MTNL

In a bonanza for the loss making telecom PSU, state-run MTNL today received over Rs 177 crore as income tax refund for the year 2010-11. MTNL has received a refund order amounting to Rs 177.76 crore from the Income Tax Department pertaining to Assessment Year 2010-11, MTNL said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange. Full Article

The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against the then certain officers of MTNL and other unknown private persons of a Noida- based Private Company dealing in Optical Fibre Transmission U/s 120-B IPC and 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 on the allegations that MTNL awarded the work of broadcast network based on IP/MPLS Technology at an exorbitant price of approx. Rs.570.12 crores by manipulating the specification in such a manne.. Full Article

Recently CBDT instructed vide Instruction No. 5/2011 dated 30 March, 2011 to Assessing Officers (AO) and the Transfer Pricing Officers (TPO) to look into technical evidence involved in a tax or transfer pricing case by seeking assistance in the form of opinion from technical experts in the relevant subject matter for expeditious disposition of such cases especially where there are substantial amounts of taxes at stake. This instruction follows from the directions provide.. Full Article

A government body has recommended that state-run BSNL should merge its counterpart MTNL and telecom equipment manufacturer ITI with itself, a move that will help turn around the loss-making telecom giant. The board strongly recommends the merger of ITI Ltd with BSNL, or its takeover by BSNL as a separate subsidiary, thereby ensuring strategic vertical integration. Full Article

The Income Tax department has struck an estimated Rs 50 crore deal with state-owned telecom company BSNL to provide 51,000 mobile connections and one thousand high-end Blackberry phones for secure and fast communication amongst its officers and staff Full Article

The Court, by referring the case back to the assessing officer, appears to have accepted the contention that only services rendered by humans can be regarded as a technical service. The ruling has particular significance for the technology sector where similar interpretation issues on taxability of technical services are common. Further as held by the Court, in such cases technical evidence would be required for establishing that there was no human intervention involved .. Full Article

The Supreme Court has asked the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and other tax authorities to get the help of technical experts while deciding income tax liability of cellular service providers. The order came after a batch of appeals by income tax authorities against the ruling of the tribunal favouring Bharti Cellular Ltd and other service providers. Full Article

M/s. Converge Labs Software Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (‘Converge’) is a 100% export oriented unit (‘EOU’) operating under the Software Technology Parks of India (‘STPI’) Scheme and is engaged in the development and export of software. Notification No. 140/91-Cus dated 22nd October 1991 (‘subject Notification’), granted exemption from the Customs Duty to goods imported into India by a 100% EOU under the STPI Scheme subject to certain specified conditions. Full Article