TMI Blog2009 (4) TMI 4X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ar of fluctuation in the rate of exchange or whether the same could only be allowed in the year of repayment of such loans? (ii) Whether the assessee is entitled to adjust the actual cost of imported assets acquired in foreign currency on account of fluctuation in the rate of exchange at each balance sheet date, pending actual payment of the varied liability? 4. At the outset, for the sake of convenience, we may state that in this batch of civil appeals broadly we have before us two categories. In the first category, we are concerned with exchange differences arising in foreign currency transaction on revenue items. In such category, we are concerned with the assessee(s) incurring loss on revenue account. In that category, we are concerned with the provisions of Sections 28, 29, 37(1) and 145 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 ("1961 Act"). In the second category of cases, we are concerned with exchange differences arising on repayment of liabilities incurred for the purpose of acquiring fixed assets. In other words, in the second category of cases, we are concerned with the assessee(s) incurring liabilities on capital account. In such cases, we are required to consider the provisio ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... foreign exchange fluctuations must fulfill the twin requirements of "expenditure" and the factum of such expenditure having been "laid out or expended". According to the learned counsel, the expression "expenditure" is "what is paid out" and "something which is gone irretrievably". In this connection, learned counsel placed reliance on the judgment of this Court in the case of Indian Molasses Co. (Private) Ltd. v. CIT reported in 37 ITR 66. According to the learned counsel, the increase in liability at any point of time prior to payment cannot fall within the meaning of the word "expenditure" in Section 37(1). Therefore, according to the learned counsel, the requirement of expenditure is not met in this case. According to the learned counsel, similarly the requirement of money being "expended or laid out" is also not satisfied and thus additional liability arising on account of fluctuation in foreign exchange rate is not deductible under Section 37(1). 7. Shri C.S. Aggarwal, learned senior counsel appearing for M/s Woodward Governor India P. Ltd. (Civil Appeal arising out of S.L.P.(c) No. 593/08), submitted that the assessee had debited a sum of Rs. 41,06,748.00 to its P ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... become taxable. From this hypothetical example, learned counsel urged that the liability stood incurred on the date on which the assessee borrows 100 $ which in the above example is 1.4.1999, however, on account of fluctuation in the dollar rate, the liability may enhance or may reduce by 31.3.2000. This has to be taken into account by the Department. The learned counsel submitted that whenever the dollar rate stood reduced, the Department has taxed in the past the business gains, therefore, as a corollary, the Department has to allow deduction in the year in which the assessee incurs business loss on account of the increase in the dollar rate. Therefore, according to the learned counsel, there is no warrant for interfering in the impugned judgment of the High Court. 9. Shri S. Ganesh, learned senior counsel appearing for M/s Maruti Udyog Ltd. (Civil Appeal arising out of SLP (c) No. 18967/08), adopted the argument advanced by Shri C.S. Aggarwal. In addition, he pointed out that the assessee had maintained its accounts right from 1985 on accrual system of accounting. He submitted that during the assessment years 1985-86 to 1989-90 loss claimed was allowed. It was pointed out o ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... in the foreign exchange rate. According to the learned counsel, for the above reasons, there is no need to interfere in the impugned judgment. 10. As stated above, on facts in the case of M/s Woodward Governor India P. Ltd., the Department has disallowed the deduction/debit to the P L account made by the assessee in the sum of Rs. 29,49,088.00 being unrealized loss due to foreign exchange fluctuation. At the very outset, it may be stated that there is no dispute that in the previous years whenever the dollar rate stood reduced, the Department had taxed the gains which accrued to the assessee on the basis of accrual and it is only in the year in question when the dollar rate stood increased, resulting in loss that the Department has disallowed the deduction/debit. This fact is important. It indicates the double standards adopted by the Department. 11. The dispute in this batch of civil appeals centers around the year(s) in which deduction would be admissible for the increased liability under Section 37(1). 12. We quote hereinbelow Section 28(i), Section 29 Section 37(1) and Section 145 of the 1961 Act, which read as follows: Profits and gains of business or professi ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... n this connection, heavy reliance was placed on the judgment of this Court in the case of Indian Molasses Company (supra). Relying on the said judgment, it was sought to be argued that the increase in liability at any point of time prior to the date of payment cannot be said to have gone irretrievably as it can always come back. According to the learned counsel, in the case of increase in liability due to foreign exchange fluctuations, if there is a revaluation of the rupee vis-à-vis foreign exchange at or prior to the point of payment, then there would be no question of money having gone irretrievably and consequently, the requirement of "expenditure" is not met. Consequently, the additional liability arising on account of fluctuation in the rate of foreign exchange was merely a contingent/notional liability which does not crystallize till payment. In that case, the Supreme Court was considering the meaning of the expression "expenditure incurred" while dealing with the question as to whether there was a distinction between the actual liability in presenti and a liability de futuro. The word "expenditure" is not defined in the 1961 Act. The word "expenditure" is, therefore, requir ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ins are computed under Section 28/29. That is why in deciding the question as to whether the word "expenditure" in Section 37(1) includes the word "loss" one has to read Section 37(1) with Section 28, Section 29 and Section 145(1). One more principle needs to be kept in mind. Accounts regularly maintained in the course of business are to be taken as correct unless there are strong and sufficient reasons to indicate that they are unreliable. One more aspect needs to be highlighted. Under Section 28(i), one needs to decide the profits and gains of any business which is carried on by the assessee during the previous year. Therefore, one has to take into account stock-in-trade for determination of profits. The 1961 Act makes no provision with regard to valuation of stock. But the ordinary principle of commercial accounting requires that in the P L account the value of the stock-intrade at the beginning and at the end of the year should be entered at cost or market price, whichever is the lower. This is how business profits arising during the year needs to be computed. This is one more reason for reading Section 37(1) with Section 145. For valuing the closing stock at the end of a parti ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... bove, it is clear that profits and gains of the previous year are required to be computed in accordance with the relevant accounting standard. It is important to bear in mind that the basis on which stockin-trade is valued is part of the method of accounting. It is well established, that, on general principles of commercial accounting, in the P L account, the values of the stock-in-trade at the beginning and at the end of the accounting year should be entered at cost or market value, whichever is lower - the market value being ascertained as on the last date of the accounting year and not as on any intermediate date between the commencement and the closing of the year, failing which it would not be possible to ascertain the true and correct state of affairs. No gain or profit can arise until a balance is struck between the cost of acquisition and the proceeds of sale. The word "profit" implies a comparison between the state of business at two specific dates, usually separated by an interval of twelve months. Stock-in-trade is an asset. It is a trading asset. Therefore, the concept of profit and gains made by business during the year can only materialize when a comparison of the ass ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... currency has to be recorded in the reporting currency by applying to the foreign currency amount the exchange rate between the reporting currency and the foreign currency at the date of the transaction. This is known as recording of transaction on Initial Recognition. Para 7 of AS-11 deals with reporting of the effects of changes in exchange rates subsequent to initial recognition. Para 7(a) inter alia states that on each balance sheet date monetary items, enumerated above, denominated in a foreign currency should be reported using the closing rate. In case of revenue items falling under Section 37(1), para 9 of AS-11 which deals with recognition of exchange differences, needs to be considered. Under that para, exchange differences arising on foreign currency transactions have to be recognized as income or as expense in the period in which they arise, except as stated in para 10 and para 11 which deals with exchange differences arising on repayment of liabilities incurred for the purpose of acquiring fixed assets, which topic falls under Section 43A of the 1961 Act. At this stage, we are concerned only with para 9 which deals with revenue items. Para 9 of AS-11 recognises exchange ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ssee is mercantile system, which brings into debit the expenditure amount for which a legal liability has been incurred before it is actually disbursed and brings into credit what is due, immediately it becomes due and before it is actually received; (ii) whether the same system is followed by the assessee from the very beginning and if there was a change in the system, whether the change was bona fide; (iii) whether the assessee has given the same treatment to losses claimed to have accrued and to the gains that may accrue to it; (iv) whether the assessee has been consistent and definite in making entries in the account books in respect of losses and gains; (v) whether the method adopted by the assessee for making entries in the books both in respect of losses and gains is as per nationally accepted accounting standards; (vi) whether the system adopted by the assessee is fair and reasonable or is adopted only with a view to reducing the incidence of taxation. Facts in M/s Honda Siel Power Products Ltd. [Civil Appeal arising out of SLP(C) No. 7632/08] CAPITAL ACCOUNT CASE: 22. The main issue which arises for determination in this batch of civil appeals is: whether the ass ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ny asset in any previous year from a country outside India for the purposes of his business or profession and, in consequence of a change in the rate of exchange during any previous year after the acquisition of such asset, there is an increase or reduction in the liability of the assessee as expressed in Indian currency (as compared to the liability existing at the time of acquisition of the asset) at the time of making payment." (emphasis supplied) 25. We also quote hereinbelow provisions of Section 43(1): "43. In sections 28 to 41 and in this section, unless the context otherwise requires - (1) "actual cost" means the actual cost of the assets to the assessee, reduced by that portion of the cost thereof, if any, as has been met directly or indirectly by any other person or authority." 26. Shri Parag Tripathi, learned Additional Solicitor General appearing on behalf of the Department, submitted that in Section 43A (as it stood prior to Finance Act, 2002) the expression "for making payment" is in the context of increase or decrease of liability and the same hinges on "making the payment towards the whole or a part of …". According to the learned counsel, the expression ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... account of exchange rate fluctuation, in the actual cost of the assets acquired in foreign currency and for depreciation to be allowed with reference to such increased/decreased cost. According to the learned counsel, the provisions of Section 43A (unamended) are pari materia with para 10 of AS-11 which inter alia provides for adjustment in the carrying cost of fixed assets acquired in foreign currency, due to foreign exchange fluctuation at each balance sheet date. In this connection, learned counsel has placed reliance on the judgment of this Court in the case of CIT v. Arvind Mills Ltd. reported in 193 ITR 255. 29. To answer the controversy, we need to analyse Section 43A (unamended). The period in question in the batch of Civil Appeals is prior to Finance Act, 2002, therefore, we are required to consider the scope of Section 43A (unamended). 30. Section 43A starts with a non obstante clause. Section 43A(1) overrides the other provisions only as regards cases falling under that sub-section. For instance, in a case where the asset is acquired, or the liability to pay in foreign exchange arises, after the change in the rate of exchange, the said sub-section has no app ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e assets for purposes of grant of depreciation for any increase/decrease of liability subsequently arising due to exchange fluctuation. Consequently, Section 43A was introduced in the Act by Finance Act, 1967 w.e.f. 1.4.1967 in the above terms to provide for adjustment in the actual cost of assets pursuant to change in the foreign currency exchange rates. As a consequence of the insertion of the said section, it became possible to adjust the increase/decrease in liability relating to acquisition of capital assets on account of exchange rate fluctuation, in the actual cost of the assets acquired in foreign currency and for, inter alia, depreciation to be allowed with reference to such increased/decreased cost. This position is also made clear by Circular No. 5-P dated 9.10.1967 issued by CBDT. One more point needs to be mentioned. Section 43A (unamended) corresponds to para 10 of AS-11 similarly providing for adjustment in the carrying cost of fixed assets acquired in foreign currency, due to foreign exchange fluctuation at each balance sheet date. The relevant para reads as follows: "10. Exchange differences arising on repayment of liabilities incurred for the purpose of acquirin ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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