Vodafone Idea Limited v. ACIT (2020)425 ITR 691 / 272 Taxman 335(Bom)(HC) Editorial: SLP of revenue is dismissed , PCIT v. Vodafone Idea Ltd (2020) 272 Taxman 406 ( SC)

S. 237 : Refund -Order of refund attaining finality- Department cannot adjust admitted refund against future dues yet to be adjudicated —Entitle to refund- Department Withholding refund of Assessment Year 2014-15 — Provisions not attracted to refund of assessment Year 2014-15 or any Assessment year prior to Assessment Year 2017-18. [ S.143(1) 144C ,154, 241A , 245 Art , 226 ]

The assessee filed rectification applications under S.  154 for rectification of certain mistakes. Since no refund was granted the assessee filed a writ petition before the High Court. On the writ petition being dismissed, the assessee filed an appeal before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court directed the Department to refund the quantified amount in respect of the assessment year 2014-15 and to conclude the proceedings initiated pursuant to the notice under section 143(2) in respect of the assessment years 2016-17 and 2017-18 and dismissed the appeal. Thereafter the Department issued an intimation under S.  245 proposing to set off the outstanding tax dues according to their records for the assessment years 2000-01, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2012-13 and 2018-19 against the refund for the assessment year 2014-15. The assessee objected to the intimation. Thereafter the Department passed an order under S.  154 read with S.  143(3) wherein the net amount refundable to the assessee was determined after deducting the demands due for the various assessment years at Rs. 833 crores. The assessee sought for the refund in compliance with the order of the Supreme Court from the Pr.Commissioner but did not receive any refund. By a common order dated May 28, 2020 all the applications for rectification filed by it under section 154 were disposed of. On a writ petition ,allowing the petition Department cannot adjust admitted refund against future dues yet to be  adjudicated  the asssessee is entitle to refund. Court also held that  the  department cannot withhold the refund of  Assessment Year 2014-15 as the  provisions not attracted to refund of  assessment Year 2014-15 or  any Assessment year prior to Assessment Year 2017-18.Accordingly the  Department was directed to refund the sum to the assessee.( AY.2014-15)