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Home e-Newsletters Index Year 2012 February Day 16 - Thursday

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TMI Tax Updates - e-Newsletter
February 16, 2012

Case Laws in this Newsletter:

Income Tax Customs Central Excise Indian Laws



Articles

1. CONSULTANT, ARCHITECTURAL, ACCOUNTING AND SIMILAR SERVICES PROVIDED TO SERVICE PROVIDER TO INFRA STRUCTURE PROJECTS ARE LIABLE TO SERVICE TAX

   By: Jayaprakash Gopinathan

Summary: Consultant, architectural, accounting, and similar services provided to infrastructure project service providers are subject to service tax, despite exemptions for main contractors. Exemptions apply to services directly classified under works contract services, as clarified by CBE&C circulars. However, other service providers to main contractors must pay service tax, creating cost inflation concerns for the industry. The debate continues over the scope of exemptions and the impact of circulars, such as circular no. 147 and circular no. 108, which have historically influenced tax interpretations and exemptions. Authorities are urged to ensure clarity and legal backing to avoid audit objections.

2. TAXABILITY OF STEAMER AGENT’S SERVICES

   By: Dr. Sanjiv Agarwal

Summary: Service tax on steamer agent services was implemented from June 15, 1997. A steamer agent, defined under Section 65(100), performs services related to ship husbandry, dispatch, cargo booking, advertising, and container feeder services for shipping lines. Taxable services must be provided to a shipping line by a steamer agent and include administrative work, cargo handling, and container services. The service charges include husbandry fees and agency commissions, excluding other expenses reimbursed by the shipping line. Service tax applies to commissions retained by steamer agents, not total freight charges. Exemptions exist for services provided outside India by non-residents.


News

1. Govenrment to Provide Citizen-Centric Governance in Order to Improve Taxpayer Services and Redressal of Public Grievances : FM.

Summary: The government aims to enhance taxpayer services and address public grievances through citizen-centric governance. Efforts to combat black money include measures within India and internationally, with legislative steps to improve banking information exchange through agreements. The Directorate of Transfer Pricing saved Rs. 66,085 Crores by preventing illegal money transfers. A committee is examining the legal framework to tackle black money. Suggestions for tax administration improvements include extending tax deductions for infrastructure bonds and addressing black money in real estate. Initiatives like the Central Processing Centre and online access to tax forms are improving taxpayer services.

2. FM Confident that Moderation in Inflation Would Continue in the Coming Months ; Expects that the March end 2012 Inflation will be Closer to 6 Per cent; January Food Inflation Negative for the First Time in the Present Round of Inflation

Summary: The Union Finance Minister expressed confidence that inflation moderation will persist in the coming months, predicting March 2012 inflation to be around 6%. Despite a decline in non-food primary inflation, manufactured goods prices may soften gradually. Concerns remain over food inflation, especially regarding edible oils, milk, and animal proteins, due to delayed institutional reforms in agricultural marketing and storage enhancements. States are encouraged to utilize Central Government initiatives. January's annual headline inflation decreased to 6.55% from 7.47% in December, with food inflation turning negative for the first time, while manufactured inflation and fuel prices also saw declines.

3. Dr. M. Veerappa Moily Express Grief on the Death of Dr. V.S Acharya, Minister for Higher Education in Karnataka

Summary: The Union Minister for Corporate Affairs expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the Karnataka Minister for Higher Education. The minister highlighted the deceased's integrity and public service, noting their recent collaboration at an event in Mangalore. He praised the late minister's exemplary conduct and contributions, particularly as the President of Udupi Municipality, emphasizing the significant loss to Karnataka.

4. Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices in India (Base: 2004-05=100) Review for the month of January, 2012

Summary: The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for all commodities in India increased by 0.5% to 157.7 in January 2012. The annual inflation rate based on WPI was 6.55%, down from 7.47% in December 2011 and 9.47% in January 2011. Primary articles saw a 0.9% rise, with food articles increasing by 0.3% and non-food articles by 2.4%. The fuel and power index rose by 0.1%, while manufactured products increased by 0.4%. Key price changes included a rise in fish, cereals, and various oils, while prices for some spices, tea, and certain textiles declined.

5. Auction for Sale of Government Stocks

Summary: The Government of India announced the re-issue of three government stocks through price-based auctions, scheduled for February 17, 2012. The stocks include 8.24% Government Stock 2018 for Rs.3,000 crore, 8.79% Government Stock 2021 for Rs.6,000 crore, and 8.83% Government Stock 2041 for Rs.3,000 crore. The Reserve Bank of India will conduct the auctions, allowing up to 5% of the total amount for non-competitive bidding by eligible individuals and institutions. Bids will be submitted electronically, with results announced the same day and payments due by February 21, 2012. The stocks qualify for When Issued trading.

6. GUIDELINES FOR CONVERSION OF COST ACCOUNTANTS FIRMS (PARTNERSHIP/PROPRIETARY) INTO LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIPS

Summary: The Institute of Cost Accountants of India has issued guidelines for converting Cost Accountant firms into Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) effective from February 1, 2012. These guidelines apply to both existing partnership and proprietary firms. Firms must comply with the LLP Act, 2008 and related rules. The conversion process involves name approval by the ICAI, maintaining seniority, and adhering to existing regulations. The LLPs will carry the same registration number and seniority as the original firms. The guidelines also address the continuation of statutory auditor roles post-conversion and are subject to clarification from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.


Circulars / Instructions / Orders

LLP

1. GUIDELINES - dated 22-1-2012

GUIDELINES FOR CONVERSION OF COST ACCOUNTANTS FIRMS (PARTNERSHIP/PROPRIETARY) INTO LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIPS

Summary: The guidelines issued by the Institute of Cost Accountants of India outline the process for converting Cost Accountant firms (partnership or proprietary) into Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) and forming new LLPs for practicing members. Effective from February 1, 2012, these guidelines require compliance with the LLP Act, 2008, and related rules. The guidelines cover naming conventions, registration procedures, and seniority criteria. Converted LLPs must adhere to existing regulations and maintain the same seniority as prior firms. The guidelines also address the continuity of statutory auditor roles post-conversion and apply to proprietary firms transitioning to LLPs.

FEMA

2. 77 - dated 15-2-2012

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) Standards - Money changing activities.

Summary: The circular addresses Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) standards related to money changing activities. It references previous circulars highlighting risks from certain jurisdictions and includes a statement from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Authorized persons are advised to consider this information but are not restricted from legitimate transactions with these regions. The guidelines extend to agents and franchisees, with franchisers responsible for compliance. The circular is issued under relevant sections of the Foreign Exchange Management Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, mandating adherence without affecting other legal permissions.

3. 78 - dated 15-2-2012

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) Standards - Cross Border Inward Remittance under Money Transfer Service Scheme.

Summary: The circular addresses authorized Indian agents under the Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS) regarding compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) standards. It highlights the Financial Action Task Force's statement on deficiencies in certain jurisdictions' AML/CFT regimes and advises agents to consider this information while conducting transactions. The guidelines apply to both agents and their sub-agents, emphasizing their responsibility to adhere to these standards. The circular is issued under the Foreign Exchange Management Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, ensuring compliance with legal requirements without affecting legitimate transactions.


Highlights / Catch Notes

    Income Tax

  • Lease Rental Income from Complex Activities Classified as Business Income for Taxation, Not House Property Income.

    Case-Laws - AT : Income from Lease Rentals is taxable under “Income from business“ OR “Income from House Property“ - lease rental income arising from a complex commercial activity will be classified as 'income from business'..... - AT

  • Deputy Director's ECB Conditions Deemed Unlawful: Retrospective Changes Impact Exemptions u/s 10(15) and TDS 195 IT Act.

    Case-Laws - AT : Exemption u/s 10(15) - TDS u/s 195 - Utilization of ECB - by imposing a condition by Dy. Director (ECB) during the progress of the scheme was like changing the rules of the game in mid-way and the change of the rule was in respect of a game already played to alter its outcome. A retrospective or ex post facto change in such a manner is an arbitrary approach having no legal sanctity..... - AT

  • Employer-Paid Taxes Are Taxable Perquisites u/s 17(2)(iv) of Income Tax Act, Not Direct Payments to Employees.

    Case-Laws - AT : Whether “Tax Payments“ by employer on behalf of Employee be considered as a taxable Perquisite further liable to tax - Taxes paid by the employer on behalf of the assessee is not a monetary payment but it is discharge of his obligation, and the payment fully fits in the jacket of section 17(2)(iv) of the Act, and it may be a monetary gain or monetary benefits or a monetary allowance but definitely it is not a monetary payment to the assessee. .... - AT

  • Court Upholds Lease Equalization Charges Deduction for Accurate Depreciation under Companies Act Section 211(2.

    Case-Laws - HC : Deduction of lease equalization charges from lease rental income - lease equalization charges is a method of re-calibrating the depreciation – we cannot find fault with the assessee debiting lease equalization charges in the AYs in issue, in its P&L A/c. This represents true and fair view of the accounts; a statutory requirement u/s 211(2) of the Companies Act. .... - HC

  • Section 80HHC of Income Tax Act under scrutiny; Supreme Court directs all cases to Gujarat High Court for decision.

    Case-Laws - SC : Transfer petition - validity of Section 80HHC challenged – Looking to the large number of matters pending in various High Courts and since the question relates to vires, it would be beneficial if all the matters are decided by one High Court in the Country. Therefore, all the matters which have been filed/transferred to this Court be sent to the High Court of Gujarat. .... - SC

  • Tribunal Allows Set-Off of Share Trading Loss Against Service Income; Assessee Not Engaged in Speculation Business Under Sec 73.

    Case-Laws - HC : Setting off loss of share trading against income from service charges – Tribunal was justified, in holding that the assessee fell within the purview of the exception carved out in the explanation to Section 73 and that consequently the assessee would not be deemed to be carrying on a speculation business for the purpose of Sec. 73(1) .... - HC

  • Court Rules Company Not Automatically Agent for Deemed Capital Gains; Writ Petition Challenging This is Maintainable.

    Case-Laws - HC : Legal representative - Agent of non resident - Merely because those shares relate to the respondent No. 4 company, that would not make respondent No. 4 as agent qua deemed capital gain purportedly earned by the petitioner, writ petition maintainable..... - HC

  • Court Rules Prohibitory Order on Bank Accounts Invalid u/s 132(3) Due to Lack of Evidence of Undisclosed Income.

    Case-Laws - HC : Prohibitory order under 132(3) - prohibitory order under section 132(3) of the Act issued in respect of bank accounts without forming any belief or without any material on record to conclude that the amount deposited in such bank accounts is either wholly or partly undisclosed income of the petitioner is not sustainable in law..... - HC

  • Supreme Court Rules: Deduct 90% of Net Interest/Rent, Not Gross, for Business Profits u/s 80HHC.

    Case-Laws - SC : Deduction u/s 80HHC - Ninety per cent of not the gross interest/rent but only the net interest/rent, which has been included in the profits of the business of the assessee as computed under the heads ‘PGBP’ is to be deducted under clause (1) of Explanation (baa) to Section 80HHC for determining the profits of the business..... - SC

  • Profit from DEPB transfer: Face value in Section 28(iiib), sale difference in Section 28(iiid) of Income Tax Act.

    Case-Laws - SC : DEPB - any amount realized by the assessees over and above the DEPB on transfer of the DEPB would represent profit on the transfer of DEPB and while the face value of the DEPB will fall under clause (iiib) of Section 28, difference between the sale value and the face value of the DEPB will fall under clause (iiid) of Section 28.... - SC

  • India-UK Tax Convention: SIPCL Payments Taxed in India Despite No Permanent Establishment Claim Under Article 5; Section 195 Applies.

    Case-Laws - AAR : Double Taxation Avoidance Convention between India and UK – Cost Contribution Agreement (CCA) with SIPCL - payment received by SIPCL is chargeable to tax in India and the declaration provided by SIPCL that it does not have a Permanent Establishment (PE) in India in terms of Article 5 of DTAC, we rule that the applicant is under obligation to withhold tax u/s 195 of the Act..... - AAR

  • Customs

  • Anti-dumping duties on Chinese and Thai tires criticized for flawed injury determination, harming consumers and lacking public interest alignment.

    Case-Laws - AT : Imposition of Anti-dumping duty on bus and truck radial tyres from China and Thailand - injury determination done by the D.A. for the domestic industry is faulty and not convincing and faulty. - The ultimate sufferer is the domestic consumer and imposition of anti-dumping duty in such a scenario cannot also be considered to be in the public interest..... - AT

  • 3D Mouse Emulation Device Classified Under Heading 84716060 Despite Size, Cost, and Additional Functions.

    Case-Laws - AT : Classification - 3D Mouse Emulation - Heading 84716060 specifically mentions 'mouse' - merely because the said mouse is bigger in size and costlier than the ordinary mouse and also performs other specific functions, the same cannot be held to be a device other than the mouse.

  • FEMA

  • New Circular Sets AML/CFT Standards for Cross-Border Remittances Under Money Transfer Service Scheme, Dated Feb 15, 2012.

    Circulars : Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) Standards - Cross Border Inward Remittance under Money Transfer Service Scheme. - Cir. No. 78 Dated: February 15, 2012

  • AML & CFT Standards Update for Money Changers under FEMA: Circular No. 77 Highlights Compliance Measures Against Illicit Finance.

    Circulars : Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) Standards - Money changing activities. - Cir. No. 77 Dated: February 15, 2012

  • Indian Laws

  • New Guidelines for Converting Cost Accountants' Firms to LLPs: Steps, Documentation, and Compliance Explained.

    News : GUIDELINES FOR CONVERSION OF COST ACCOUNTANTS FIRMS (PARTNERSHIP/PROPRIETARY) INTO LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIPS

  • Wealth-tax

  • Court Rules AOP Not Taxable u/s 21AA of Wealth Tax Act Due to Unmet Conditions.

    Case-Laws - HC : Wealth Tax - taxability of net wealth of AOP– S.21AA only ropes in an AOP for being assessed under the Wealth Tax Act but subject to the rider that it’s members should have the income or assets or both of the association on the date of its formation or at any time thereafter. Since in present case, second condition is not satisfied the assessee cannot be considered as falling within the ambit of S.21AA of the Act..... - HC

  • Service Tax

  • Refund Granted for Service Tax Paid Under Reverse Charge (Aug 2002-Aug 2004), Subject to Unjust Enrichment Compliance.

    Case-Laws - AT : Refund of Service Tax paid under Reverse Charge from August, 2002 to August, 2004 - Refund Claim allowed subject to the provisions of unjust enrichment.... - AT

  • Court Upholds Service Tax on Lottery Commissions; Distributors' Services Deemed Essential for Ticket Sales to Customers.

    Case-Laws - HC : Constitutional Validity of Levy of Service tax on lotteries promoted and marketed by clients - Discount or commission received by the petitioners is nothing but consideration for service rendered to the promoter or organiser of the lottery. Moreover without the service rendered by the distributors namely, the lottery tickets will not reach the ultimate customers who are the participants in the draw. Thus liable to Service Tax. .... - HC

  • Central Excise

  • Excise Duty Refund Error? Authority Must Issue Show Cause Notice u/s 11A for Recovery, No Appeal Needed.

    Case-Laws - SC : In case of erroneous refund of excise duty the competent authority shall issue show cause notice under Section 11 A, in which the assessee has to show cause as to why the aforesaid amount of refund, which is erroneously refunded, should not be recovered from him. In such a case, there is no question of filing any appeal, as appropriate remedy as provided under Section 11A is available..... - SC

  • Intravenous Fluids with Medicaments Classified as Schedule H, Denied Tax Exemption Under Central Excise Regulations.

    Case-Laws - HC : Intravenous fluids - Exemption under central excise -Additions of dicaments will make it a schedule H Drug. The medicaments of intravenous fluid will certainly make the use thereof for a particular disease and it cannot be used for the common purpose of sugar, electrolyte or fluid replenishment and thus defeating the intention of legislature. Exemption denied.... - HC

  • Court Rules Sub-Rule (1) of Rule 11 Inapplicable to Exemption Notification; Cenvat Credit Transfer Allowed Post-Amalgamation.

    Case-Laws - HC : Transfer of Cenvat Credit - Amalgamation - Sub-Rule (1) of Rule 11 has no application to the Exemption Notification, in the instant case, and therefore the appellate Commissioner as well as the assessing authority were totally in error in denying the benefit of transfer of unutilized Cenvat credit to the assessee..... - HC

  • Printed Products on Paper, Coated Paper, and PVC Films Classified Under Chapter 49 for Central Excise Purposes.

    Case-Laws - AT : Manufacture - products which emerge after printing on paper, polyethylene coated paper and on PVC films - the products should be treated as products of printing industry and classifiable under Chapter 49 instead of 39..... - AT

  • Appellant's Sugar Export Diverted to Domestic Market; No Intent to Evade Duty Found in CT-1 Case.

    Case-Laws - AT : Export - Appellant cleared sugar on CT-1 basis - Exporter diverted the goods to DTA - Appellants cannot be held having mala fide intention to evade duty..... - AT


Case Laws:

  • Income Tax

  • 2012 (2) TMI 160
  • 2012 (2) TMI 159
  • 2012 (2) TMI 158
  • 2012 (2) TMI 157
  • 2012 (2) TMI 156
  • 2012 (2) TMI 155
  • 2012 (2) TMI 154
  • 2012 (2) TMI 137
  • 2012 (2) TMI 136
  • 2012 (2) TMI 135
  • 2012 (2) TMI 134
  • 2012 (2) TMI 133
  • 2012 (2) TMI 132
  • Customs

  • 2012 (2) TMI 146
  • 2012 (2) TMI 138
  • Central Excise

  • 2012 (2) TMI 145
  • 2012 (2) TMI 144
  • 2012 (2) TMI 143
  • Indian Laws

  • 2012 (2) TMI 140
 

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