This Digest of case laws is prepared by KSA Legal and AIFTP from judgements reported in BCAJ, CTR, DTR, ITD, ITR, ITR (Trib), Chamber's Journal, SOT, Taxman, TTJ, BCAJ, ACAJ, www.itatonline.org and other journals
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S. 35D: Amortisation of preliminary expenses – Capital or revenue – Expenditure incurred on public issue of shares is revenue or capital expenditure – Debatable issue – Judgement of jurisdictional High Court on the issue – Issue cannot be said to be debatable – Held, issue can be considered in proceedings under section 143(1) of the Act.

Dy. CIT v. Raghuvir Synthetics Ltd (2017) 394 ITR 1/151 DTR 153/295 CTR 143/247 Taxman 393 (SC)

S. 35AC : Expenditure on eligible projects-Schemes–Promissory estoppel is not available to an assessee against the exercise of legislative power nor any vested right accrues to an assessee in the matter of grant of any tax concession to him-In a taxing statute, a plea based on equity or/and hardship is not legally sustainable-Withdrawal of exemption is valid. S. 35AC(7) is prospective in nature-Provision is valid in law. [S. 35AC(7), Art. 142, 226]

Prashanti Medical Service & Research Foundation v. UOI (2019) 416 ITR 485/180 DTR 209/309 CTR 457/265 Taxman 504 (SC)

S. 28(iv): Business income – Waiver of loan – Remission or cessation of trading liability – S. 28(iv) does not apply if the receipts are in the nature of cash or money; but will apply if the benefits are received in some other form – Loan waiver amounts to benefit/ receipt in the form of cash – Held, waiver of loan cannot be assessed u/s 28(iv) of the Act.

S. 41(1) : Profits chargeable to tax – Remission or cessation of trading liability – Waiver of loan – Section 41(1) apply to a trading liability; in respect of which either an allowance or deduction is claimed by the assessee –Loan is not a trading liability and no deduction is claimed in respect of the interest expense – Held, no addition can be made u/s 41(1) of the Act in respect of waiver of loan. [S. 4, 36(1)(iii), 28(iv)]

CIT v. Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. (2018) 404 ITR 1/165 DTR 337/302 CTR 213/255 Taxman 305 (SC) CIT v. Dholgiri Industries (P) Ltd. (2018) 404 ITR 1/165 DTR 337/302 CTR 213/255 Taxman 305 (SC) CIT v. Jindal Equipments Leasing & Consultancy Services Ltd. (2018) 404 ITR 1/165 DTR 337/302 CTR 213/255 Taxman 305 (SC) CIT v. Ramaniyam Homes (P) Ltd. (2018) 404 ITR 1/165 DTR 337/302 CTR 213/255 Taxman 305 (SC)

S. 28(i) : Business income -Professional fees – Cash method of accounting – Outstanding fee of professional work done by assessee, who kept his accounts on cash basis, after close of his profession was not taxable either under head of professional income or under residuary head of income- Income which is chargeable under a particular head cannot be taxed under the residuary head [ S. 2 (45) 4, 5 , 14 ,56 ,145 and of the Indian Income- tax Act , 1922, S.2(15), 3, 4, 5, 10, 12 ]

Nalinikant Ambalal Mody v. S.A.L. Narayan Row, CIT (1966] 61 ITR 428 (SC)

.S.28(i): Business income – Adventure in nature-of-trade – Division of land into plots and sale to various purchasers – Test to be applied for considering the nature of trade [S.2(13), Indian Income-tax 1922, S. 10(1)]

P.M. Mohammed Meerakahn v. CIT (1969) 73 ITR 735 (SC)

S. 22: Income from house property-Business income-The objects clause is not determinative- Income earned from sub-licenses is required to be taxed under the head “Income from House Property”. [S. 27(iii)(b),28(i), 269UA(f)]

Raj Dadarkar & Associates v. ACIT (2017) 394 ITR 592/248 Taxman 1/298 CTR 117/157 DTR 225 (SC)

S. 14A : Disallowance of expenditure – Exempt income – Stock in trade – Controlling interest – 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. [S. 36(1)(iii), Rule. 8D]

Maxopp Investment Ltd. v. CIT (2018) 402 ITR 640/164 DTR 1/254 Taxman 325/301 CTR 489(SC) PCIT v. State Bank of Patiala (2018) 402 ITR 640/164 DTR 1/254 Taxman 325/301 CTR 489 (SC)

S. 11: Property held for charitable purposes – Application of income – Any excess expenditure incurred by the trust/charitable institution in earlier assessment year could be allowed to be set off against income of subsequent years. [S.11(1)(a)]

CIT (E) v. Subros Educational Society (2018) 303 CTR 1/166 DTR 257 //96 taxmann.com 652(SC)/Editrial: Review petition of Revenue dismissed , CIT (E) v. Subros Educational Society (2022) 286 Taxman 97 (SC)

S. 9(1)(vii): Income deemed to accrue or arise in India – Fees for technical services – Validity challenged – Parliament’s power to legislate having extra – territorial effect.

GVK Industries Ltd. v. ITO (2011) 332 ITR 130/239 CTR 113/197 Taxman 337/52 DTR 1/162 Comp. Case 574 (SC) (Constitution Bench – i.e. Bench of 5 Judges)

S. 9(1)(i) : Income deemed to accrue or arise in India – Indirect transfers – Transfer of shares – Foreign company – Jurisdiction – Off shore transaction tax authorities in India has no jurisdiction to tax such share transfer – Tax planning vs Tax avoidance – Subsidiary and Holding company relationships – Other business considerations [ S. 2(14) 2(47), 5(2) 163 , 195 ]

Vodafone International Holdings B.V. v. UOI (2012) 341 ITR 1/204 Taxman 408/247 CTR 1/66 DTR 265/6 SCC 613/Vol. 42 Tax L R 305 (SC)