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2016 (7) TMI 620 - AT - Income TaxDisallowance u/s 14A - apportionment of expenses - Held that- We find that the total expenses debited to profit and loss account is ₹ 2,28,25,154/- and out of this, direct expenses of consultancy and professional charges amounting to ₹ 1,96,48,885/- for earning consultancy income i.e taxable income would be automatically out of the purview of computing disallowance u/s 14A of the Act. The remaining common expenses of ₹ 31,76,269/- have to be apportioned between taxable and non-taxable income. We find that the ratio of apportionment adopted by the assessee at 45.5% in the income component is very fair and accordingly direct the Learned AO to disallow ₹ 14,45,202/- being 45.5% of ₹ 31,76,269/- u/s 14A of the Act to meet the ends of justice. We hold that the Learned AO cannot mechanically apply the provisions of Rule 8D for the purpose of disallowance u/s 14A of the Act. In our opinion, the same could be used only as a last resort only in the event of the AO not able to make a fair substitution of the disallowance figure as contemplated u/s 14A(2) of the Act. In any case, the provisions of the Act would always prevail over the Rules as admittedly the Rules are only subordinate piece of legislation and are meant only to support the Act. Rules could act only as a guiding force to effectively implement the provisions of the Act. If the manner so contemplated in the Act fails, then as a last resort, the AO should go to Rules for making disallowance u/s 14A . Hence we hold that the Learned AO has got sufficient powers to substitute the disallowance figure at ₹ 14,45,202/- in terms of section 14A(2) of the Act itself and hence Rule 8D need not be followed in the facts of the instant case. - Decided partly in favour of assessee.
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