Assessee made payments to Bank and rental payments made to Customer Assets India P Ltd. AO held that these two entities did not have any written agreement for sharing of facilities and since Bank was related to assessee, AO disallowed 50% of said expenses by invoking provisions 40A(2)(a) of the Act which was confirmed by CIT (A). Tribunal held that both are paying same rate of taxes hence no disallowances can be made. Referred Indo Saudi Services (Travel) P Ltd. AO should also consider claim of assessee that amount disallowed would be eligible for deduction u/s. 10A, if he was not satisfied with original claim. AO also disallowed 20% of rent paid to sister concern which was confirmed by CIT(A). Tribunal held that, If AO was satisfied that there was no excess payment, then no disallowance out of rental expenditure was called for. Matter remanded. Followed CIT v. Indo Saudi Services (Travel) P. Ltd. (2009) 310 ITR 306 (Bom.)(HC) (AY. 2004-05, 2005 -06)
Firstsource Solutions Ltd. v. Dy.CIT (2018) 168 DTR 161 / ( 2019) 197 TTJ 486 (Mum.)(Trib.)
S. 40A(2) : Expenses or payments not deductible–Excessive or unreasonable–Rent-No written agreement-Both are paying same rate of taxes-Revenue neutral- No disallowance can be made– Rent paid to sister concern–Matter remanded for verification.