2014 (1) TMI 1759 - AT - Income Tax

Allowance of 10% of advertisement expenditure on permanent pavilion site as revenue expenses and directing to spread the same over a period of 10 years equally - Held that - No basis on which the Ld. CIT(A) could have held that the benefit of payment in question will be available for 10 years only and consequential deduction is to be allowed over a period of 10 years. It is observed that the benefit was not for any fixed period. We agree with the Ld. CIT(A) that the expenditure in question is revenue in nature and no capital asset of enduring nature was acquired by the assessee by making the payment in question and therefore the entire payment is allowable as deduction to the assessee in the year on incurring of the expenditure. We therefore modify the order of the Ld. CIT(A) and direct the Assessing Officer to allow deduction for entire Rs. 7, 00, 000/- during the year under consideration. Thus relevant ground of appeal of the Revenue is dismissed and relevant ground of cross-objection of the assessee is allowed. Allowance of 10% of the receipts from export incentives as deduction from indirect cost while computing deduction u/s 80HHC on trading exports - Held that - In the instant case the assessee is engaged in export of trading goods and therefore is eligible for deduction u/s 80HHC in respect of profit derived from export of trading goods. The assessee claimed deduction u/s 80HHC at Rs. 13, 33, 39, 275/- whereas the Assessing Officer allowed such deduction on Rs. 13, 15, 00, 727/-. Thus the Assessing Officer granted lesser deduction of Rs. 18, 78, 548/- u/s 80HHC than the amount claimed by the assessee. The above difference arose because the assessee reduced its indirect cost relatable to the export of trading goods by 10% of export incentives of Rs. 1, 87, 85, 483/- which was not accepted by the Assessing Officer. On appeal the Ld. CIT(A) allowed the claim of the assessee by following CBDT circular no. 621 dated 19.12.1991. We find that the issue is squarely covered by decision of the Hon ble Supreme Court in the case of Hero Exports Vs. CIT (2007 (11) TMI 13 - Supreme Court of India ) in favour of the assessee wherein held that for the purpose of determining export profit u/s 80HHC(3)(b) in case of trader exporter indirect cost can be reduced by 10% of export incentives etc. Therefore we do not find any error in the order of Ld. CIT(A) Deduction u/s 80HHC in respect of income of marine division - Held that - In the instant case there is loss in export of trading goods which could not be passed on to supporting manufacturer by issuing disclaimer certificate in view of the decision of the Hon ble Supreme Court in the case of IPCA Laboratory (2004 (3) TMI 9 - SUPREME Court ). In view of the above after taking into consideration 90% of export incentive there was a positive profit of Rs. 20, 24, 198/- in the instant case. Therefore the assessee was entitled for deduction u/s 80HHC in respect of Rs. 20, 24, 198/- only. We therefore modify the order of the Ld. CIT(A) to the above extent. Deduction u/s 80HHC resulting in computation of income lower than shown by the assessee in revised return of income - Held that - We are of the considered view that the income of the assessee is to be computed as per provisions of the law and simply because an assessee has suffered more amount on tax than what is legally due then the Department can not assess the income at a higher figure but should assess the income at correct amount as per the provisions of law. We therefore do not find any merit in this ground of appeal of the Revenue and hence the same is dismissed. Disallowance of registration fee and stamp charges for increasing the authorized share capital of the company - Held that - In view of the decision of the Hon ble Supreme Court in the case of Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation Limited Vs. CIT (1996 (12) TMI 6 - SUPREME Court ) wherein it was held that amount paid to the registrar of companies as filing fee for enhancement of capital is capital in nature. Advertisement expenses are revenue in nature and allowable during the year under consideration in entirety,

Summary

Issues Involved:
1. Classification of advertisement expenditure as revenue or capital expenditure.
2. Deduction of indirect costs from export incentives under Section 80HHC.
3. Deduction under Section 80HHC for marine division.
4. Computation of income lower than the returned income.
5. Disallowance of registration fee and stamp charges for increasing authorized share capital.
6. Consequential relief under Section 80HHC on trading division.
7. Charging of interest under Sections 234A, 234B, and 234C.

Issue-wise Detailed Analysis:

1. Classification of Advertisement Expenditure:
The Assessing Officer classified the payment of Rs. 7,00,000 to Gujarat Cricket Association for naming a pavilion as "Adani Pavilion" as capital expenditure, disallowing it as a revenue expense. The assessee argued that the expenditure was for advertisement, not for acquiring a fixed asset, citing various judgments. The CIT(A) agreed that the expenditure was for advertisement but spread it over ten years. The Tribunal found that the expenditure was purely for advertisement and should be allowed in its entirety in the year incurred, dismissing the Revenue's appeal and allowing the assessee's cross-objection.

2. Deduction of Indirect Costs from Export Incentives:
The assessee reduced indirect costs by 10% of export incentives while computing deduction under Section 80HHC, supported by CBDT Circular No. 621. The Assessing Officer rejected this claim, but the CIT(A) allowed it, directing the Assessing Officer to deduct 10% of export incentives from indirect costs. The Tribunal upheld the CIT(A)'s decision, citing the Supreme Court's ruling in Hero Exports vs. CIT, which supports the reduction of indirect costs by 10% of export incentives.

3. Deduction under Section 80HHC for Marine Division:
The Assessing Officer disallowed the deduction under Section 80HHC for the marine division due to a loss and the late filing of the audit report. The CIT(A) directed the Assessing Officer to consider the audit report filed with the revised return and allowed the deduction based on export incentives. The Tribunal modified the CIT(A)'s order, stating that the loss on export of trading goods cannot be ignored, but allowing deduction for the positive profit of Rs. 20,24,198 after considering export incentives.

4. Computation of Income Lower than Returned Income:
The Revenue argued that the assessed income should not be lower than the returned income. The Tribunal found no merit in this ground, stating that the income should be computed as per the law, and dismissed the Revenue's appeal.

5. Disallowance of Registration Fee and Stamp Charges:
The assessee's cross-objection against the disallowance of Rs. 1.5 lakhs for registration fee and stamp charges for increasing authorized share capital was dismissed, as the Supreme Court in Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation Limited vs. CIT held such expenses as capital in nature.

6. Consequential Relief under Section 80HHC on Trading Division:
Given the Tribunal's decision to treat advertisement expenses as revenue in nature, the cross-objection for consequential relief under Section 80HHC on the trading division was dismissed as it did not arise.

7. Charging of Interest under Sections 234A, 234B, and 234C:
The assessee's cross-objection regarding the charging of interest under Sections 234A, 234B, and 234C was dismissed, as it was deemed consequential.

Conclusion:
Both the Revenue's appeal and the assessee's cross-objection were partly allowed, with specific directions provided for each issue. The Tribunal's decisions were based on the interpretation of relevant legal provisions and precedents, ensuring a fair and lawful resolution of the disputes.