Home Case Index All Cases Income Tax Income Tax + HC Income Tax - 2021 (1) TMI HC This
Forgot password New User/ Regiser ⇒ Register to get Live Demo
2021 (1) TMI 413 - HC - Income TaxMAT Computation - Entitlement to the reduction of the amount credited to the profit & loss account on account of reversal of provision for bad and doubtful debts under section 115JB - HELD THAT:- The Supreme Court in 'CIT VS. HCL Comnet Systems and Services Ltd.' [2008 (9) TMI 18 - SUPREME COURT] held that provisions for bad and doubtful debts cannot be added under Explanation to Section 115JB. From perusal of para 40.2 of Circular dated 03.06.2010, it is evident that clause (i) in Explanation after Section 115JB(2) has been inserted so as to provide that if any provision for diminution in the value of any asset has been debited to the profit and loss account, it shall be added to the net profit as shown in the profit and loss account for the purpose of computation of book profit. It is well settled in law that law does not contemplate or require the performance of an impossible act. See LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION OF INDIA VERSUS COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX [1996 (2) TMI 5 - SUPREME COURT] The assessee could not have added back the provision for doubtful debts to the net profit for the purpose of computation under Section 115JB of the Act in the years prior to insertion of clause (i) as those years had already elapsed and the assessee could not have given effect to the provision, which was inserted at a later point of time. The assessee therefore, could not have added back the provision for bad and doubtful debts to the net profit. It is also pertinent to note that even if the provision for doubtful debt is added back to the net profits, the resultant book profit is still negative and even though the assessee was prevented from adding back the provision for bad and doubtful debts to the net profit due to reasons beyond its control, it has at the first opportunity demonstrated to the authorities that book profits are still negative on adding back the provision for bad and doubtful debts and therefore, no adverse inference could have been drawn against the assessee. It is also pertinent to note that the assessee had added the provision for bad and doubtful debts for Assessment Years 1998-99 to 2000-01. Decided in favour of the assessee.
|