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2015 (5) TMI 873 - HC - Income TaxLiability to deduct tds - agreements between the assessee and non-residents are not fee for technical services within the meaning of Section 9(1)(vii) so as to oblige the assessee to deduct tax at source under Section 195 as held by ITAT - Held that:- ITAT was unduly influenced by all the regulatory compulsions which the assessee had to face. Besides international convention and domestic law that mandated aircraft component overhaul, the manufacturer itself – as a condition for the continued application of its warranty, and in order to escape any liability for lack of safety, required periodic overhaul and maintenance repairs. Unlike normal machinery repair, aircraft maintenance and repairs inherently are such as at no given point of time can be compared with contracts such as cleaning etc. Component overhaul and maintenance by its very nature cannot be undertaken by all and sundry entities. The level of technical expertise and ability required in such cases is not only exacting but specific, in that, aircraft supplied by manufacturer has to be serviced and its components maintained, serviced or overhauled by designated centres. It is this specification which makes the aircraft safe and airworthy because international and national domestic regulatory authorities mandate that certification of such component safety is a condition precedent for their airworthiness. The exclusive nature of these services cannot but lead to the inference that they are technical services within the meaning of Section 9(1)(vii) of the Act. The ITAT’s findings on this point are, therefore, erroneous. This question is accordingly answered in favour of the Revenue. Whether payments made by the assessee fell within the purview of the exclusionary clause of Section 9(1)(vii)(b) of the Act and were not, therefore, chargeable to tax at source? - Held that:- Coming to the instant case, it is evident that fee which has been named as "success fee" by the assessee has been paid to the NRC. In the present case, the ITAT held that the overwhelming or predominant nature of the assessee’s activity was to wet-lease the aircraft to LCAG, a foreign company. The operations were abroad, and the expenses towards maintenance and repairs payments were for the purpose of earning abroad. In these circumstances, the ITAT’s factual findings cannot be faulted. The question of law is answered in favour of the assessee and against the revenue.
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