Court rules on export business profits and losses adjustment under Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961).

For a comprehensive understanding, check out the original judgement of the court order here."

Case Name:

Commissioner of Income Tax vs Three Bags India P. Ltd.(High Court of Madras)

T.C.A.No.1790 of 2006

Key Takeaways

- The court clarified that profits from different branches of export business can be adjusted against each other under Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961).

- The Tribunal's previous order was set aside due to a misunderstanding of the roles of Sections 80-HHC and 115-JA.

- The case was remitted back to the Tribunal for fresh consideration, allowing the assessee to demonstrate their profits and losses accurately.

Issue

Can the profits from one branch of the export business be adjusted against the losses from another branch for the purpose of tax incentives under Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961)?

Facts

- The assessee, Three Bags India P. Ltd., filed a 'Nil' income return for the assessment year 1998-1999.

- The assessee claimed a deduction under Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961) while computing book profits under Section 115-JA (of Income Tax Act, 1961).

- The assessing officer disallowed this claim, leading to a tax demand.

- The Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) upheld the assessing officer's decision.

- The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal allowed the assessee's appeal, which was then challenged by the Revenue in the High Court.

Arguments

- Revenue:

Argued that the assessee is not entitled to deductions under Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961) as they filed a 'Nil' return and did not claim the deduction in normal computation.

- Assessee:

Contended that the profits from the export business should be considered for deductions under Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961), even if they filed a 'Nil' return.

Key Legal Precedents

- Ajanta Pharma Ltd. vs Commissioner of Income Tax:

Clarified the roles of Sections 80-HHC and 115-JA, emphasizing that they operate in different spheres.

- Jeyar Consultant and Investment Pvt. Ltd. vs Commissioner of Income-Tax:

Established that losses in one type of export business can be adjusted against profits in another type for Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961) deductions.

Judgement

The High Court ruled that the Tribunal had misunderstood the roles of Sections 80-HHC and 115-JA. The court set aside the Tribunal's order and remitted the case back for fresh consideration, allowing the assessee to demonstrate their profits and losses accurately. The appeal was allowed to the extent indicated, with no costs.

FAQs

Q1: What was the main issue in this case?

A1: Whether profits from one branch of the export business can be adjusted against losses from another branch for tax incentives under Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961).

Q2: What was the court's decision?

A2: The court ruled that such adjustments are permissible and remitted the case back to the Tribunal for fresh consideration.

Q3: What sections of the Income Tax Act were discussed?

A3: Sections 80-HHC and 115-JA.

Q4: What were the key legal precedents cited?

A4: Ajanta Pharma Ltd. vs Commissioner of Income Tax and Jeyar Consultant and Investment Pvt. Ltd. vs Commissioner of Income-Tax.

Q5: What does this mean for the parties involved?

A5: The assessee has another opportunity to demonstrate their profits and losses accurately, and the Tribunal will reconsider the case in light of the High Court's ruling.

1. This appeal is preferred by the Revenue under Section 260-A (of Income Tax Act, 1961), against the order, dated 11.11.2005 in I.T.A.No.2739/Mds/2004 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai-B-Bench, Chennai.

2. The appeal was admitted by this Court on 17.07.2006 for the following substantial question of law:

"Whether on the facts and in the circumstance of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that relief under Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961) is allowable while arriving at the book profits as per Clause (vii) of Explanation to Section 115-JA(1) (of Income Tax Act, 1961), when the assessee itself had not claimed the deduction under Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961) in the normal computation, since it had filed "NIL" Return ? "

3. The respondent-assessee-Company has Returned for the assessment year 1998-1999 on 27.11.1998 admitting 'Nil' income under normal computation as well as under Section 115-JA (of Income Tax Act, 1961). The Return was processed under Section 143(1)(a) (of Income Tax Act, 1961) on 20.05.1999. The excess claim of Rs.24,370/- under Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961) was disallowed while computing the book profits under Section 115-JA (of Income Tax Act, 1961). The assessee preferred appeal before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), which was allowed on 11.12.2001 on the ground that the said claim could not have been disallowed under Section 143(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Under the normal computation, the assessee-Company has not claimed any deduction under Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961), as it Returned 'Nil' income, after adjusting the brought-forward losses. However, it has claimed deduction under Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961) in a sum of Rs.1,85,505/- while computing the book profits under Section 115-JA (of Income Tax Act, 1961). The assessing officer, by order dated 27.01.2004, came to the conclusion that under the normal computation, since the assessee-Company arrived at 'Nil' income, after setting-off the earlier year losses, it is not entitled to any deduction under Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961). In that view of the matter, the assessee-Company was also held to be not eligible to claim the deduction based on Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961) while computing the book profits for the purpose of Section 115-JA (of Income Tax Act, 1961), and hence, the claim was rejected by the assessing officer and demand of tax payable at Rs.24,568/- was raised. The Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), by order dated 23.09.2004, agreed with the view of the assessing officer and held that the assessee is not eligible to claim the deduction under Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961) while calculating the book profits for the purpose of Section 115-JA (of Income Tax Act, 1961), and hence, the appeal was dismissed. The assessee approached the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, which by the impugned order, dated 11.11.2005, allowed the appeal of the assessee. In paragraph 7 of its order, the Tribunal relied on a judgment rendered earlier by the Tribunal in the case of DCIT Vs. Govind Rubber (P) Ltd. (MUM) and faithfully extracted paragraph 16 of the judgment in Govind Rubber (P) Ltd. case thereunder.

4. Heard Mr.T.Ravi Kumar, learned Senior Standing Counsel of the Income Tax, appearing for the appellant/Revenue and Mr.A.S.Sriraman, learned counsel appearing for Mr.S.Sridhar, learned counsel for the respondent/assessee.

5. Learned Senior Standing Counsel appearing for the Revenue brought to our notice the judgment of the Supreme Court rendered in the case of Ajanta Pharma Ltd. Vs. Commissioner of Income Tax, reported in 2010 (327) ITR 305 (SC) = 2010 (234) CTR (SC) 139. It was pointed out in the course of the judgment of the Supreme Court that the scheme of levy of minimum tax has now come to be introduced, as the zero tax companies and companies paying marginal tax have grown and hence, to address the malady, the concept of Minimum Alternative Tax (MAT) came to be introduced. The words "book profit" had been defined in Section 115-JA(2) (of Income Tax Act, 1961), read with the Explanation thereto, to mean the net profit as shown in the profit and loss account, as increased by the amount(s) mentioned in Clauses (a) to (f) and as reduced by the amount(s) covered by Clauses (i) to (ix) of the Explanation, and such adjustments are now called as "upward and downward adjustments". Hence, the Supreme Court has considered the scheme contained in Section 115-JA (of Income Tax Act, 1961) as a self- contained code and will apply notwithstanding any other provisions of the Income Tax Act. Dealing with the specified roles assigned to Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961) and Section 115-JB (of Income Tax Act, 1961), in paragraph 9 of the judgment, the Supreme Court noticed that while Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961) provides for tax incentives, Section 115-JB (of Income Tax Act, 1961) refers to levy of MAT on the deemed income and thus, Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961) and Section 115-JB (of Income Tax Act, 1961) operate in different spheres. It was noted therein further that for the purposes of computation of book profist under Chapter VI-A of the Act, one needs to keep in mind the upward and downward adjustments, which are required to be made for arriving at the book profits under Section 115-JA (of Income Tax Act, 1961) together with the Explanation contained therein. In paragraph 10 of the judgment of the Supreme Court, the contention that both eligibility as well deductibility of the profits have to be considered together for working out the deduction as stipulated under Clause (iv) of Explanation to Section 115-JB (of Income Tax Act, 1961), was specifically rejected, finding no merit in that contention. Ultimately, the Supreme Court concluded the issue in the following words:

"10. .. .... If the dichotomy between "eligibility" of profit and "deductibility" of profit is not kept in mind then S.115-JB will cease to be a self-contained code. In S.115-JB, as in S.115-JA, it has been clearly stated that the relief will be computed under S.80-HHC(3)/(3-A), subject to the conditions under sub-cls.(4) and (4A) of that Section. The conditions are only that the relief should be certified by the chartered accountant. Such condition is not a qualifying condition but it is a compliance condition. Therefore, one cannot rely upon the last sentence in Cl.(iv) of Explanation to S.115-JB (subject to the conditions specified in sub-cls.(4) and (4-A) of that Section) to obliterate the difference between "eligibility" and "deductibility" of profits as contended on behalf of the Department." Hence, the difference between eligibility and deductibility of profits, has got to be maintained all through.

6. Further, the learned Senior Standing Counsel has also drawn our attention to the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Jeyar Consultant and Investment Pvt. Ltd. Vs. Commissioner of Income-Tax, reported in 2015 (373) ITR 87 (SC), wherein, the Supreme Court, after considering its earlier judgments rendered in the case of IPCA Laboratory Ltd. Vs. Deputy CIT, reported in (2004 (12) SCC 742 = 2004 (266) ITR 521 (SC) and also in the case of A.M.Moosa Vs. CIT, reported in 2007 (9) SCR 831 = 2007 (294) ITR 1 (SC), held as under:

"18. It stands settled, on the co-joint reading of IPCA and A.M.Moosa, that where there are losses in the export of one type of goods (for example self-manufactured goods) and profits from the export of other type of goods (for example trading goods) then both are to be clubbed together to arrive at net profits or losses for the purpose of applying the provisions of section 80HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961). If the net result was loss from the export business, then the deduction under the aforesaid Act is not permissible. As a fortiori, if there is net profit from the export business, after adjusting the lossess from one type of export business from other type of export business, the benefit of the said provision would be granted.

19. .. .. ... However, the appellant-assessee relies upon section 80HHC(3)(b) (of Income Tax Act, 1961), as existed at the relevant time, to contend that the profits of the business as a whole, i.e., including profits earned from the goods or merchandise within India will also be taken into consideration. In this manner, argues the appellant, even if there are lossess in the export business but profits of indigenous business outweigh those lossess and the net result is that there is profit of the business, then the deduction under section 80HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961) should be given. However, having regard to the law laid down in IPCA and A.M.Moosa, we cannot agree with the learned counsel for the appellant. From the scheme of section 80HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961), it is clear that deduction is to be provided under sub-section (1) thereof which is "in respect of profits retained for export business". Therefore, in the first instance, it has to be satisfied that there are profits from the export business. That is the pre-requisite as held in IPCA and A.M.Moosa as well. Sub-section (3) comes into picture only for the purpose of computation of deduction. For such an eventuality, while computing the "total turnover", one may apply the formula stated in clause (b) of sub-section (3) of section 80HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961). However, that would not mean that even if there are lossess in the export business but the profits in respect of business carried out within India are more than the export lossess, the benefit under section 80HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961) would still be available. In the present case, since there are lossess in the export business, the question of providing deduction under section 80HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961) does not arise and as a consequence, there is no question of computation of any such deduction in the manner provided under sub-section (3)."

7. In the above view of the matter, what follows is, for the purpose of providing the incentive contemplated under Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961), the profits earned from the export business, which might include, in a given case, exports carried out of the goods manufactured by the assessee as well as by trading the goods manufactured by others, and the lossess sustained in any one of these branches of exports business, are liable to be adjusted against the profits earned by the other branch of export business.

8. A reading of the principles enunciated by the Supreme Court in the cases of Ajanta Pharma Ltd. (cited supra) and Jeyar Consultant and Investment Pvt. Ltd. (cited supra), it becomes crystal clear that the Tribunal has arrived at an incorrect comprehension of the spheres assigned respectively by Section 80-HHC (of Income Tax Act, 1961) and Section 115-JA (of Income Tax Act, 1961). Therefore, the impugned order passed by the Tribunal is not sustainable.

9. Since the assessee-Company has not been provided with an opportunity to demonstrate that they did Return the profits from their export business for the assessment year concerned, which profits of export business, are set-off against the carry forward lossess sustained in the business, as a whole for the previous year, resulting in taxable income being Returned as "Nil" and also for the purpose of computation of book profits under Section 115-JA (of Income Tax Act, 1961), the extent of profits made by the assessee from the export business, has got to be looked into and taken into consideration and since that aspect of the matter has not been dealt with by the Tribunal, we set aside the impugned order passed by the Tribunal and remit the matter back to the Tribunal for consideration afresh by it in accordance with law.

10. The appeal is allowed to the extent indicated above. No costs.

(N.R.R.J) (P.D.S.J)

27.09.2016

Index: Yes / no

Internet: Yes / no

Copy to

1. The Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals-III), 121, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Chennai-600 034.

2. The Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Company Circle III(2), 121, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Chennai-600 034.

3. The Registrar, Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, "B" Bench, Chennai.

NOOTY.RAMAMOHANA RAO,J

and

P.DEVADASS,J

T.C.A.No.1790 of 2006

27.09.2016