Esjay International P.Ltd, Mumbai vs Assessee
- CitationITA No.6422/M/2013
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
Where the Assessing Officer, in computing a disallowance under section 14A, does not record reasons for dissatisfaction with the assessee's own computation of the disallowance, and applies Rule 8D directly, the disallowance is not sustainable without objective satisfaction being recorded in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Bombay High Court in Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co. Ltd. v. DCIT. Where the issue of section 14A disallowance has been decided without the assessee being given an opportunity to place its accounts and computation on record, the proper course is to restore the matter to the Assessing Officer to afford that opportunity, examine the assessee's computation having regard to its accounts, and decide afresh by a speaking order.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
M/s. Esjay International Pvt. The Asst. Comm. of Income Ltd., Tax 6(2), 48, Laxmi Industrial Estate Aayakar Bhavan, Off Furguson Road, Vs. Mumbai Hanuman Gali, Lower Parel, Mumbai - 400 013 PAN: AAACE 1066B (Appellant) (Respondent)
Present for: Assessee by : Shri Nishant Thakkar, A.R. Revenue by : Shri Neil Philip, D.R.
Date of Hearing : 23.03.2015 Date of Pronouncement : 27.05.2015
ORDER
Per Sanjay Garg, Judicial Member:
The present appeal has been preferred by the assessee against the order dated 10.09.2013 of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [(hereinafter referred to as CIT(A)] relevant to assessment year 2009-10.
2. The only issue taken by the assessee, through its grounds of appeal, is relating to the disallowance of Rs.19,83,869/- under section 14A read with Rule 8D as against the suo-moto disallowance of Rs.8,17,384/- offered by the assessee. The Ld. A.R. of the assessee has submitted that the Assessing Officer (hereinafter referred to as the AO), while making disallowance under section 14A, has not considered the suo-moto disallowance offered by the assessee. He has not consulted the accounts of the assessee in relation to the 2 ITA No.6422/M/2013 M/s. Esjay International Pvt. Ltd.
disallowance offered by the assessee and has straightway applied Rule 8D. The Ld. A.R. has further relied upon the decision of the co-ordinate bench of the Tribunal in the own case of the assessee for A.Y. 2008-09 wherein the Tribunal, after considering the submissions of the assessee, has restricted the disallowance to the extent it was suo-moto computed and offered by the assessee.
On the other hand, the Ld. D.R. has relied upon the findings of the lower authorities.
3. We have considered the rival contentions. A perusal of the assessment order reveals that the AO has not followed the guidelines of objective satisfaction as laid down by the Hon'ble Bombay high Court in the case of "Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Vs. DCIT" [(2010) 328 ITR 81 (Bom)] while making the disallowance. He without recording any reasoning for his dissatisfaction with regard to the working/claim of the assessee, straightway applied Rule 8D against the mandate of the provisions of section 14A of the Income Tax Act.
4. So keeping in view of the overall facts and circumstances of the case, we restore this issue back to the file of the AO with a direction that the AO will give opportunity to the assessee to place on record all the relevant facts including its accounts and then examine the computation/calculation made in this regard by the assessee having regard to the accounts of the assessee. The AO will be at liberty to call for any record/evidences or statement etc. from the assessee as may be required by him for deciding the issue under consideration. The AO, thereafter, will decide the issue afresh in the light of the decision of the Hon'ble Bombay High Court in the case of "Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Vs. DCIT" (supra) by way of a speaking order.
3 ITA No.6422/M/2013 M/s. Esjay International Pvt. Ltd.
5. The appeal of the assessee is therefore allowed for statistical purposes.
Order pronounced in the open court on 27.05.2015.
Sd/- Sd/- (R.C. Sharma) (Sanjay Garg) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER
Mumbai, Dated: 27.05.2015. * Kishore, Sr. P.S.
Copy to: The Appellant The Respondent The CIT, Concerned, Mumbai The CIT (A) Concerned, Mumbai The DR Concerned Bench //True Copy// [
By Order
Dy/Asstt. Registrar, ITAT, Mumbai.
This page reproduces a public judgment and a summary of it. It is research material, not legal advice, and it is no substitute for advice from an advocate on your own facts.
Research this judgment with Miss Lucy
Ask what it holds, what has followed it, and what it means for your matter — in plain English, with the citations.
Try Miss Lucy free