The question whether contract manufacturing agreements are subject to s. 194C has been decided by the Bombay High Court in Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd ITA No. 2256 of 2009 and other matters in favour of the assessees. In an oral judgement pronounced today 12th March 2010, the Court held that while “works contracts” were subject to TDS under section 194C, “sales contracts” were not. It upheld the arguments of the pharmaceutical companies that the contract manufacturing agreements entered into by them with other manufacturers amounted to a “sales contract” which was not liable to TDS u/s 194C. The text of the judgement shall be made available shortly.

The Finance Bill 2010, the Notes on Clauses & the Memorandum explaining the Finance Bill are available for download.

The Finance Act, 2005 introduced a levy namely Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) on the value of certain fringe benefits as contained in Chapter XII H (Sections 115 W to 115 WL) of Income Tax Act, 1961. By the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2009 a new Section 115 WM was inserted to abolish the FBT with effect from Assessment Year (A.Y.) 2010-11. Consequently, benefits given to employees are taxed as perquisites in the hands of employees in terms of amendments to Clause 2 of Section 17 of Income Tax Act, 1961. However, during the current Financial Year 2009-10 some assessees have paid “advance tax in respect of fringe benefits” for Assessment Year 2010-11. In such cases the Board has decided that any installment of “advance tax paid in respect of fringe benefits” for A.Y. 2010-11 shall be treated as Advance Tax paid by assessee concerned for A.Y. 2010-11. The assessee can adjust such sum against its advance tax obligation in respect of income for A.Y. 2010-11 or in case of loss etc claim such payment as refund as advance tax paid in A.Y. 2010-11

The provisions of sub-section (2) to sub-section (5) of section 144C are quite clear that a choice has been given to the assessee either to go before the DRP or to prefer the normal appellate channel. It is again clarified that it is the choice of the assessee whether to file an objection before the Dispute Resolution panel against the draft assessment order or not to exercise this option and file an appeal later before CIT (Appeals) against the assessment order passed by the Assessing Officer.