2019 (4) TMI 753 - AT - Income Tax

TP adjustment - AMP expenditure treated as an international transaction u/s 92B(1) read with clause (v) of section 92F - Taking a leaf out of Bright Line Test [BLT] - HELD THAT:- Nowhere the DRP has brought on record or referred to any tangible material which could suggest that there are expenses of international transaction in so far as AMP spend is concerned. The DRP was well aware with the decision of the Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the case of Maruti Suzuki [2015 (12) TMI 634 - DELHI HIGH COURT], yet neither the DRP itself brought on record any material to suggest that the AMP spend is an international nor it directed the TPO to do the same. Therefore, we see no reason to remit the matter to the file of the TPO as is prayed for by the ld. DR. Remand to the assessment stage cannot be a matter of routine. It has to be so done only when there is anything in the facts and circumstances to so warrant or justify - no new facts have emerged and all the facts brought on record during the course of scrutiny assessment proceedings do not indicate legally sustainable basis for remitting the matter to the file of the TPO.

Revenue has failed to demonstrate by bringing any tangible material evidence on record to show that international transaction does exist so far as AMP expenditure is concerned. Therefore, we hold that the incurring of expenditure in question does not give rise to any international transaction as per judicial discussion hereinabove. - Decided in favour of assessee

Adjustment to transaction pertaining to receipt of Information Technology Support Services - Arm’s Length principle satisfaction - HELD THAT:- We find that a similar quarrel arose in A.Y 2010-11 and the matter travelled upto the Tribunal and hold that the international transaction of `Receipt of I.T. Support Services' is required to be separately benchmarked, distinct from the international transactions of purchase etc. Since the view of the TPO as regards the receipt of no services etc. has been set aside by us, we remit the matter to the AO/TPO for determining the ALP of this international transaction afresh as per law after allowing a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the assessee

Allowable revenue expenses - proof of payment in relation to the services received from M/s Bhumi Consultants - HELD THAT:- There is no dispute that the impugned transaction took place in F.Y. 2010-11. The Inspector carried out his inspection in the month of March 2015. There is every possibility that M/s Bhumi Consultants must have moved away from the given address. Be that as it may, the assessee should have filed documentary evidences to prove that the assessee did receive services from M/s Bhumi Consultants. Before us also, no such evidence has been brought on record. Whatever evidences the assessee has furnished only establishes the identity of M/s Bhumi Consultants and that the payments have been made through banking channel after deducting tax at source. But not a single evidence has been place on record which could conclusively prove that the assessee did receive services from M/s Bhumi Consultants in lieu of which payments were made. We are of the considered view that unless such evidences are brought on record, the expenses cannot be considered as allowable expenditure. We, therefore, remit this issue to the file of the Assessing Officer.