Flipkart India (P.) Ltd. v. ACIT (2018) 170 ITD 751 /166 DTR 305 /64 ITR 358 / 193 TTJ 685 (Bang) (Trib.)

S. 37(1) : Business expenditure –Notional addition- Sale at discounted price to retailers was to increase volume of sales through e-commerce – Where a trader transfers his goods to another trader at a price less than market price and transaction is a bona fide one, taxing authority cannot take into account market price of those goods, ignoring real price fetched to ascertain profit from transaction-Revenue cannot bring to tax hypothetical income accordingly the addition was deleted- [ S. 2(24) ,4, 28(1), 40(A)(2)(a),145 ]

Assessee company is  engaged in business of wholesale trader/distributor of books, mobiles, computers and related accessories . Assessee sold the goods to retailers at a price less than their cost price to increase volume of sales through e-commerce. AO rejected  the explanation of assessee and made addition on notional basis which was confirmed by the CIT(A). On appeal  allowing the appeal of the assessee the Tribunal held that  when a trader transfers his goods to another trader at a price less than market price and transaction is a bona fide one, taxing authority cannot take into account market price of those goods, ignoring real price fetched to ascertain profit from transaction. The Tribunal also held that even otherwise, since assessee had not incurred any expenditure to acquire marketing intangibles or for creation of goodwill, impugned order passed by Assessing Officer was not sustainable. Revenue cannot bring to tax hypothetical income accordingly the addition was deleted.  (Referred, CIT v. Shoorji Vallabhdas & Co ( 1962) 46 ITR 144 (SC) CIT v. Calcutta Discount Ltd. (1973) 91 ITR 8(SC)CIT v. A. Raman & Co. (1968) 67 ITR 11 (SC) and A. Khader Basha v. ACIT (2015) 232 Taxman 434( Karn) (HC) .(AY.2015-16)