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. 40(a)(i) : Amounts not deductible-Deduction at source-Non-resident-Fes for technical services-Reimbursement of expenses-Revenue had failed to establish that said remitted fee would fall within ambit of any technical, managerial or consultative service that had been rendered-Not liable to deduct tax at source-Order of Tribunal deleting the disallowance is affirmed-OECD Model Convention, art 7. [S.9(1)(vi), 195, 260A]

PCIT v. JAS Forwarding (P.) Ltd. (2024) 299 Taxman 236 (Delhi)(HC)

S. 37(1) : Business expenditure-Capital or revenue-Purchase of software-Not necessary that income must be earned because of such expenditure-SLP of Revenue is dismissed. [S. 28(i), Art. 136]

PCIT v. Hike (P.) Ltd. (2024) 299 Taxman 178 / 299 Taxman 447/ 464 ITR 394 (SC) Editorial : PCIT v. Hike (P.) Ltd. (2024) 158 taxmann.com 162/ 462 ITR 183 (Delhi)(HC)

S. 37(1) : Business expenditure-Software development solution and management-Capital or revenue-Software abandoned-Work in progress-SLP of Revenue is dismissed.[Art. 136]

PCIT v. Trigent Software Ltd. (2024) 299 Taxman 453 / 464 ITR 770 (SC) Editorial : PCIT v. Trigent Software Ltd(2023) 147 taxmann.com 52/ 457 ITR 765 (Bom)(HC)

S. 37(1) : Business expenditure-Expansion of existing business-Revenue expenditure-Tax effect is below threshold limits-SLP of Revenue is dismissed. [S. 268A, Art. 136]

CIT v. Nirma Ltd. (2024) 299 Taxman 180 (SC) Editorial : CIT v. Nirma Ltd (2015) 229 Taxman 535 (Guj)(HC)

S. 32 : Depreciation-Carry forward and set off-Unabsorbed depreciation pertaining to assessment year 1997-98 could be allowed to be carried forward and set off after a period of eight years without any limit whatsoever in accordance with section 32(2) as amended by Finance Act, 2001-SLP of Revenue is dismissed. [S. 32(2), Art. 136]

PCIT v. Vishaldeep Spinning Mills Ltd. (2024) 299 Taxman 368 / 465 ITR 530 (SC) Editorial : PCIT v. Vishaldeep Spinning Mills Ltd(2023) 153 taxmann.com 372 / (2024) 465 ITR 524 (Guj)(HC)

S. 28(i) : Business income-Rental income-Sub-letting of mall could not be assessed as income from house property and same was to be assessed as income from business. [S. 22]

PCIT v. M.P. Entertainment and Developers (P.) Ltd. (2024) 299 Taxman 211 (MP)(HC)

S. 17(2) : Salary-Perquisite-Stock options were merely held by assessee and same had not been exercised till date, same would not constitute income chargeable to tax in hands of assessee as none of contingencies specified in section 17(2)(vi) had occurred-Payment in question was not linked to employment, rather it was a onetime voluntary payment to all option holders of ESOP, compensation would not tantamount to perquisite under section 17(2)(vi) of the Act.[S.17(2)(vi), 197, Art. 226]

Sanjay Baweja v. Dy. CIT (2024) 299 Taxman 313/341 CTR 376 / 241 DTR 145 (Delhi)(HC)

S. 17(2) : Salary-Perquisite-Employer’s grant of interest-free loans or loans at concessional rate would qualify as a ‘fringe benefit’ and ‘perquisite’ as understood through its natural usage in common parlance-Enactment of subordinate legislation for levying tax on interest-free/concessional loans as a fringe benefit is within rule making power under section 17(2)(viii) and enactment of rule 3(7)(i) is not a case of excessive delegation and falls within parameters of permissible delegation. Rule 3(7)(i) is intra vires section 17(2)(viii) and therefore, section 17(2)(viii) does not lead to an excessive delegation of ‘essential legislative function’ to CBDT-Fixation of SBI’s rate of interest, i.e., PLR, as benchmark to determine value of benefit to assessee in comparison to rate of interest charged by other individual banks under rule 3(7)(i) is neither an arbitrary nor unequal exercise of power and is intra vires article 14 of constitution of India. [S.17(2)(viii), Rule 3(7)(i), Art. 14, 136]

All India Bank Officers’ Confederation v. Regional Manager, Central Bank of India (2024) 299 Taxman 93 / 464 ITR 286/338 CTR 505 (SC) Editorial : All India Punjab National Bank Officer’s Association v. Chairman-cum-Managing Director Punjab National Bank (2010) 190 Taxman 221/ 321 ITR 324 (MP)(HC)/ All India Union Bank Officers Federation v. UOI (2016) 240 Taxman 92/ 385 ITR 114 (Mad)(HC), affirmed.

S. 12AA : Procedure for registration-Trust or institution-Cancellation of registration-Commissioner had no jurisdiction to cancel registration certificate once granted by him to assessee under section 12A till 1-10-2004 [S. 12A, 260A]

CIT v. Young Scholar’s Educational Society (2024) 299 Taxman 145/341 CTR 52 /242 DTR 252 (P&H)(HC)/CIT v. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Education Trust (2024) 341 CTR 52 /242 DTR 252 /299 Taxman 145 / 8 NYPCTR 889 (P&H)(HC)

S. 10(23C) : Charitable institution-Promoting, advancing and protecting trade, commerce and industry in India–Matter was remanded to Chief Commissioner for de novo consideration by applying law as laid down by Tribunal.Matter remanded. [S. 2(15), 10(23C)(iv), Art. 226]

Indian Merchants Chamber v. ACIT (2024) 299 Taxman 62 (Bom.)(HC)