Tax Management India. Com
Law and Practice  :  Digital eBook
Research is most exciting & rewarding


  TMI - Tax Management India. Com
Follow us:
  Facebook   Twitter   Linkedin   Telegram

TMI Blog

Home

Small Scale Exemption of Joint Property

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... There are four owners of a property. The property has been purchased jointly. The rent agreement is separate for each landlord. The TDS deducted is individually. Can we enjoy Small Scale Exemption Individually. i.e. Ten Lakhs each. - Reply By KASTURI SETHI - The Reply = Yes. You can avail small scale exemption of Rs. Ten Lakhs individually for four owners. On 15.9.2015 CESTAT Mumbai has decided the issue in favour of assessee. CITATION 2015-TIOL-1936-CESTAT-MUM. = 2015 (9) TMI 790 - CESTAT MUMBAI ( Commissioner of Central Excise, Nasik Versus Deoram Vishrambhai Patel ) - Reply By KASTURI SETHI - The Reply = ST - Ownership of Property providing of taxable renting of immovable Property service by four appellants in this case is in individual capacity and, therefore, their tax liability has been correctly determined by considering their individual rental receipts and not collective one: CESTAT By TIOL News Service MUMBAI, SEPT 15, 2015: THIS is a Revenue appeal. The facts are that the respondents are co-owners of the property located at Patel Plaza', Near Govinda .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... Rickshaw Stop, M G Road, Jalgaon and there is no legal partition or division amongst them. They entered into a joint agreement with M/s. Max New York Life Insurance Co Ltd, M/s HDFC Standard Life Insurance, M/s Oriental Bank of Commerce, M/s Axis Bank and M/s Kotak Mahindra Bank, Jalgaon through joint Leave License agreement for letting out the said premises. They collected rent and amenities charges from the commercial firms viz. M/s. Oriental Bank of Commerce, M/s Axis Bank and M/s Kotak Mahindra Bank during the period June 2007 to January 2012. The department viewed that the appellants were jointly engaged in providing the Services of Renting of Immovable Property as per sub-clause (zzzz) of Section 65 (105) of Finance Act, 1994 , which defines taxable service as any service provided or to be provided to any person, by any other person, in relation to renting of immovable property for use in the course of furtherance of business or commerce'. The demand notice was contested on merits as well as on the ground of limitation but the adjudicating authority confirmed the service tax liability jointly and severally demanded interest on the same and imposed vario .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... us penalties. Before the Commissioner(A), the appellants submitted that rented property belongs to four separate persons (all brothers) but the service tax has been demanded wrongly by the department from the appellants by clubbing the rent received by all the co-owners and, therefore, the demand of tax is not maintainable. In support, they have produced a City Survey Extract as evidence regarding ownership of the rented property which shows that the said property was purchased in 2003 and is owned jointly by all the four co-owners. Further, the lease agreements with M/s Max New York Life Insurance Co Ltd., Oriental Bank of Commerce, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and HDFC Standard Life Insurance Ltd. are also entered into by the appellants in their individual capacity, as per SCN also, all four co-owners have obtained separate Registration Certificate on 10/4/2012 and all the four co-owners individually paid their Service tax liability along with interest on 14/2/2012. The Commissioner(A) maintained that service tax liability has to be upheld for the year 2009-10 to 2011-12 as the rent received by each of the appellants exceeded the statutory limit of ₹ 10 lakhs .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... during the said period but the same having been paid along with interest before receipt of SCN, therefore, penalties u/s 76 , 78 of FA, 1994 are not imposable.For the previous FY 2007-08 and 2008-09, the demand was set aside as the rent received by each of them was lesser than ₹ 8 lakhs/10 lakhs by virtue of Notfn. 6/2005-ST . He, however, upheld the penalties imposed under the provisions of Section 77 of the FA, 1994. The respondent is not in appeal against this order. As mentioned, the CCE, Nasik is in appeal. The ARsubmitted that the respondent had a premises which was rented out to various banks and an amount was collected as rent; that in order to avail ineligible exemption, respondent informed the lower authorities that there was partition of the property, which was incorrect as there is no registered document of such partition. It is further informed that the agreement entered by the respondent and four brothers was composite contract for renting out the entire property and it is in use commonly for business. Furthermore, the benefit of notification no. 6/2005-ST dated 01/03/2005 is not applicable and is in respect of qua-service and not qua ser .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... vice provider and, therefore, the exemption granted by the first appellate authority under this notification is incorrect; penalties imposed under Section 76 and 78 have also been set aside incorrectly. The respondent took the support of the findings of the Commissioner(A) and also submitted that the adjudicating authority had erred in holding that respondent and his brothers were an association of persons'. Decision of the Bombay High Court in the case of CIT vs. Shiv Sagar Estate 1993 (201) ITR 953 BOM = 1992 (12) TMI 38 - BOMBAY High Court in the matter of interpretation of the expression association of persons was also adverted to. The Bench after considering the submissions observed + The issue that needs to be decided in this case is whether the respondent and his brothers are to be treated as association of persons or otherwise and service tax liability on it arises; should be confirmed without the benefit of the notification No. 6/2005-ST . + It is undisputed that the property which has been rented out by the respondent and his brothers is jointly owned property; Service Tax liability arises on such renting of property. + On .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... deeper perusal of impugned order, we find that the first appellate authority has considered all the angles in the dispute and come to the correct conclusion. After reproducing verbatim the findings of lower appellate authority the Bench observed that the conclusion arrived at is very' correct inasmuch as co-owners of the property cannot be considered as liable for service tax jointly or severally. Holding that the Commissioner(A) had rightly extended the benefit of notification 6/2005-ST correctly for the years 2007-08 and 2008-09 when the rent received by each of the co-owners was below the exemption limit of eight lakhs and ten lakhs during the relevant period and confirmed the tax liability for the FY 2009-10, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 when the rent received by each of the appellants had exceeded the statutory exemption limit of ₹ 10 lakhs (and which has been paid along with interest on their own), the Bench noted that there was no reason to interfere in such a detailed' order. The appeal filed by the Revenue was rejected. (See 2015-TIOL-1936-CESTAT-MUM ) = 2015 (9) TMI 790 - CESTAT MUMBAI ( Commissioner of Central Excise, Nasik Ver .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... sus Deoram Vishrambhai Patel ) ST - Ownership of Property providing of taxable renting of immovable Property service by four appellants in this case is in individual capacity and, therefore, their tax liability has been correctly determined by considering their individual rental receipts and not collective one: CESTAT By TIOL News Service MUMBAI, SEPT 15, 2015: THIS is a Revenue appeal. The facts are that the respondents are co-owners of the property located at Patel Plaza', Near Govinda Rickshaw Stop, M G Road, Jalgaon and there is no legal partition or division amongst them. They entered into a joint agreement with M/s. Max New York Life Insurance Co Ltd, M/s HDFC Standard Life Insurance, M/s Oriental Bank of Commerce, M/s Axis Bank and M/s Kotak Mahindra Bank, Jalgaon through joint Leave License agreement for letting out the said premises. They collected rent and amenities charges from the commercial firms viz. M/s. Oriental Bank of Commerce, M/s Axis Bank and M/s Kotak Mahindra Bank during the period June 20 .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... 07 to January 2012. The department viewed that the appellants were jointly engaged in providing the Services of Renting of Immovable Property as per sub-clause (zzzz) of Section 65(105) of Finance Act, 1994, which defines taxable service as any service provided or to be provided to any person, by any other person, in relation to renting of immovable property for use in the course of furtherance of business or commerce'. The demand notice was contested on merits as well as on the ground of limitation but the adjudicating authority confirmed the service tax liability jointly and severally demanded interest on the same and imposed various penalties. Before the Commissioner(A), the appellants submitted that rented property belongs to four separate persons (all brothers) but the service tax has been demanded wrongly by the department from the appellants by clubbing the rent received by all the co-owners and, therefore, the demand of tax is not maintainable. In support, they have produced a City Survey Extract as evidence regarding ownership of the rented property which shows that the said property was purchased in 2003 and is owned jointly by all the four co-owne .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... rs. Further, the lease agreements with M/s Max New York Life Insurance Co Ltd., Oriental Bank of Commerce, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and HDFC Standard Life Insurance Ltd. are also entered into by the appellants in their individual capacity, as per SCN also, all four co-owners have obtained separate Registration Certificate on 10/4/2012 and all the four co-owners individually paid their Service tax liability along with interest on 14/2/2012. The Commissioner(A) maintained that service tax liability has to be upheld for the year 2009-10 to 2011-12 as the rent received by each of the appellants exceeded the statutory limit of ₹ 10 lakhs during the said period but the same having been paid along with interest before receipt of SCN, therefore, penalties u/s 76, 78 of FA, 1994 are not imposable.For the previous FY 2007-08 and 2008-09, the demand was set aside as the rent received by each of them was lesser than ₹ 8 lakhs/10 lakhs by virtue of Notfn. 6/2005-ST. He, however, upheld the penalties imposed under the provisions of Section 77of the FA, 1994. The respondent is not in appeal against this order. As mentioned, the CCE, Nasik is in appeal. The AR .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... submitted that the respondent had a premises which was rented out to various banks and an amount was collected as rent; that in order to avail ineligible exemption, respondent informed the lower authorities that there was partition of the property, which was incorrect as there is no registered document of such partition. It is further informed that the agreement entered by the respondent and four brothers was composite contract for renting out the entire property and it is in use commonly for business. Furthermore, the benefit of notification no. 6/2005-ST dated 01/03/2005 is not applicable and is in respect of qua-service and not qua service provider and, therefore, the exemption granted by the first appellate authority under this notification is incorrect; penalties imposed under Section 76 and 78 have also been set aside incorrectly. The respondent took the support of the findings of the Commissioner(A) and also submitted that the adjudicating authority had erred in holding that respondent and his brothers were an association of persons'. Decision of the Bombay High Court in the case of CIT vs. Shiv Sagar Estate 1993 (201) ITR 953 BOM in the matter of interpreta .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... tion of the expression association of persons was also adverted to. The Bench after considering the submissions observed + The issue that needs to be decided in this case is whether the respondent and his brothers are to be treated as association of persons or otherwise and service tax liability on it arises; should be confirmed without the benefit of the notification No. 6/2005-ST. + It is undisputed that the property which has been rented out by the respondent and his brothers is jointly owned property; Service Tax liability arises on such renting of property. + On deeper perusal of impugned order, we find that the first appellate authority has considered all the angles in the dispute and come to the correct conclusion. After reproducing verbatim the findings of lower appellate authority the Bench observed that the conclusion arrived at is very' correct inasmuch as co-owners of the property cannot be considered as liable for service tax jointly or severally. Holding that the Commissioner(A) had rightly extended the benefit of notification 6/2005-ST correctly for the years 2007-08 and 2008-09 when the rent received by each of the co-own .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... ers was below the exemption limit of eight lakhs and ten lakhs during the relevant period and confirmed the tax liability for the FY 2009-10, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 when the rent received by each of the appellants had exceeded the statutory exemption limit of ₹ 10 lakhs (and which has been paid along with interest on their own), the Bench noted that there was no reason to interfere in such a detailed' order. The appeal filed by the Revenue was rejected. (See 2015-TIOL-1936-CESTAT-MUM ) ST - Ownership of Property providing of taxable renting of immovable Property service by four appellants in this case is in individual capacity and, therefore, their tax liability has been correctly determined by considering their individual rental receipts and not collective one: CESTAT By TIOL News Service MUMBAI, SEPT 15, 2015: THIS is a Revenue appeal. The facts are that the respondents are co-owners of the property located at Patel Plaza', Near Govinda Rickshaw Stop, M G Road, Jalgaon and there i .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... s no legal partition or division amongst them. They entered into a joint agreement with M/s. Max New York Life Insurance Co Ltd, M/s HDFC Standard Life Insurance, M/s Oriental Bank of Commerce, M/s Axis Bank and M/s Kotak Mahindra Bank, Jalgaon through joint Leave License agreement for letting out the said premises. They collected rent and amenities charges from the commercial firms viz. M/s. Oriental Bank of Commerce, M/s Axis Bank and M/s Kotak Mahindra Bank during the period June 2007 to January 2012. The department viewed that the appellants were jointly engaged in providing the Services of Renting of Immovable Property as per sub-clause (zzzz) of Section 65(105) of Finance Act, 1994, which defines taxable service as any service provided or to be provided to any person, by any other person, in relation to renting of immovable property for use in the course of furtherance of business or commerce'. The demand notice was contested on merits as well as on the ground of limitation but the adjudicating authority confirmed the service tax liability jointly and severally demanded interest on the same and imposed various penalties. Before the Commissioner(A), t .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... he appellants submitted that rented property belongs to four separate persons (all brothers) but the service tax has been demanded wrongly by the department from the appellants by clubbing the rent received by all the co-owners and, therefore, the demand of tax is not maintainable. In support, they have produced a City Survey Extract as evidence regarding ownership of the rented property which shows that the said property was purchased in 2003 and is owned jointly by all the four co-owners. Further, the lease agreements with M/s Max New York Life Insurance Co Ltd., Oriental Bank of Commerce, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and HDFC Standard Life Insurance Ltd. are also entered into by the appellants in their individual capacity, as per SCN also, all four co-owners have obtained separate Registration Certificate on 10/4/2012 and all the four co-owners individually paid their Service tax liability along with interest on 14/2/2012. The Commissioner(A) maintained that service tax liability has to be upheld for the year 2009-10 to 2011-12 as the rent received by each of the appellants exceeded the statutory limit of ₹ 10 lakhs during the said period but the same having been p .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... aid along with interest before receipt of SCN, therefore, penalties u/s 76, 78 of FA, 1994 are not imposable.For the previous FY 2007-08 and 2008-09, the demand was set aside as the rent received by each of them was lesser than ₹ 8 lakhs/10 lakhs by virtue of Notfn. 6/2005-ST. He, however, upheld the penalties imposed under the provisions of Section 77of the FA, 1994. The respondent is not in appeal against this order. As mentioned, the CCE, Nasik is in appeal. The ARsubmitted that the respondent had a premises which was rented out to various banks and an amount was collected as rent; that in order to avail ineligible exemption, respondent informed the lower authorities that there was partition of the property, which was incorrect as there is no registered document of such partition. It is further informed that the agreement entered by the respondent and four brothers was composite contract for renting out the entire property and it is in use commonly for business. Furthermore, the benefit of notification no. 6/2005-ST dated 01/03/2005 is not applicable and is in respect of qua-service and not qua service provider and, therefore, the exemption granted by the .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... first appellate authority under this notification is incorrect; penalties imposed under Section 76 and 78 have also been set aside incorrectly. The respondent took the support of the findings of the Commissioner(A) and also submitted that the adjudicating authority had erred in holding that respondent and his brothers were an association of persons'. Decision of the Bombay High Court in the case of CIT vs. Shiv Sagar Estate 1993 (201) ITR 953 BOM in the matter of interpretation of the expression association of persons was also adverted to. The Bench after considering the submissions observed + The issue that needs to be decided in this case is whether the respondent and his brothers are to be treated as association of persons or otherwise and service tax liability on it arises; should be confirmed without the benefit of the notification No. 6/2005-ST. + It is undisputed that the property which has been rented out by the respondent and his brothers is jointly owned property; Service Tax liability arises on such renting of property. + On deeper perusal of impugned order, we find that the first appellate authority has considered all the angles .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... in the dispute and come to the correct conclusion. After reproducing verbatim the findings of lower appellate authority the Bench observed that the conclusion arrived at is very' correct inasmuch as co-owners of the property cannot be considered as liable for service tax jointly or severally. Holding that the Commissioner(A) had rightly extended the benefit of notification 6/2005-ST correctly for the years 2007-08 and 2008-09 when the rent received by each of the co-owners was below the exemption limit of eight lakhs and ten lakhs during the relevant period and confirmed the tax liability for the FY 2009-10, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 when the rent received by each of the appellants had exceeded the statutory exemption limit of ₹ 10 lakhs (and which has been paid along with interest on their own), the Bench noted that there was no reason to interfere in such a detailed' order. The appeal filed by the Revenue was rejected. (See 2015-TIOL-1936-CESTAT-MUM ) ST - Ownership of Property providing of taxable renting of immovable Property service by four appellants in th .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... is case is in individual capacity and, therefore, their tax liability has been correctly determined by considering their individual rental receipts and not collective one: CESTAT By TIOL News Service MUMBAI, SEPT 15, 2015: THIS is a Revenue appeal. The facts are that the respondents are co-owners of the property located at Patel Plaza', Near Govinda Rickshaw Stop, M G Road, Jalgaon and there is no legal partition or division amongst them. They entered into a joint agreement with M/s. Max New York Life Insurance Co Ltd, M/s HDFC Standard Life Insurance, M/s Oriental Bank of Commerce, M/s Axis Bank and M/s Kotak Mahindra Bank, Jalgaon through joint Leave License agreement for letting out the said premises. They collected rent and amenities charges from the commercial firms viz. M/s. Oriental Bank of Commerce, M/s Axis Bank and M/s Kotak Mahindra Bank during the period June 2007 to January 2012. The department viewed that the appellants were jointly engaged in providing the Services of Renting of Immovable Property as per sub-clause (zzzz) of Section 65(105) of Finance Act, 1994, wh .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... ich defines taxable service as any service provided or to be provided to any person, by any other person, in relation to renting of immovable property for use in the course of furtherance of business or commerce'. The demand notice was contested on merits as well as on the ground of limitation but the adjudicating authority confirmed the service tax liability jointly and severally demanded interest on the same and imposed various penalties. Before the Commissioner(A), the appellants submitted that rented property belongs to four separate persons (all brothers) but the service tax has been demanded wrongly by the department from the appellants by clubbing the rent received by all the co-owners and, therefore, the demand of tax is not maintainable. In support, they have produced a City Survey Extract as evidence regarding ownership of the rented property which shows that the said property was purchased in 2003 and is owned jointly by all the four co-owners. Further, the lease agreements with M/s Max New York Life Insurance Co Ltd., Oriental Bank of Commerce, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and HDFC Standard Life Insurance Ltd. are also entered into by the appellants .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... in their individual capacity, as per SCN also, all four co-owners have obtained separate Registration Certificate on 10/4/2012 and all the four co-owners individually paid their Service tax liability along with interest on 14/2/2012. The Commissioner(A) maintained that service tax liability has to be upheld for the year 2009-10 to 2011-12 as the rent received by each of the appellants exceeded the statutory limit of ₹ 10 lakhs during the said period but the same having been paid along with interest before receipt of SCN, therefore, penalties u/s 76, 78 of FA, 1994 are not imposable.For the previous FY 2007-08 and 2008-09, the demand was set aside as the rent received by each of them was lesser than ₹ 8 lakhs/10 lakhs by virtue of Notfn. 6/2005-ST. He, however, upheld the penalties imposed under the provisions of Section 77of the FA, 1994. The respondent is not in appeal against this order. As mentioned, the CCE, Nasik is in appeal. The ARsubmitted that the respondent had a premises which was rented out to various banks and an amount was collected as rent; that in order to avail ineligible exemption, respondent informed the lower authorities that ther .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... e was partition of the property, which was incorrect as there is no registered document of such partition. It is further informed that the agreement entered by the respondent and four brothers was composite contract for renting out the entire property and it is in use commonly for business. Furthermore, the benefit of notification no. 6/2005-ST dated 01/03/2005 is not applicable and is in respect of qua-service and not qua service provider and, therefore, the exemption granted by the first appellate authority under this notification is incorrect; penalties imposed under Section 76 and 78 have also been set aside incorrectly. The respondent took the support of the findings of the Commissioner(A) and also submitted that the adjudicating authority had erred in holding that respondent and his brothers were an association of persons'. Decision of the Bombay High Court in the case of CIT vs. Shiv Sagar Estate 1993 (201) ITR 953 BOM in the matter of interpretation of the expression association of persons was also adverted to. The Bench after considering the submissions observed + The issue that needs to be decided in this case is whether the respondent and .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... his brothers are to be treated as association of persons or otherwise and service tax liability on it arises; should be confirmed without the benefit of the notification No. 6/2005-ST. + It is undisputed that the property which has been rented out by the respondent and his brothers is jointly owned property; Service Tax liability arises on such renting of property. + On deeper perusal of impugned order, we find that the first appellate authority has considered all the angles in the dispute and come to the correct conclusion. After reproducing verbatim the findings of lower appellate authority the Bench observed that the conclusion arrived at is very' correct inasmuch as co-owners of the property cannot be considered as liable for service tax jointly or severally. Holding that the Commissioner(A) had rightly extended the benefit of notification 6/2005-ST correctly for the years 2007-08 and 2008-09 when the rent received by each of the co-owners was below the exemption limit of eight lakhs and ten lakhs during the relevant period and confirmed the tax liability for the FY 2009-10, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 when the rent received by each of the appellants h .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

..... ad exceeded the statutory exemption limit of ₹ 10 lakhs (and which has been paid along with interest on their own), the Bench noted that there was no reason to interfere in such a detailed' order. The appeal filed by the Revenue was rejected. (See 2015-TIOL-1936-CESTAT-MUM ) v - Reply By KASTURI SETHI - The Reply = In case the department does not accept the CESTAT's order and file appeal with High Court against CESTA's order, the issuance of Show Cause Notices will continue. - Small Scale Exemption of Joint Property - Query Started By: - ARUN KUMAR AGRAWAL Dated:- 24-10-2015 Service Tax - Got 3 Replies - Service Tax - Discussion Forum - Knowledge Sharing, reply post by an expert, personal opinion Tax Management India - taxmanagementindia - taxmanagement - taxmanagementindia.com - TMI - TaxTMI - TMITax .....

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

→ Full Text of the Document

X X   X X   Extracts   X X   X X

 

 

 

 

Quick Updates:Latest Updates