Section 115JB does not apply to insurance companies

Applicability of Section 115JB to insurance companies

Turning now to ITA No. 447/2015, the question concerns the applicability of Section 115JB of the Act to insurance companies. The ITAT has permitted the Assessee to raise this question since, in a large number of judgments of the ITAT, the question has been answered in favour of the Assessee.

It is plain, from a reading of Section 44 read with the First Schedule of the Act, that insurance companies are required to prepare accounts as per the IA and the regulations of the IRDA and not as per Parts II and III of Schedule VI of the Companies Act. The Assessee prepares its accounts as per the IRDA principles. The IRDA Regulations govern the preparation of the auditor’s report.

Consequently, the question framed in ITA No. 447/2015 is answered in the affirmative, i.e. in favour of the Assessee and against the Revenue by holding that Section 115JB of the Act does not apply to insurance companies.