Infosys case – SC rules every benefit is not taxable as income;

Infosys case : SC rules every benefit is not taxable as income; Prior to 2000 – No provision in I-T Act to tax ESOPs – TDS not applicable as value of shares as perquisite not ascertainable; Clause (iiia) of Sec17 was prospective and not clarificatory

NEW DELHI, JAN 09, 2008 : IN a remarkably interesting ruling, involving the IT giant Infosys Technologies, the Apex Court has held that every benefit received by a person is not taxable as income unless the Legislature makes the same taxable. For period prior to 2000, there were no provisions in the Income Tax Act to tax ESOPs. As regards the TDS, it noted that ESOPs were not taxable during the lock-in period as the value of non-transferable shares (perquisite) was not ascertainable. As regards the Clause (iiia) of Sec 17 the SC held that it was not clarificatory as argued by the Revenue and very much prospective if one goes by the wordings used in the Clause and the explanatory memorandum of the Finance Act, 1999.

Brief facts of the case :

To implement Employees Stock Option Scheme (“ESOP”), the assessee created a Trust – Technologies Employees Welfare Trust, and allotted 7,50,000 warrants at Rs. 1/- each to the said Trust. Each warrant entitled the Holder thereof to apply for and be allotted one equity share of the face value of Rs. 10/- each for total consideration of Rs. 100/-. The Trust was to hold the warrant and transfer the same to the employees of the company under the Terms and Conditions of the scheme governing ESOP. During the assessment years 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000, warrants were offered to the eligible employees at Re. 1/- each by the Trust. They were issued to employees based on their performance, security and other criteria. Under the ESOP Scheme, every warrant had to be retained for a minimum period of 1 year. At the end of that period, the employee was entitled to elect and obtain shares allotted to him on payment of the balance Rs. 99. The option could be exercised at any time after 12 months but before expiry of the period of 5 years. The allotted shares were subject to a lock-in period. During the lock in period, the custody of shares remained with the Trust. The shares were non-transferable. The employee had to continue to be in service for 5 years. If he resigned or if his services be terminated for any reason, he lost his right under the scheme and the shares were to be re-transferred to the Trust for Rs.100 per share. Intimation was also given to BSE that 734500 equity shares were non-transferable and would not constitute good delivery. Till 13.9.1999 all the shares were stamped with the remark “non-transferable” . Thus the said shares were incapable of being converted into money during the lock in period.

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