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2022 (10) TMI 844 - ITAT AHMEDABADDeduction allowable u/s 35(2AB) - Necessity of approval to be granted by prescribed authority - Scope of amendment - HELD THAT:- ITAT Pune Tribunal in the recent case of DCIT v. Force Motors [2021 (9) TMI 244 - ITAT PUNE] while dealing with identical issue held that prior to amendment in 2016, section 35(2AB) of the Act does not provide any methodology of approval to be granted by prescribed authority vis-a-vis expenditure from year to year and therefore, order of Assessing Officer in curtailing expenditure and consequent weighted deduction claimed under section 35(2AB) on ground that deduction cannot exceed claims approved by prescribed authority, had rightly been set aside. The Kolkota Tribunal in recent case of DCIT v. STP Ltd. [2021 (1) TMI 830 - ITAT KOLKATA] held that prior to 1-6-2016, only requirement to claim deduction under section 35(2AB) was to receive recognition from prescribed authority since said recognition was obtained by assessee on 26-3-2013, deduction could not be denied merely because prescribed authority failed to send intimation in Form 3CL in respect of expenditure incurred by R&D unit for relevant assessment year. Thus on a perusal of the various Rulings, the position is clear that prior to amendment introduced w.e.f. 01/07/2016, the deduction u/s 35(2AB) of the Act would be available to an assessee having an approved in-house R&D facility by the prescribed Authority Act and there is no mention of approval of the ‘quantum’ of expenditure in the law as it stood prior to that date. The mandate of quantification of expenditure has been put in place only w.e.f. 01.07.2016. In view of the above observations and judicial precedents on the subject, we allow the appeal of the assessee. Addition of PF/ESI expenses u/s. 36(1)(va) - assessee did not deposit employees' contribution to employees' account - HELD THAT:- We note that the issue is squarely covered against the assessee by case of Gujarat State Road Transportation Corporation [2014 (1) TMI 502 - GUJARAT HIGH COURT] wherein it was held that where assessee did not deposit employees' contribution to employees' account in relevant fund before due date prescribed in Explanation to section 36(1)(va), no deduction would be admissible even though he deposits same before due date under section 43B of the Act. Again, in the case of Pr. CIT v. Suzlon Energy Ltd. [2020 (2) TMI 792 - GUJARAT HIGH COURT] held that where assessee had not deposited employees' contributions towards PF and ESI amounting Rs. 15.20 lakhs within prescribed period in law and Assessing Officer by invoking provisions of section 36(1)(va) read with section 2(24)(x) made addition of aforesaid amount to income of assessee, impugned addition made to income of assessee was justified. - Decided against assessee.
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