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Special Bench judgement on Bad Debts affirmed
Held, affirming the majority view of the Special Bench in DCIT vs. Oman International Bank 100 ITD 285 that:
(i) Though the Circulars issued by the CBDT are not binding on the court as held in CCE vs. Ratan Melting & Wire Industries 231 ELT 22 (S.C.), it is binding on the authorities and while it is for the Court to read the section in its proper context, while so reading the Court will bear in mind the circular issued by the CBDT. Circulars are sometimes issued to obviate difficulties in the operation of the provisions and these are aspects which Courts do bear in mind while considering the Circulars. Accordingly, Circulars have to be taken into account.
(ii) The decision of an assessee to treat a debt as a bad debt in his books has to be a business or commercial decision and not whimsical or fanciful and must be based on material that the debt is not recoverable. The decision must be bona fide;
(iii) Post amendment of s. 36 (1)(vii) & 36 (2), the burden is not on the assessee to show the debt is “bad”. In order to disallow, the AO must show that the decision of the assessee was not bona fide.
See Also: Star Chemicals (Bom) and Morgan Securities (Del).
Also: Revenue can’t disown its’ own circulars! by CA Kapil Goel
Related Judgements
- Vodafone International vs. UOI (Bombay High Court)
Where the assessee, Vodafone, a Dutch company, purchased shares of a Cayman Company (which in turn held shares of an Indian company ‘Hutch Essar’) from another foreign company (HTIL) and the AO issued a notice asking the assessee why it should not be treated as an assessee in default…
- DIT vs. NGC Network Asia LLC (Bombay High Court)
A non-resident whose income is liable to deduction of tax at source under s. 195 is not liable to pay advance tax u/s 209 (1)(d). Consequently, there can be no liability on such assessee u/s 234B for shortfall in advance tax.
- CIT vs. Star Chemicals (Bombay High Court)
It is clear from the reading of Section 36 (1) (vii) and Circular No. 551 dated 23rd January, 1990 that if the assessee has written off the debt as bad debt, that would satisfy the purpose of the Section.
