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. 9(1)(vii) : Income deemed to accrue or arise in India-Fees for technical services-Computer software-Maintenance and support services-Not payment of royalty for use of copyright in computer software-Not taxable in India-DTAA-India-Singapore. [S. 9(1)(i), 195, Art. 12]

CIT (IT) v. Symantec Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (2023) 153 taxmann.com 26 (Delhi) (HC) Editorial : SLP of revenue dismissed, CIT (IT) v. Symantec Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd (2023) 294 Taxman 340 (SC)

S. 9(1)(vii) : Income deemed to accrue or arise in India-Fees for technical services-Diamond testing services for certification of diamond from USA-Services could not be treated as Fees for technical services-Mere rendering of services cannot be held to be fees for technical services, unless the person utilising the services is able to make use of the technical knowledge etc DTAA-India-USA. [S. 195, 201(1), 201(IA), Art. 12]

CIT(IT) v. Star Rays (2023) 457 ITR 1/ 294 Taxman 641 /334 CTR 908 (Guj)(HC)

S. 9(1)(vii) : Income deemed to accrue or arise in India-Fees for technical services-Commission-Rendering support in business operations in printed and on-line sale of books and journals – Receipts are not fees for technical services-Subscription Received from third-party customers in India for sale of E-Journals, Online Journals and books under Commissionaire agreement – No copy right granted-Not assessable as royalty-DTAA-India-Germany. [S.9(1)(vi), Art. 12]

CIT (IT) v. Springer Nature Customer Services Centre GMBH(2023) 458 ITR 728/ 294 Taxman 167 / 333 CTR 845 (Delhi)(HC)

S. 9(1)(vii) : Income deemed to accrue or arise in India-Fees for technical services-Telecom services-There was no human intervention in rendering said service-Payments could not be characterised as fees for technical services-DTAA-India-UK. [S. 9(1)(vi), Art. 13]

CIT v. Interoute Communications Ltd (2023) 294 Taxman 449 (Bom)(HC)

S. 9(1)(vi) : Income deemed to accrue or arise in India-Royalty-Consideration for resale / use of computer software-Licensing of software products in India not taxable in India as royalty-Not payment of royalty for use of copy right in computer software-Not taxable in India-DTAA-India-USA.[S.9(1)(vii), Art. 12]

CIT (IT) v. Gracemac Corporation (No.2) (2023) 456 ITR 130 / 153 taxmann.com 680 (Delhi)(HC) Editorial : SLP of Revenue dismissed, CIT (IT) v. Gracemac Corporation (2023) 294 Taxman 708(SC)

S. 9(1)(vi) : Income deemed to accrue or arise in India-Royalty-Software receipts-Tribunal was justified in deleting addition made in hands of assessee on account of recharacterization of receipts from sale of software licenses to Indian customers/distributors as royalty-DTAA-India-USA. [S. 260A, Art. 12]

DIT(IT) v. Microsoft Regional Sales Corporation (2023) 151 taxmann.com 309 (Delhi)(HC) Editorial : SLP of revenue dismissed, DIT (IT) Microsoft Regional Sales Corporation (2023) 294 Taxman 519 (SC)

S. 9(1)(vi) : Income deemed to accrue or arise in India-Royalty-Software receipts-Tribunal was justified in deleting addition made in hands of assessee on account of recharacterization of receipts from sale of software licenses to Indian customers/distributors as royalty-DTAA-India-USA-SLP of Revenue dismissed. [S. 260A, Art. 12]

DIT (IT) v. Microsoft Regional Sales Corporation (2023) 294 Taxman 519 (SC) Editorial: DIT(IT) v. Microsoft Regional Sales Corporation (2023) 151 taxmann.com 309 (Delhi)(HC)

S. 9(1)(vi) : Income deemed to accrue or arise in India-Royalty-Consideration for resale / use of computer software-Licensing of software products in India not taxable in India as royalty-Not payment of royalty for use of copy right in computer software-Not taxable in India-Precedent-Decision rendered following earlier decision-Subsequent overruling of earlier decision does not revive judgment passed earlier-DTAA-India-USA. [S. 9(1)(vii), Art. 12, Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, Order XLVII, Rule, 1]

CIT (IT) v. Gracemac Corporation (2023) 456 ITR 135 / 294 Taxman 708(SC) Editorial : CIT(IT) v. Gracemac Corporation (2023) 456 ITR 130 / 153 taxmann.com 680 (Delhi)(HC)

S. 9(1)(i) : Income deemed to accrue or arise in India-Business connection-Information, reservations, transaction processing and related services to airlines, travel agencies and other travel related entities by utilizing a CRS-Major part of business activities took place in USA-Tribunal is justified in holding that 15 per cent of assessee’s profit was to be attributed to India-DTAA-India-USA. [Art. 5(4)(a), 260A]

CIT (IT) v. Travelport L. P. USA (2023) 153 taxmann.com 175 (Delhi) (HC) Editorial : SLP of Revenue dismissed, CIT (IT) v. Travelport L.P. USA (2023) 294 Taxman 165 (SC)

S. 9(1)(i) : Income deemed to accrue or arise in India-Business connection-Providing Jack up drilling Unit and platform Well operations.-Number of days of deployment of rig was more than 183 days-No substantial question of law arose for consideration-DTAA-India-Singapore. [S. 44BB, 260A, Art. 5]

Deep Drilling 1 Pte. Ltd. v. Dy.CIT (IT) (2023) 294 Taxman 474 / 335 CTR 500(Bom)(HC)