Saturday, September 13, 2014

Payment of IPLC Charges subject to Tax Withholding - ITAT Chennai

In the case of Cognizant Technology Solutions India Pvt. Ltd. vs. ITO (2014-TII-131-ITAT-MAD-INTL) it is held that -
Payments made for International Private Leased Circuit (IPLC) are taxable as ‘Royalty’ for:
      i.        use or right to use commercial and scientific equipment u/s.9(1)(vi) of the Act read with explanation-2
     ii.        Alternatively, payment should be considered as payment for the use of the process provided by the assessee, whereby through the assured bandwidth, the customer is guaranteed the transmission of data and the voice.
Facts:
Assessee-company is engaged in the business of software development and export.It had made remittances to non-resident company M/s.Sprint USA for hiring International Private Leased Circuits, to receive bandwidth service, that enabled the assessee to communicate with its offices anywhere in the world through high speed connectivity via submarine cable. Through this dedicated high speed connectivity, the assessee was provided internet access and other telecommunication facilities. The foreign company, Sprint, USA, was responsible for installing and configuring the routers at the assessee’s customer’s site and backbone sites in US and Europe. The remittance made by the assessee to Sprint, USA, included the charges for router rental, installation, management and maintenance besides the software initialization charges.
The assessee remitted these amounts to the non-resident company without deduction of tax at source. arguing that these payments were for usage charges, recurring charges installation charges and also non usage charges which included service fee, access fee and equipment.
The Assessing Officer (AO) after analyzing the nature of services provided by Sprint USA to the assessee, held that the payments constituted 'royalty' for use of telecommunication equipment and other services and the assessee was liable for deducting tax at source under section 195. Accordingly, the AO disallowed the payment under section 40(a)(i) .
On appeal, the CIT(A) held that these payments were for international telecommunication services, which is a standard facility or service provided to all those willing to pay; that the assessee did not get any right to use any goods/equipment provided in such transmission. Therefore, the payments made to the overseas company were not in the nature of 'Royalty' for the use of equipment. The CIT(A) further held that M/s. Sprint USA did not have any permanent establishment in India and its income was in the nature of business income as it provided only 'service' to the assessee, who had not taken any equipment on lease. Thus, in the absence of PE, for the services rendered by Sprint, there was no necessity to pay taxes in India and as such the assessee was under no obligation to deduct tax under section 195 while making payments.
Order:


These are six appeals. Two appeals in ITA No.1535/Mds/2009 for the Assessment Year (AY) 2002-03 and ITA No.1536/Mds/2009 for the AY.2003-04 have been filed by the Revenue against the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax(Appeals)-XI, Chennai, dated 06-07-2009 passed u/s.201(1) and 201(1A) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (herein after referred to as 'the Act'). The CIT(Appeals) has passed common order for both the AYs.
ITA No.460/Mds/2010 relevant to the AY.2002-03 has been filed by the Revenue assailing the order of CIT(Appeals), LTU, Chennai dt.29-01-2010. The assessee has filed cross-objections in the said appeal.
ITA No.751/Mds/2010 relevant to the AY.2006-07 has been filed by the assessee against the order of CIT(Appeals), LTU, Chennai dt.12-03-2010. The Revenue has filed cross appeal in ITA No.864/Mds/2010 against the same order of CIT(Appeals).
ITA No.1922/Mds/2010 relevant to the AY.2006-07 has been filed by the Revenue assailing the order of CIT(Appeals), LTU, Chennai dt.31-08-2010 passed u/s.154 of the Act.
2. First we will take up the appeals of the Revenue in ITA No.1535 & 1536/Mds/2009 for the AYs.2002-03 & 2003-04 respectively assailing the order of CIT(Appeals) passed u/s.201(1) and 201(1A). The brief facts of the case are: The assessee-company is engaged in the business of software development and export. During the period relevant to the AYs under consideration, the assessee made remittances to M/s.Sprint USA for hiring International Private Leased Circuits [IPLC]. The aforesaid remittances made to non-resident company were without deduction of tax at source. M/s. Sprint USA is providing IPLC Bandwidth service to the assessee for internet access, business, data exchange, video conferencing and other telecommunication facilities to enable dedicated high speed connectivity. The details of the services provided by M/s.Sprint USA to the assessee are as under:
(a) International Private Leased Circuit (IPLC)
An IPLC is a point to point private line used by an organization to communicate between offices that are geographically dispersed throughout the World. An IPLC is used for internet access, business data exchange, video conferencing and any other form of telecommunication. This service entitles the customer to high speed connectivity anywhere in the world via submarine cable. It is stated that IPLC services are provided by two international career companies. Sprint is providing a US half channel and VSNL is providing India half channel. Congnizant is using IPLC services for their backbone connectivity and international customer connectivity.
(b) Private Leased Circuit (PLC)
A Private Leased Circuit is a direct or 'dedicated' line that connects customer specified locations, such as between the head office and a branch office, or a group company and a factory. Sprint provided private leased circuits in US and UK for connecting Cognizant customers to Cognizant US backbone.
(c) Frame Relay Circuit (FRC)
It is a cost effective data networking service that allows enterprises to connect to remote offices in a secure, private WAN environment. It is stated that the standard components include (i) ports – the customers' physical entry into the frame relay network from a particular site (ii) permanent virtual circuit (PVCs) – PVCs provide point to point connectivity between two sides like a private line (iii) local access/local loops – providing connectivity to the frame relay network. This is a dedicated access line from the end user's site to the nearest frame relay switch.
(d) Router Management
Sprint is responsible for installing/configuring the routers at Cognizant's customer's site in US and Europe and backbone sites in US and UK.
It is stated that Sprint provides equipment CSU/DSU (Customer Service Equipment/Digital Service Equipment) for terminating the circuits in Cognizant US Backbone and customer locations in US and Europe.
The payment to Sprint includes router rental charges, router management charges, router maintenance charges, software initialization charges, router installation charges.
After analyzing the nature of services provided by Sprint USA to the assessee, customer service agreement and services level agreement, the ITO (International Taxation-II) vide his order u/s.201(1) and 201(1A) held that the payments made to the nonresidents company constitutes 'Royalty' for use of telecommunication equipment and other services under the provisions of Income Tax Act. On the contrary, the stand of the assessee is that the remittances made by the assessee constitute payments for usage charges, recurring charges installation charges and also non usage charges which include service fee, access fee and equipment. The ld.Counsel for the assessee in order to support his contentions furnished customer service agreement with M/s. Sprint USA, copies of invoice raised by M/s. Sprint USA and copy of M/s. Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited [VSNL].
2.1 Aggrieved against the said order, the assessee preferred an appeal before the CIT(Appeals). The CIT(Appeals) held that the payments made by the assessee were for international telecommunication services which is a standard facility or service providing to all those willing to pay. The assessee does not get any right to use any goods/equipment provided in such transmission. Therefore, the payments made to the overseas company is not in the nature of 'Royalty' for the use of equipment. The CIT(Appeals) further held that M/s. Sprint USA does not have any Permanent Establishment [PE] in India. The income of the Sprint is in the nature of business income as it provides only 'service' to the assessee as the assessee has not taken any equipment on lease. In the absence of PE for the services rendered by Sprint, there is no necessity to pay taxes in India and as such the assessee is under no obligation to deduct tax u/s.195 of the Act while making payments.
2.2 Aggrieved by the order of CIT(Appeals), the Revenue has come in appeal before the Tribunal. The ld.DR vehemently supporting the order of ITO (International Taxation) submitted that the payments made to M/s. Sprint USA are in the nature of 'Royalty'. In order to support his contentions, the ld.DR relied on the recent judgment of the Hon'ble Madras High Court in the case of M/s.Verizon Communications Singapore PTE Ltd., Vs. ITO (International Taxation) reported as 361 ITR 575 (Mad) = 2013-TII-48-HC-MAD-INTL.
2.3 On the other hand, Shri Saroj Kumar, Advocate appearing on behalf of the assessee strongly supported the order of CIT(Appeals) and prayed for dismissal of the appeal of the Revenue.
2.4 We have heard the submissions made by the representatives of both the sides and have perused the orders of the authorities below. We have also examined the judgment of the Hon'ble jurisdictional High Court in the case of M/s. Verizon Communications Singapore PTE Ltd., Vs. ITO (International Taxation) (supra). We find that the issue in dispute is identical to the one adjudicated by the Hon'ble High Court in the aforesaid case. Similar issue, "Whether the services provided by the overseas company constitutes 'Royalty' or not"? came up before the Hon'ble High Court. In the said case, the non-resident company was engaged in the business of providing international connectivity services (bandwidth services/telecom services) in the Asia Pacific region including India for transmission of data and voice. The international leg of telecommunication services outside India was provided by the non-resident company. In Indian territory, the connecting services were provided by VSNL. VSNL transmitted the traffic of the customer in India from the customers office in India to a virtual point outside India and the non-resident company transmitted it up to the customer location outside India. The non-resident company used its telecom service equipment situated outside India in providing international half circuit. The gateway/landing station in India used in transmitting the traffic within India belong to VSNL and was used by VSNL for providing Indian end services in accordance with the contract with its customers.
The Assessing Officer came to the conclusion that the payment received by the non-resident company in providing international private leased circuit was taxable as a 'Royalty' for use or right to use commercial and scientific equipment u/s.9(1)(vi) of the Act read with explanation-2 and Article 12(3) of the Doubt Taxation Avoidance Agreement between India and Singapore. In first appeal, the order of the assessee was upheld by the CIT(Appeals). On further appeal, the Tribunal held that even if the payments were treated as non-relating to the use of equipment, they should be considered as payment for the use of the process provided by the assessee, whereby through the assured bandwidth, the customer is guaranteed the transmission of data and the voice. The fact that the bandwidth is shared with others, however, has to be seen in the light of the technology governing the operation of the process and this by itself does not take the assessee out of the scope of royalty. Thus, the consideration being for the use and right to use of the process, it is 'Royalty', within the meaning of Clause-(iii) of Explanation-2 to section 9(1)(vi) of the Act. The Hon'ble High Court affirmed the findings of the Tribunal on the issue.
2.5 The facts in the present case are identical to the one adjudicated by the Hon'ble High Court. Thus, in view of the facts and circumstances of the case and the law laid down by the Hon'ble jurisdictional High Court, we find merit in the appeals of the Revenue. Accordingly, both the appeals of the Revenue are allowed.
3. ITA No.460/Mds/2010 (AY.2002-03) & C.O.No.27/Mds/2010:
The Revenue has raised as many as six grounds in its appeal. Ground Nos. 1 & 6 are general in nature and as such they are not taken up for adjudication.
3.1 The ground No.2 relates to exclusion of foreign currency expenditure from export turnover and total turnover while computing deduction u/s.10A of the Act. The ld.Counsel for the assessee submitted at the outset that the ground raised in appeal by the Revenue has already been adjudicated by the co-ordinate Bench of the Tribunal in favour of the assessee in ITA No.114/Mds/2011 (AY.2005-06) decided on 23-01-2013 = 2013-TIOL-745-ITAT-MAD. The ld.AR placed on record the copy of the order of the Tribunal in the aforesaid appeal. The co-ordinate bench of the Tribunal following the decision of Hyderabad Bench of the Tribunal in the case of Patni Telecom P. Ltd., Vs. ITO reported as 308 ITR (AT) 414 (Hyderabad) = 2008-TIOL-665-ITAT-HYD wherein it was held that expenses incurred in foreign exchange, as part of the export carried out by the assessee, cannot be excluded from the export turnover. The Chennai Bench held that the facts of the assessee's case are exactly similar to the facts in the case of Patni Telecom P. Ltd., Vs. ITO (supra) and directed the Assessing Officer to include foreign currency expenditure to form part of export turnover of the assessee in computing deduction u/s.10A of the Act. We find that in the AY under consideration, there is no change in the facts and thus the same ratio can be applied in AY.2002-03 as well. Accordingly, this ground of appeal of the Revenue is dismissed.
3.2 The ground No.3 raised in appeal by the Revenue is exclusion of telecommunication expenses from export turnover and total turnover while computing deduction u/s.10A. Following the same principle as laid down by the Hyderabad Bench of the Tribunal in the case of Patni Telecom P. Ltd., Vs. ITO (supra), we dismiss this ground of appeal of the Revenue.
3.3 In Ground No.4, the Revenue has assailed the findings of CIT(Appeals) for deleting the disallowance u/s.40(a)(i) in respect of payments made to M/s.Sprint USA towards lease line charges. The CIT(Appeals) deleted the disallowance u/s.40a(ia) for nondeduction of tax at source on payments made to M/s. Sprint USA for the reasons that, the CIT(Appeals)-XI, Chennai vide order dt.06-07-2009 passed u/s.201(1) and 201(1A) for the relevant AY has held that the assessee was under no obligation to deduct tax u/s.195 while making such payments as M/s.Sprint USA had no PE in India. Since, the said order of the CIT(Appeals)-XI, Chennai has been set aside by us, in the appeal of the Revenue in ITA No.1535/Mds/2009, this ground of appeal of the Revenue has to be allowed.
3.4 Ground No.5 raised in appeal by the Revenue is with regard to levy of interest u/s.234D. The ld.Counsel for the assessee has submitted that the provisions regarding the levy of interest u/s.234D were inserted by the Finance Act, 2003 w.e.f. 01-06-2003, therefore they cannot be applied in the AY.2002-03.
It is an undisputed fact that the provisions of section 234D were inserted by the Finance Act, 2003 w.e.f.01-06-2003, therefore, they have no retrospective applicability. Moreover, the Special Bench of the Tribunal in the case of ITO Vs. Ekta Promoters P. Ltd., reported as 113 ITD 719 = 2008-TIOL-337-ITAT-DEL-SB has held that the interest u/s.234D is chargeable from AY.2004-05 onwards. Accordingly, this ground of appeal of the Revenue is dismissed.
3.5 In cross-objections, the assessee has primarily raised two issues. Issue No.1 relates to exclusion of foreign currency expenditure from export turnover and total turnover for computing deduction u/s.10A and 10B. This issue has already been decided in favour of the assessee in Revenue's appeal. Therefore, the first cross-objection has become infructuous and is dismissed as such.
3.6 The second issue is raised in cross-objection No.2 to 4. The assessee has supported the order of CIT(Appeals) with regard to the disallowance u/s.40(a)(i) in respect of payments made to M/s. Sprint USA towards lease line charges. Since this issue has been adjudicated in favour of the Revenue in ITA No.1535/Mds/2009, the assessee was liable to deduct tax u/s.195 of the Act on remittances made to M/s.Sprint USA. The Assessing Officer has rightly made disallowance u/s.40(a)(i) on such payments. Accordingly, cross-objections 2 to 4 are dismissed.
3.7 In result, the appeal of the Revenue is partly allowed and the Cross-objections of the assessee are dismissed.
4. ITA No.751/Mds/2010 (AY.2006-07) by Assessee and ITA No.864/Mds/2010 (AY.2006-07) by Revenue:
Both the appeals are directed against the order of CIT(Appeals), LTU dt.12-03-2010. The assessee in its appeal has raised as many as 19 grounds. Ground Nos.1 and 19 are general in nature and are thus not taken up for adjudication. Ground No.2 & 3 relate to exclusion of expenditure incurred in foreign currency from export turnover and Ground No.4 to 7 relate to exclusion of telecommunication expenditure from export turnover for the purpose of computing deduction u/s.10A. The issues raised by the assessee in above grounds of appeal have already been adjudicated in favour of the assessee in the appeal of the Revenue i.e., ITA No.460/Mds/2010. Reliance has been placed on the decision of Hyderabad Bench of the Tribunal in the case of Patni Telecom P. Ltd., Vs. ITO (supra) for deciding the issue in favour of the assessee. Both the issues in the present appeal are thus allowed. The Assessing Officer is directed to include foreign currency expenditure as well as telecommunication expenditure as part of the export turnover.
4.1 In Ground Nos. 8 to 13, the assessee has assailed the findings of CIT(Appeals) with respect to set off of current year's losses of eligible units against the profits of other units eligible for deduction u/s.10A. The ld.Counsel for the assessee in support of his submissions relied on the judgment of the Hon'ble Karnataka High Court in the case of CIT & Anr. Vs. Yokogawa India Ltd. and Others, reported as 246 CTR (Kar) 226 = 2011-TIOL-711-HC-KAR-IT and the decision of the co-ordinate bench in assessee's own case in ITA No.114/Mds/2011 for the AY.2005-06 (supra). The relevant extract of the findings of the Tribunal are reproduced here under:
"In the present case the Assessing Officer adjusted the brought forward losses of the assessment year 2004-05 of the eligible units against the current year's profits of the eligible units before computing the deduction under section 10A. The very same issue was considered by the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal, B-Bench, Chennai, in the case of RR Donnelley India Outsource Pvt. Ltd. vs DCIT, in ITA Nos.1489 & 1490(Mds)/2010. Through their order dated 26-7-2012 the Tribunal, following the decisions of the Hon'ble Karnataka High Court in the case of CIT & Anr. Vs. Yokogawa India Ltd. and Others, 246 CTR (Kar) 226 = 2011-TIOL-711-HC-KAR-IT and in the case of CIT & Anr. Vs. Tata Elxsi Ltd. & Others, 247 CTR 334 = 2011-TIOL-684-HC-KAR-IT, has held that the current year's profit of the eligible units should not be reduced by setting off of the brought forward losses of earlier years even though relating to eligible units. The Assessing Officer has to give deduction under section 10A on eligible profits of the current assessment year. This issue is decided in favour of the assessee.
We find that in the AY under consideration, there has been identical set of facts and the issue in appeal is squarely covered by the findings of the co-ordinate bench of the Tribunal in ITA No.114/Mds/2011 for the AY.2005-06 (supra). Accordingly, this ground of appeal of the assessee is allowed.
4.2 The next issue raised in para Nos.14 to 17 in the grounds of appeal by the assessee relate to disallowance u/s.14A of the Act. The Assessing Officer has made disallowance u/s.14A by applying the provisions of Rule 8D on tax free income of Rs.3,80,10,340/-. The CIT(Appeals) upheld the findings of the Assessing Officer on the issue. The Hon'ble Bombay High Court in the case of Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd., reported as 328 ITR 81 (Bom) = 2010-TIOL-564-HC-MUM-IT has held that the provisions of Rule 8D are applicable w.e.f. AY.2008-09. The newly introduced provisions of Rule 8D have no retrospective applicability, the authorities below have erred in applying the same. The Tribunal in assessee's own case for the AY.2005-06 has upheld the action of the Assessing Officer in making the disallowance @2% of the exempt income. The Tribunal further accepted alternate contention of the aassessee that the profit for the purpose of section 10A will be enhanced to the extent of disallowance. Therefore, proportionate enhancement will be in the amount of deduction available u/s.10A. Respectfully following the same, we direct the Assessing Officer to disallow 2% of the exempt income u/s.14A and further make proportionate enhancement in the amount of deduction available u/s.10A. This ground of appeal of the assessee is partly allowed.
4.3 Ground Nos.18 in the appeal of the assessee relate to disallowance u/s.40(a)(i) in respect of professional/technical fee paid to Taras Consulting LLC and Epicor Software Pty. Ltd., both nonresident entities towards travel and other expenditure. The assessee's contention before Assessing Officer for not deducting tax on such payment u/s.195 was based on CBDT Circular No.786 dt.07-02-2000. However, the said circular has been withdrawn vide subsequent Circular No.7 of 2009. Even before CIT(Appeals), the assessee was unable to produce any details in support of its claim. Before us also, the ld.Counsel for the assessee has not been able to substantiate the claim of the assessee. Accordingly, this ground of appeal of the assessee is dismissed.
4.4 In view of our above findings, the appeal of the assessee is partly allowed.
5. ITA No.864/Mds/2010 (AY.2006-07):
The Revenue has raised six grounds in its appeal. Ground Nos.1 to 6 are general in nature and therefore they are not taken up for adjudication. Ground Nos.2 to 4 relate to exclusion of foreign currency expenditure and telecommunication expenditure from both export turnover and total turnover for the purpose of computing deduction u/s.10A. Both these issues are squarely covered in favour of the assessee by the decision of the Special Bench of the Tribunal in the case of CIT Vs. Saksoft Limited reported as 313 ITR (AT) (Madras) 553 = 2009-TIOL-187-ITAT-MAD-SB. The Special Bench has held that the expenses on freight, telecommunication charges or insurance attributable to the delivery of the articles or things or computer software outside India or expenses incurred in foreign exchange in providing technical services outside India which are required to be excluded from the export turnover should also be excluded from total turnover while computing deduction u/s.10B of the Act. Moreover, these issue have already been held in favour of the assessee in assessee's appeal No.751/Mds/2010 in para No.4 herein above. Accordingly, both the grounds in the appeal of the Revenue are dismissed.
5.1 In Ground No.5, the Revenue has assailed the order of CIT(Appeals) with respect to disallowance of provisions for expenses. The ld.DR has submitted that the CIT(Appeals) has erred in deleting the disallowance made by Assessing Officer to the tune of Rs.6,25,02,220/- towards various expenses on the ground that the expenses are contingent in nature and not pertaining to the AY under consideration.
On the other hand, the ld.Counsel for the assessee submitted that similar issue was raised by the Revenue in appeal before the Tribunal in ITA No.90/Mds/2011 for the AY.2005-06. The Tribunal vide order dt.23-01-2013 = 2013-TIOL-745-ITAT-MAD, dismissed this ground of appeal of the Revenue by placing reliance on the decision of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the case of Bharat Earth Movers Vs. CIT reported as 245 ITR 428 = 2002-TIOL-123-SC-IT.
We examined the order of the co-ordinate bench of the Tribunal in ITA No.90/Mds/2011 (supra) = 2013-TIOL-745-ITAT-MAD. We find that the issue in hand is identical to the one adjudicated by the Tribunal in assessee's case in the appeal of the Revenue for the AY.2005-06. The relevant extract of the findings of the Tribunal in the said appeal are under:
"4.3 The next ground of the Revenue is that the provision made by the assessee for liabilities of expenditure was in the nature of provision and should not have been allowed by the Commissioner of Income-tax(Appeals) as an expenditure in computing the income. The assessee is providing provision for expenditure incurred in the previous year itself. The amount was not paid by the end of the year and in certain cases bills were not received by the end of the year and in such cases the assessee is making a provision for such expenditure already incurred during the relevant previous year. In the course of the next previous year the assessee is making the payment and the differential amount, if any, is adjusted in its profit and loss account. This is a consistent practice followed by the assessee. The provision for unpaid expenses is not in the nature of contingent expenditure. It is a provision made against actual expenditure. Therefore, the decision of the Hon'ble supreme Court rendered in the case of Bharat Earth Movers vs. CIT, 245 ITR 428 = 2002-TIOL-123-SC-IT, squarely applies here. The ground of the Revenue is dismissed".
Accordingly, this ground of appeal of the Revenue is dismissed for similar reasons.
5.2 In the result, the appeal of the Revenue is dismissed.
6. ITA No.1922/Mds/2010 (AY.2006-07):
In this appeal, the Revenue has assailed the order of CIT(Appeals), LTU Chennai dt. 31-08-2010 passed u/s.154 of the Act. The assessee had filed Miscellaneous Petition for rectification of the order dt.12-03-2010 passed by the CIT(Appeals), LTU, Chennai in ITA No.35/09-10/LTU(A) for the AY.2006-07. The CIT(Appeals) vide impugned order held that the issue raised in ground No.13 of the appeal was not adjudicated. The CIT(Appeals) while disposing off Miscellaneous Petition of the assessee decided the said ground. The relevant extract of the findings of the CIT(Appeals) are as under:
"5.1 I have carefully considered the petition by the appellant on this issue. I find that this ground (ground No.13) has not been adjudicated. Since separate expense has not been claimed by the appellant for earning of the dividend income, it may be accepted that the same was incurred from the business expenses. When part of the same is disallowed, business income would correspondingly increase. The AO is directed to allow enhanced deduction in respect of the additional income due to the disallowance of the expense. He is, however, directed to bifurcate the same between the income eligible for deduction u/s.10A and income which is not eligible for deduction u/s.10A. This ground is partly allowed".
6.1 The Revenue has come up in appeal against the aforesaid findings of the CIT(Appeals). We observe that the issue raised in appeal has already been adjudicated by us in the appeal of the assessee in ITA No.751/Mds/2010 in para No. 4.2 herein above. Therefore, for the reasons mentioned therein, the appeal of the Revenue is dismissed.
7. To sum up, ITA Nos. 1535/Mds/2009 and 1536/Mds/2009 of the Revenue are allowed. ITA No.460/Mds/2010 of the Revenue is partly allowed and C.O.No.27/Mds/2010 of the assessee is dismissed. The appeal of the assessee in ITA No.751/Mds/2010 is partly allowed. The appeals of the Revenue in ITA Nos.864/Mds/2010 and 1922/Mds/2010 are dismissed.




 
 

Monday, July 28, 2014

Clarification regarding allowability of deduction under section 10A/10AA on transfer of Technical Man-power in the case of software industry

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES
NEW DELHI
CIRCULAR NO
12/2014, Dated: July 18, 2014
 
Subject:- Clarification regarding allowability of deduction under section 10A/10AA on transfer of Technical Man-power in the case of software industry.
 
Section 10AA of the Income-tax Act, 1961, inter-alia, provides for deduction in respect of the profits derived by a unit set up in SEZ from export of computer software or from providing any ITES services. The said deduction available to a new SEZ unit is subject to certain conditions including:
i) it is not formed by the splitting up, or the reconstruction of a business already in existence;
ii) it is not formed by the transfer to a new business, of machinery or plant previously used for any purpose.
2. In this regard, attention of the Board has been drawn to the issue of transfer/redeployment of technical manpower from the existing units of an assessee engaged in computer software development to its new SEZ unit. This, at times, is considered as splitting up or reconstruction of the existing business by some of the assessing officers resulting in denial of benefit u/s 10AA of the Income-tax Act, 1961 to the assessee.
 
3. It has been represented by the software industry that there is only a limited pool available with a software developer of skilled, talented and experienced manpower with domain knowledge. Given the highly technical and competitive nature of software development, some technical persons having prior experience are required to manage the critical functions of software development in a new unit. It has thus been submitted that movement of technical manpower from an existing unit to a new SEZ unit should not be a constraint in availing deduction u/s 10AA of the Income-tax Act. Attention has also been drawn to Instruction No.70 dated 09.11.2010 issued by the Ministry of Commerce which states that there is no bar on transfer of manpower to SEZ units. It has also been submitted that while there is a specific prohibition on transfer of plant or machinery from an existing unit to a new SEZ unit [Sec.10AA(4)(iii)], subject to a ceiling of 20 per cent, no such bar on transfer or redeployment of manpower has been explicitly laid down in the Section.
 
4. The matter has been examined in the Board. It is clarified that mere transfer or re-deployment of existing technical manpower from an existing-unit to a new SEZ unit in the first year of commencement of business will not be construed as splitting up or reconstruction of an existing business, provided the number of technical manpower so transferred does not exceed 20 per cent of the total technical manpower actually engaged in developing software at any point of time in the given year in the new unit.
 
5. This Circular shall be applicable only in the case of assesees engaged in the development of software or in providing IT Enabled Services in SEZ units eligible for deduction u/s 10A or u/s 10AA of the Act.
 
F.No.178/84/2012 -ITA.I
 
(Deepshikha Sharma)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Linkedin Profiles - Used as an Evidence by Tax Department!!

GE Energy Parts Inc. v. ADIT (ITA No. 671/Del/2011)
For a professional, a good LinkedIn profile is a passport to a better job. For the taxman, it’s just become a means to keep tabs on the goings-on in your company.
 
In a recent case, Income Tax officials succeeded in using LinkedIn profiles of people working for a GE group subsidiary as evidence that their company was conducting activities that were not permitted, and that it owed taxes.
 
In March 2007, the IT Dept conducted a survey of the offices of General Electric International Operations Company Inc (GEIOC).
 
The Department said it had noticed the GE group was engaged in various sales activities in India, for which the business heads were generally expats, who were on the payroll of GE International Inc. Support staff were provided by GE India Industrial Pvt. Ltd. and also by third parties.
 
Violation of terms
The Department noted that according to the application made to the RBI, the GEIOC liaison office was to act as a communication channel between the head office and the customers in India. However, as a result of survey, it says it found the company providing the services of its employees to GE group entities worldwide.
 
The activities indicated that GEIOC was carrying out business through a Permanent Establishment and that its income was taxable in India. But it had never filed returns indicating this.
 
To prove its case, the IT Department had sought details about the roles of certain employees working at the liaison office.
 
When it was unable to get the information, the Department submitted the LinkedIn profiles of the employees as evidence.
 
GE opposed this, saying the profiles were hearsay evidence.
 
In its July 4 order, the tax tribunal pointed out that LinkedIn profiles are not in the nature of hearsay (unconfirmed) evidence because it is the employee who has provided all the relevant details. These details are similar to an admission made by a person. No third party is involved in creating a LinkedIn profile and therefore, it cannot be said to be hearsay evidence, the order noted.
 
Matter of appeal
The order also said that in the present case, LinkedIn profiles submitted by the IT Department had a considerable bearing on the subject matter of appeal and could therefore be admitted as evidence.
 
Building digital profiles
A cyber security expert employed with a major financial institution said that all financial and security agencies have started building digital profiles of their “persons of interest”.
 
Information such as name, age, PAN number, credit card details are being collated using sophisticated algorithms. The IT department is also moving in that direction. 
 
Facts of the case
  • The GE group was engaged in various sales activities in India, for which the business heads were generally expats, who were appointed to head Indian operations. These expats were on the payroll of GE International Inc. (GEII), but working for various businesses of the GE Group. In accordance with the permission obtained from the RBI, a Liaison Office (LO) was set-up to act as a communication channel between the HO and the customers in India.
  • During the year under consideration, a survey was conducted at the LO of GE International Operations Company Inc. (GEIOC). During the course of survey, inquiries were made relating to the sales made through various GE overseas entities, employees working from the LO of GEIOC, the roles and responsibilities of various employees, etc.
  • The survey indicated that the LO, instead of undertaking the permitted activities, was employing various persons and providing the services of such persons to the GE group entities worldwide. The activities indicated that the GEIOC was carrying out business in India through a PE and the income attributable to such PE was taxable in India.
  • The Assessing Officer (AO) held that for Assessment Year (AY) 2002-03 to 2006-07 these expats had a fixed place of business in the form of LO in India. The activities of the non-resident GE group entities being conducted through LO were not of the preparatory or auxiliary character, but constituted a PE. 
Tribunal’s ruling 
  • Perusal of Section 255(6) of the Act indicates that the Tribunal has all the powers vested in it which are vested in the income-tax authorities regarding discovery, production of evidence, etc. The Tribunal has wide powers including the powers of compelling the production of books of accounts and other documents.
  • As per Section 5 of the Evidence Act, evidence may be given in any suit or proceeding of the acceptance or non-acceptance of every fact in issue, and of such other facts as are herein declared to be relevant and of no others.
  • Merely because the Linkedin profiles were available in the public domain and were not referred by the AO, the tax department cannot be prevented from bringing that information on record, so as to arrive at the correct factual finding on the issue regarding a PE.
  • It cannot be said to be a case of inordinate delay because the AO had drawn an adverse inference on account of non-furnishing of information by the taxpayer.
  • The taxpayer cannot be permitted to first open the investigations/inquiries by not furnishing the necessary information and then claim benefit out of the same. It is the determination of correct taxability of the taxpayer, which should guide the proper course of action.
  • It is true that either party cannot make out a new case by implanting additional evidence. However, where the additional evidence only supplements the information on the basis of which a factual finding is to be arrived at, and not supercede the information, then the Tribunal can and should look into those details.
  • In the present case, it has been observed that Linkedin profiles, sought to be filed by the tax department, has considerable bearing on the subject matter of appeal and therefore, it should be admitted.
  • The taxpayer is free to rebut the information contained in the Linkedin profiles by bringing on record contrary facts to dislodge the claims made in therein.
  • The Linkedin profiles were not in the nature of hearsay because it is the employee who himself had given all the relevant details and the same relate to him. These details are akin to admission made by a person. No third party was involved in creating the Linkedin profiles and, therefore, it cannot be said to be hearsay evidence.
  • It is well settled law that admission, though not conclusive, is binding and decisive on point unless it is successfully withdrawn or proved to be erroneous. The Linkedin profiles are in the nature of admissions of persons on their job profile since the data is in public domain.
  • The strict Rules of Evidence are not applicable to income-tax proceedings. The evidences sought to be filed by the tax department were only supporting in nature and would assist in appreciating the facts in a more judicial manner.
  • In view of above discussion, the Tribunal admitted the Linkedin profiles filed by the tax department. However, in its interim order, the Tribunal has not concluded on the existence of the PE.
 

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