2025 (7) TMI 323 - HC - Income Tax

Nature of receipt - treatment of sales tax incentives - revenue receipt or capital receipt - whether the incentive subsidy is provided to enable the Assessee to set up a new unit or to run the business more profitable? - HELD THAT - The incentives/subsidy granted by the State Government under both the 1979 as well as 1983 Schemes were for the purpose of setting up of new industrial units. The incentive/subsidy was not granted for the purpose of enabling the Assessees to run the business more profitably. After applying the purpose test it is clear that the incentive provided to the Assessee under both the Schemes was for promoting setting up of new industrial units in developing areas of the State. The incentive was aimed at promoting industrialization in the State. In the present cases as well mere grant of incentive by adjusting the same against Assessee s sales tax liability upon commencement of production did not alter the purpose of the Scheme. In our view the issue involved in the present Appeals is squarely answered in CIT vs. Ponni Sugars Chemicals Ltd. 2008 (9) TMI 14 - SUPREME COURT and CIT vs. Chaphalkar Brothers. 2017 (12) TMI 816 - SUPREME COURT Incentive/subsidy received by the Assessees under 1979 Scheme and 1983 Scheme were on the capital account not chargeable to tax. Loss suffered on account of foreign exchange difference as on the date of balance sheet would constitute an item of expenditure under Section 37 (1) - See Woodward Governor India (P) Ltd. 2009 (4) TMI 4 - SUPREME COURT Decided against the Revenue.

Summary

1. ISSUES PRESENTED and CONSIDERED

The primary legal question considered in these Appeals under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, is whether the incentive received in the form of sales tax exemption under schemes formulated by the State Government for encouraging industrial development in backward areas constitutes a capital receipt exempt from income tax or a revenue receipt liable to taxation. Specifically, the issues include:

• Whether the sales tax incentive received by the Assessees under the respective State Government schemes should be treated as capital receipts or revenue receipts for income tax purposes.
• Whether the fact that the incentive is adjusted against sales tax liability only after commencement of production affects its character as capital or revenue receipt.
• Whether the purpose for which the subsidy/incentive is granted-setting up new industrial units or assisting in business operations-is determinative of the nature of the receipt.
• Ancillary questions relating to capitalization of foreign exchange fluctuation losses, deduction of foreign travel expenses, and treatment of guest house expenses were framed but ultimately not decided as they were either covered by binding precedent or involved negligible amounts.

2. ISSUE-WISE DETAILED ANALYSIS

Issue: Treatment of Sales Tax Incentive as Capital or Revenue Receipt

Relevant Legal Framework and Precedents

The Court extensively examined the jurisprudence laid down by the Apex Court, particularly the landmark judgment in Sahney Steel & Press Works Ltd., which established the "purpose test" to determine the nature of subsidy receipts. According to Sahney Steel, if the subsidy is granted to enable the assessee to set up or expand an industrial unit, it is a capital receipt; if it is given to assist in carrying on business operations after production commences, it is a revenue receipt.

This principle was further elucidated in CIT vs. Ponni Sugars & Chemicals Ltd., where the Apex Court emphasized that the form or mechanism of payment, timing of receipt, or source of subsidy is immaterial; the decisive factor is the purpose for which the subsidy is granted. The Court held that subsidies aimed at enabling the assessee to set up or expand units are capital receipts, even if paid after commencement of production.

Similarly, CIT vs. Chaphalkar Brothers reinforced that the objective behind the subsidy scheme governs its character. The Court held that incentives granted to promote construction of multiplex cinema halls were capital receipts despite being payable only after commercial operations began. The judgment also highlighted that the form or timing of subsidy payment does not alter its capital nature if the purpose is industrial development.

Other relevant precedents include the House of Lords decision in Seaham Harbour Dock Co., which held that grants for dock extension to relieve unemployment were capital receipts, underscoring the primacy of purpose over form.

Court's Interpretation and Reasoning

The Court noted that both the 1979 Scheme applicable to Reliance Industries Ltd. and the 1983 Scheme applicable to Bajaj Auto Ltd. were designed to encourage industrialization in backward areas of Maharashtra by incentivizing the setting up of new industrial units. Eligibility for incentives was determined based on fixed capital investment, and the incentives were granted in the form of sales tax exemptions adjusted against the sales tax liability after production commenced.

The Court rejected the Revenue's contention that the incentive must be treated as revenue receipt merely because it was payable only after production started. It held that the timing or mechanism of payment is irrelevant to the nature of the receipt. The decisive factor is the purpose of the subsidy, which in these cases was to promote industrialization and the establishment of new units in backward areas.

The Court relied on the purpose test and concluded that the incentives were capital receipts since they were granted to aid the setting up of new industrial units and not merely to assist in making the business more profitable post-commencement of production.

Key Evidence and Findings

The Court examined the detailed scheme documents, eligibility certificates, and the nature of conditions imposed by the State Government and its implementing agency SIICOM. It was found that the schemes were part of a broader policy to decongest industrial belts and promote development in less developed areas by providing incentives linked to fixed capital investment.

The fact that the incentive was adjusted against sales tax liability after production began was found to be a procedural mechanism rather than a substantive factor affecting the nature of the receipt.

Application of Law to Facts

Applying the purpose test, the Court determined that the incentives were granted for capital purposes - to encourage the establishment of new industrial units in backward areas. The Court held that the incentive was not a revenue receipt aimed at subsidizing ongoing business operations or increasing profitability but was a capital subsidy facilitating industrial development.

Treatment of Competing Arguments

The Revenue argued that since the incentive was conditional on commencement of production and linked to sales tax on manufactured goods, it was a revenue receipt. It relied on Sahney Steel to contend that subsidies given after production starts are revenue in nature.

The Court distinguished this by emphasizing that Sahney Steel itself drew a clear distinction based on purpose. The Revenue's reliance on the timing of payment was rejected as inconsistent with the settled legal position that purpose governs the nature of subsidy.

The Assessees contended that the schemes were designed to promote industrialization and that the incentive was a capital receipt. They cited precedents including CIT vs. Ponni Sugars and CIT vs. Chaphalkar Brothers, which supported their position.

The Court accepted the Assessees' submissions, finding the purpose of the schemes aligned with capital subsidy and that the form or timing of payment was immaterial.

Ancillary Issues: Questions on Foreign Exchange Fluctuation, Travel Expenses, Guest House Expenses

These issues were framed but not adjudicated in detail as they were either covered by binding Apex Court precedent or involved trivial amounts. For example, the treatment of foreign exchange fluctuation losses was held to be governed by a prior Supreme Court decision, and the foreign travel expenses involving spouses were minimal and not warranting interference.

3. SIGNIFICANT HOLDINGS

The Court's crucial legal reasoning is encapsulated in the following verbatim excerpts:

"If the object of the subsidy scheme was to enable the assessee to run the business more profitably then the receipt is on revenue account. On the other hand, if the object of the assistance under the Subsidy Scheme was to enable the assessee to set up a new unit or to expand the existing unit then the receipt of the subsidy was on capital account."

"The form of the mechanism through which the subsidy is given is irrelevant."

"The mere fact that the amount of subsidy payable under the scheme was adjusted against the liability of the Assessees to pay sales tax to the Government after commencement of production, makes no difference to the purpose for which the incentive was granted."

"The incentive was not aimed at saving the amount of sales tax on products manufactured with a view to earn higher profits by the manufacturer. The incentive was granted to promote setting up of the new industrial units at backwards areas of the State."

Core principles established include:

• The "purpose test" is the determinative criterion for classifying subsidy receipts as capital or revenue.
• The timing, form, or mechanism of payment of subsidy is immaterial to its character.
• Subsidies granted to promote establishment or expansion of industrial units are capital receipts exempt from income tax.
• Subsidies granted to assist in ongoing business operations or to increase profitability are revenue receipts taxable as income.

Final determinations on the issues are:

• The sales tax incentives received by the Assessees under the 1979 and 1983 Maharashtra State Government schemes are capital receipts and not chargeable to income tax.
• The adjustment of incentives against sales tax liability after commencement of production does not convert the capital nature of the subsidy into revenue receipt.
• Other ancillary issues framed in the Revenue's appeal are either covered by binding precedent or involve negligible amounts and are decided accordingly.