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Asian Electronics Ltd, Mumbai vs Department Of Income Tax

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal20 May 2015

Ratio decidendi

The rule this decision rests on

The Tribunal, in deciding whether a First Appellate Authority may accept the assessee's explanation without verifying it against the record, holds that where the CIT(A) has accepted the assessee's contentions without examining whether the relevant details were before the Assessing Officer, and where factual discrepancies exist between the figures relied on by the CIT(A) and those in the assessment order, the matter must be restored to the Assessing Officer for fresh adjudication after affording the assessee reasonable and fair opportunity of being heard. Where the allocation of common head-office expenses has been accepted by the CIT(A) on the assessee's explanation alone, without verification of the basis for the chosen percentages or of the underlying figures, the issue is restored to the Assessing Officer to decide afresh on the basis of verified material.

Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.

Judgment

As delivered

ु ई यायपीठ 'ए' मबआयकर अपील य अ धकरण, मंब ंु ई ।IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL "A" BENCH, MUMBAI

सव ी डी. म मोहन, उपा य एवं नरे कुमार ब लै या, लेखा सद य के सम

BEFORE SHRI D. MANMOHAN, VICE PRESIDENT AND

SHRI N.K. BILLAIYA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER

आयकर अपील सं/ I.T.A. No. 4324/Mum/2011 ( नधारण वष / Assessment Year : 2007-08 The DCIT, Circle 3(1), बनाम/ M/s. Asian Electronics Aayakar Bhavan, Ltd., Vs. Mum bai-400 020 1219, Maker Chambers-V, Nariman Point, Mumbai-400 021 थायी ले खा सं . /जीआइआर सं . /PAN/GIR No. : AABCA 0832C (अपीलाथ /Appellant) .. ( यथ / Respondent) अपीलाथ ओर से/ Appellant by: Ms. Vandana Sagar यथ क ओर से/Respondent by: None

सन ु वाई क तार ख / Date of Hearing :13.05.2015 घोषणा क तार ख /Date of Pronouncement :20.05.2015

आदे श / O R D E R

PER N.K. BILLAIYA, AM:

This is an appeal by the Revenue preferred against the order of the Ld. CIT(A)-7, Mumbai dt. 18.3.2011 pertaining to assessment year 2007-

08. 2 ITA. No. 4324/M/2011

2. The Revenue has raised four substantive grounds of appeal. The grievance of the Revenue revolves around the deduction claimed u/s. 80- IC of the Act.

3. Briefly stated the facts of the case are that the assessee is in the business of manufacturing and selling of energy saving devices and Lighting products. Return of income for the year was filed on 26.10.2007 declaring total income at Rs. 31,29,79,324/-. The return was selected for scrutiny assessment. While scrutinizing the return of income, the Assessing Officer noticed that the assessee has claimed deduction u/s. 80- IC of the Act for its Solan unit. The AO noticed that the sales of Solan unit has been increased by an amount of Rs. 4,98,39,462/- on account of Inter Divisional Sales. The AO found that the total sales of Solan unit is at Rs. 168,01,15,066/- which includes Inter Divisional sales of Rs. 4,98,39,462/-. The AO further found that the profit from this unit has been shown at Rs. 78,11,08,000/- and the profit eligible for deduction u/s. 80IC has been computed at Rs. 75,68,72,400/-.

3.1. The AO was of the firm belief that Inter Divisional sales shown by the assessee from one unit to another unit cannot be part of sales generating business profit making it eligible for deduction. The AO proceeded by reducing the business profit of Solan unit by Rs. 4,98,39,462/-.

4. The assessee carried the matter before the Ld. CIT(A). It was strongly contended before the Ld. CIT(A) that the AO has not considered the purchases, other manufacturing and overhead expenses. It was explained that the assessee sells the product at the fixed rate whether it is sold directly from the specified undertaking or through any branch. It 3 ITA. No. 4324/M/2011

was further explained that the Solan unit transfers goods at branches at 6% discount to listed price whereas the sales are made to the customers at listed price. Thus, for the company, sales are recognized only when the customer is taking delivery as no profit is earned till such stage as stocks at all levels are always valued at cost. The Ld. CIT(A) was convinced with this explanation and deleted the addition.

5. Before us, none attended on behalf of the assessee therefore we heard the Ld. Departmental Representative at length and carefully perused the orders of the authorities below. We find that the Ld. CIT(A) has deleted the addition accepting the entire contention of the assessee without verifying whether details were filed before the AO or not. If the goods are transferred from Solan unit at 6% discount to listed price, then the stock cannot be valued at cost or at the most the receiving branch must be valuing stock at 6% discount to listed price which means that when the goods were sold from the branch, the branch is making atleast 6% profit. All these aspects have to be verified at the assessment stage. We, therefore, restore this issue to the file of the AO to decide denovo after giving reasonable and fair opportunity of being heard to the assessee.

6. Proceeding further, the AO noticed that part of the Head Office expenses have been attributed towards Solan Unit before claiming deduction. The assessee was asked to explain the basis on which such amount has been worked out. In its reply, the assessee stated that 15% of Nashik/Thane Head Office/Western Region site expenses are allocated to Solan Unit and 10% of expenses of other units are allocated to Solan unit. The AO observed that the assessee has not submitted any basis for choosing the figure of 15% or 10%. In this respect the assessee explained 4 ITA. No. 4324/M/2011

that it is maintaining separate accounts for Solan unit wherein all related expenditures are accounted for and subsequently 10% of total Head Office expenditures are also attributed to Solan unit. Accordingly, total expenses allocated to Solan unit was at Rs. 2,40,91,175/-. The AO was not convinced with the reply filed by the assessee. In particular, the selection of 15% or 10% without any basis or rationale. After considering the facts in totality, the AO proceeded to allocate common expenses in the ratio of sales turnover and made an addition of Rs. 5,74,79,168/-.

7. Before the Ld. CIT(A), the assessee strongly contended that there is no reason to allocate common expenses relating to sales from oil division. The Ld. CIT(A) though convinced by the allocation of expenses in proportion to sale as a reasonable method made by the AO. However, at the same time the Ld. CIT(A) observed that sale of oil division has negligible correlation to the various expenses of head office and branch office and therefore the sale of oil division need not been taken into account and found the allocation in the ratio of 15% and 10% as reasonable and directed the AO to delete the addition of Rs. 5,74,79,168/-

8. Before us, the Ld. DR strongly submitted that once again the Ld. CIT(A) has simply accepted the version of the assessee without verifying the details and calling for any remand report from the AO. The Ld. DR pointed out that at para-5.2 on page-6 of his order the Ld. CIT(A) has considered total sale of Rs. 225 crores whereas on page-7 of the assessment order, the AO has mentioned total sales as shown by the assessee at Rs. 367.44 crores. It is the say of the Ld. DR that such factual discrepancies/differences need to be verified by the AO.

5 ITA. No. 4324/M/2011 9. We have carefully perused the orders and given a thoughtful consideration to the submissions made by the Ld. DR. We find force in the submissions of the Ld. DR. Prima facie there appears to be difference in the sale figure taken by the AO and by the Ld. CIT(A). Such factual errors cannot be brushed aside lightly, therefore, in the interest of justice and fair play, we restore this issue to the file of the AO. The AO is directed to decide the claim of deduction denovo after giving reasonable and sufficient opportunity to the assessee to explain the difference, if any, in the sales.

10. For the sake of the completion of adjudication, we have restored the entire issue relating to the claim of deduction u/s. 80IC to the file of the AO with a direction to decide the issue afresh as per the provisions of law.

11. In the result, the appeal filed by the Revenue is treated as allowed for statistical purpose.

Order pronounced in the open court on 20th May, 2015

Sd/- Sd/-

(D.MANMOHAN ) (N.K. BILLAIYA) उपा य /VICE PRESIDENT लेखा सद य / ACCOUNTANT MEMBER मंब ु ई Mumbai; दनांक Dated :20 May , 2015 th

व. न.स./ RJ , Sr. PS 6 ITA. No. 4324/M/2011

आदे श क त ल प अ े षत/Copy of the Order forwarded to :

1. अपीलाथ / The Appellant

2. यथ / The Respondent.

3. आयकर आयु त(अपील) / The CIT(A)-

4. आयकर आयु त / CIT

5. वभागीय त न ध, आयकर अपील य अ धकरण, मंब ु ई / DR, ITAT, Mumbai

6. गाड फाईल / Guard file.

आदे शानस ु ार/ BY ORDER, स या पत त //True Copy// उप/सहायक पंजीकार (Dy./Asstt. Registrar) आयकर अपील य अ धकरण, मंब ु ई / ITAT, Mumbai

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