponding exempt income has not been earned/received during the financial year has been considered. The operative part of the circular is as under-
“Thus, legislative intent is to allow only that expenditure which is relatable to earning of income and it therefore follows that the expenses which are relatable to earning of exempt income have to be considered for disallowance, irrespective’of the fact whether any such income has been earned during the financial-year or not.
4. The above position is further clarified by the usage of term ‘includible’ in the Heading to section 14A of the Act and also the Heading to Rule 8D of I.T.Rules, 1962 which indicates that it is not necessary that exempt income should necessarily be included in a particular year’s income, for disallowance to be triggered. Also, section 14A of the Act does not use the word “income of the year” but “income under the Act”. This also indicates that for invoking disallowance under section 14A, it is not material that assessee should have earned such exempt income during the financial year under consideration.”
1.2 Earlier in Cheminvest Ltd. vs. ITO 121 ITD 318 (Ahd) (SB), the special Bench of ITAT has also subscribed to the view expressed by the CBDT circular. The ITAT Banglore Bench in Alliance Infrastructure Projects Pvt. Ltd vs. DCIT 
( decision dated 12.09.2014 ; source itatonline.org ) held that Sec. 14A & Rule 8D disallowance cannot be made if there is no exempt income and further held that the decision of Special Bench of the Tribunal has been impliedly overruled by various decisions of different High Courts, namely, CIT vs Shivam Motors P. Ltd. (All HC),CIT vs. Corrtech Energy Pvt. Ltd (2015 372 ITR 97 (Guj.) (Guj HC), CIT vs. Winsome Textile Industries Ltd 319 1TR 204 (P&H), CIT Vs.Delite Enterprises (Bom HC) & CIT vs. Lakhani Marketing (P&H HC) and is no more a good law. Therefore, unless and until there is receipt of exempted income for the concerned assessment years, s. 14A of the Act cannot be invoked.
1.3  In this regard, following further decisions may be considered-

    i)PCIT vs Ballapur Industries Ltd. (Bom) (HC) Source : www.itatonline.org
   ii) ACIT vs Gini & Jony Ltd. (2018) 172ITD 472
  iii) ACIT vs Dish TV India Ltd. (2018) 194 TTJ 897/ 169 DTR 253 (Mum) (Trib.)
  iv) HLL Lifecare Limited vs ACIT (2018) 191 TTJ 1 (UO) / 66 ITR 361 
      (Cochin) (Trib.)
  v) ACIT vs Claridges Hotels P. Ltd. (2018) 61 ITR  135 (Delhi )(Trib.)
  vi) CIT vs Goldman Sachs Services P. Ltd. (2018) 409 ITR 268 (Karn) (HC)
vii)  Calcutta High Court in the case of CIT vs. Ashika Global Securities Lt,d..
ITAT 100 of   2014. Dtd 11.06.2018
viii) CIT, Chennai vs Chettinad Logistics P. Ltd. T.C.A. No. 24 of 2017 {[2017] 80 taxmann.com 221}  {SLP dismissed}
ix) Satyam Tradecom Pvt. Ltd. vs ITO, Kolkata ITA No. 2363/ Kol/ 2016
x) ACIT vs. Punjab State Coop and Marketing Fed. Ltd., ITA No. 548/Chd/11, Order dated 30.09.2011
xi) PCIT v. Oil Industries Development Board ( 2019) 262 Taxman 102 (SC) { SLP dismissed}
{ PCIT v. Oil Industries Development Board ( 2019) 103 taxmann.com 325 ( Delhi)(HC) is affirmed .
     ( ITA No. 187/2018 dt 16-02-2018) }
xii) Cheminvest Ltd v. CIT ( 2015) 378 ITR 33 (Delhi)
xiii) PCIT .v. GVK Project and Technical Services Ltd. (2019)106 taxmann.com 180 / 264 Taxman    77 (Delhi)(HC)
Followed Cheminvest Ltd v. CIT ( 2015) 378 ITR 33 (Delhi) (HC) ( AY. 2013-14)
SLP of revenue is dismissed in PCIT . v. GVK Project and Technical Services Ltd. (2019) 264 Taxman 76 (SC)
xiv)  Unless and until there is receipt of exempted income for concerned assessment year, section 14A is not attracted . Circular No 5/2014, dt. 11-2-2014 is considered.
PCIT v. Vardhman Chemtech (P.) Ltd. (2019) 261 Taxman 233/ 179 DTR 35 (P&H)(HC)

2. WHERE OWN FUNDS/ INTEREST FREE FUNDS EXCEED INVESTMENT
 IN TAX-FREE SECURITIES – no disallowance of interest

Following decisions are quite relevant in this regard-
  a)CIT vs Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd. (2018) 409 ITR 378 (Guj) 
(HC)

  b)PCIT vs Rasoi Ltd. (2018) 407 ITR 126 (Cal) (HC)

  c) CIT vs Deepak Vegpro (P) Ltd. (2018) 406 ITR 496 (Raj) (HC)

  d)  Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. vs Addl. CIT (2017) 168 ITD 631 
(Mumbai) (Trib.)      If   both interest free funds and overdraft balance were available, 
it is to be presumed that  investments were out of interest free fund generated or 
availed, if such funds were sufficient to meet investments.

 e)) Order of the Hon'ble Gujarat High Court in the case of Principal CIT vs. Sintex Industries (SLP dismissed)
 f) CIT vs Max India Ltd.  (2017) 398 ITR 209/ 295 CTR 448/ 151 DTR 220 (P&H)(HC)
g) PCIT vs Ashok Apparal (P) Ltd (2019) 264 Taxman 50 (Bom) (HC)
h) PCIT v. Premier Finance & Trading Co. Ltd. (2019) 262 Taxman 341 (Bom) (HC)

3. WHERE AO INVOKED RULE 8D WITHOUT RECORDING 
OBJECTIVE SATISFACTION THAT ASSESSEE’S METHOD IS 
INCORRECT – Courts have 
held the addition made by the A.O is liable to be deleted

 Following favourable –to-the-assessee decisions may be referred to-

 i)  Morgan Stanley Investment Management (P) Ltd. vs DCIT (2017) 160 DTR 19 /     
     (2018) 191 TTJ 365 (Mum.) (Trib.)
ii) M. Junction Services Ltd. v. (2018) 65 ITR 40 (SN) (Kol) (Trib.) -  AO 
commented that the assessee did not maintain separate books of accounts for the 
expenses incurred in relation to earning of income not includible in the total income. 
This assumption of AO was held to be incorrect as he had not given any cogent reason.
  iii) ACIT vs Karnataka Bank Ltd. (2018) 63 ITR 433 (Bang.) (Trib.)
  iv) Oricon Enterprises Ltd. vs ACIT (2018) 171 ITD 231/ 67 ITR 433 (Mum)
    (Trib.)
  v) IMC Ltd. vs Dy. CIT (2018) 191 TTJ 73 (Kol) (Trib.)
 vi) Feresthe Sethna (Ms) vs ACIT (2017) 162 ITD 412(Mum) (trib) – AO 
cannot directly   invoke rule 8D for making disallowance without examining the claim 
of the assessee.
vii) Exim Scrips Dealers (P) Ltd. vs DCIT (2017) 162 ITD 390 (Kol) (Tribunal)
       viii)  REI Agro Ltd vs. DCIT (ITAT Kolkata) Order dated:
       19.06.2013
        (No s. 14A disallowance if satisfaction is not recorded with
        reference   to A/cs. )
 ix) DCIT vs Vantage Advertising P. Ltd. (2018) 61 ITR 564 (Kol) (Trib.)

{Satisfaction has to be recorded by AO, it cannot be substituted by 

recorded satisfaction of CIT (A)
x)  Arnav Gruh Ltd. vs DCIT (2018) 168 ITD 518 (Mum) (Trib.)  
xi) Dismissing the appeal of the revenue the Court held that the Asseee has made suo 
motu disallowance , however the AO applied the Rule 8D(2) of the Act. Tribunal held that the AO has not recorded the satisfaction for not accepting the disallowance hence , 
deleted the addition. Order of Tribunal is affirmed by High Court.( ITA No. 237 of 2017, dt. 02.04.2019) ( AY.2009 -10)
PCIT v. Bajaj Finance Ltd ( 2019) 178 DTR 219/ 309 CTR 28 (Bom)(HC),www.itatonline.org
xii) High Court held that the AO cannot reject the disallowances offered by the assessee , without adducing any reasons .
PCIT v. Moonstar Securities Trading and Finance Co. (P.) Ltd. (2019) 105 taxmann.com 274 /263 Taxman 459 (Delhi) (HC)
{ SLP of revenue is dismissed, PCIT v. Moonstar Securities Trading and Finance Co. (P.) Ltd. (2019) 263 Taxman 458 (SC) }
xiii)  Dismissing the appeal of the revenue the Court held that  explanation of assessee and amount offered to tax under said section could not have been rejected by Assessing Officer in arbitrary manner.
PCIT v. Hero Corporate Service Ltd. (2019) 103 taxmann.com. 199/ 262 Taxman 30 (Delhi ) (HC)
{SLP of revenue is dismissed , PCIT v. Hero Corporate Service Ltd. (2019) 262 Taxman 29 (SC) }
xiv) Tribunal held that the assessee had filed details of expenses which were suo moto disallowed by it which showed that suo moto disallowance included expenses which were coming under purview of rule 8D(2)(iii) . Accordingly without verifying the facts disallowance of expenses by applying rule 8D(2)(iii) is held to be not justified .
( AY.2013-14)
Olive Bar & Kitchen (P.) Ltd. v. DCIT (2019) 175 ITD 72 (Mum) (Trib.)
xv) Dismissing the appeals of the revenue the Court held that AO cannot disallow he expenditure far in excess of what has been disallowed , without demonstrating how the working of the assessee is wrong . ( AY.2009-10)
CIT v. DSP Adiko Holdings Pvt. Ltd. (2019) 414 ITR 555 (Bom) (HC)
xvi) Disallowance of expenditure - Exempt income - Applicability of Rule 8D is not mandatory in every case where assessee earns tax free dividend income - Rule 8D cannot be invoked and applied unless Assessing Officer records his dissatisfaction regarding correctness of claim made by assessee in relation to expenditure incurred to earn exempt income
PCIT v. Vedanta Ltd. (2019) 261 Taxman 179 (Delhi)(HC)




4. SHARES HELD AS STOCK IN TRADE

a) Principle of apportionment-Only that expenditure which is "in relation to" 
earning dividends can be disallowed-AO has to record proper satisfaction on why 
the claim of the assessee as to the quantum of suo moto disallowance is not correct. 
[R. 8D]
Court held that; The argument that S. 14A & Rule 8D will not apply if the 
"dominant intention" of the assessee was not to earn dividends but to gain control of the company or to hold as stock-in-trade is not acceptable. S. 14A applies irrespective of whether the shares are held to gain control or as stock-in-trade. However, where the 
shares are held as stock-in-trade, the expenditure incurred for earning business profits 
will have to be apportioned and allowed as a deduction. Only that expenditure which is
 "in relation to" earning dividends can be disallowed u/s 14A & Rule 8D. The AO 
has to record proper satisfaction on why the claim of the assessee as to the quantum of 
suo moto disallowance is not correct.(AY. 2002-03, 2008-09, 2009-10)
Maxopp Investment Ltd. v. CIT (2018) 402 ITR 640/ 164 DTR 1 / 254 Taxman 325

 (SC)
PCIT v. State Bank of Patiala (2018) 402 ITR 640/ 164 DTR 1/254 Taxman 325 (SC)
{
Maxopp Investment Ltd v CIT (2012) 347 ITR 272 (Delhi) (HC) is affirmed.
Decision of special Bench in ITO v. Daga Capital Management (2009) 312 ITR (AT) 1 (Mum.) (SB) is referred }

 b) Kolkata ITAT in Maruti Traders & Investors vs  ACIT, Kolkata ITA No. 846/Kol/2017 & ITA No. 637/Kol/2018 followed SC’s decision in the case of 
Maxopp Investment Ltd. vs CIT (2018) 402 ITR 640 / 164 DTR 1/ 254 Taxman 325. It 
held that since the shares were held as stock in trade and not as investments, the computation mechanism under rule 8D will not apply [rule 8D contemplates 
consideration of average value of investments and not stock in trade]. Disallowance u/s 
14A shall be made. Only rule 8D will not apply for computation purposes. –
 Following ITAT’s decision in the case of DCIT vs S.G. Investments & Industries 
Ltd. 89 ITD 44(Kol) dtd 29.05.03, the amount to be disallowed with regards to 
exempt income shall be calculated by working out the percentage of exempt income
 vis a vis total turnover during the year. Say, the exempt income earned worked out 
to be 10% of total earnings, then, the amount to be disallowed shall be the same 
percentage (in this case, 10%) of the related expense debited in the profit and loss 
account.
 c) PCIT vs State Bank of Patiala (2018) 402 ITR 640/ 164 DTR 1/ 254 Taxman 
325 (SC)
  No disallowance in relation to shares and securities held as stock in trade and where
 own funds are more than the value of the shares and securities
        


..... to be continued