2016 (10) TMI 501 - DELHI HIGH COURT

Transfer pricing adjustment - determine the profitability of the concerned comparable - Held that:- On a comparison with the data available and made available, undoubtedly, the object of the statute is to “pull in transactions which otherwise escaped the radar of tax assessment under one head or the other. The transfer pricing methodology – shorn of its details is an attempt by each nation to locate the incidents of income which would be subjected to levy within its jurisdiction where international transactions are involved. This exercise does not compare with other income assessments where the methodology adopted in their domestic jurisdiction will differ”. The TNMM method depends on accurate data with respect to all the three elements – wherever they apply. In the Comparable Uncontrolled Price (CUP) method - which is premised upon the elements in Rule 10B(1)(a), the methodology adopted is the price charged or paid for property transfer or services provided in the Comparable Uncontrolled transaction. Therefore, the nature of the transaction and the appropriate filter determines the elements that are to be considered in TNMM. Therefore, the costs, sales and assets employed wherever relevant are to be applied. From this perspective, the revenue’s contention that segmental data was available, cannot be accepted. The mere availability of proportion of the turnover allocable for software product sales per se cannot lead to an assumption that segmental data for relevant facts was available to determine the profitability of the concerned comparable.