DCIT Vs M/s. Maahi Milk Producer Co. Ltd. (ITAT Rajkot)
Conclusion: Commission payments made by assessee to Sahayak was on percentage basis depending on various parameters like number of farmers pouring milk, fat and SNF factor in milk, quantity of milk collected etc. which ensured payment was commensurate with work performed and thus, the nature of work carried out by the Sahayak were covered by provisions of section 194C instead of section 194H and accordingly tax was deducted on the same accordingly.
Held: Assessee-producer company was engaged in the business of pooling & purchasing milk primarily from its members & processing milk and milk products through third party processors. It marketed the milk products under brand name – “Maahi”. AO made disallowance as tax was not deducted at source u/s.194H on commission payments made to Sahayak. It was held Sahayak collected milk from the members, feed the same in testing machines for determining fat & SNF content of the Milk. He stored the milk till the time the transporters appointed by assessee transport the same to the bulk chilling centre. Milk collection and payment system at Milk Procurement Point was entirely IT enable and the Sahayak did not maintain any records of individual farmers and quality of milk procured for assessee. The agreement with the Sahayak was on principal to principal basis. Payment was made to Sahayak on percentage basis on various parameters like number of farmers pouring milk, fat and SNF factor in milk, quantity to mild collected etc. which ensures payment was commensurate with work performed. The nature of work carried out by the Sahayak were covered by provisions of section 194C and accordingly tax was deducted on the same accordingly. Therefore, AO was not justified in deducting tax under section 194H.
FULL TEXT OF THE ITAT JUDGEMENT
The captioned appeals alongwith Cross Objections have been filed at the instance of the revenue and assessee against the appellate order of the Commissioner of Income Tax(Appeals)-1, Rajkot [CIT(A) in short] dated 10/03/2017, 24/10/2016, 29/12/2015, 24/10/2016 relevant to Assessment Years (AYs) 2014-15, 2013-14, 2015-16, 2013-14
2. Since in these appeals parties are same and grounds are almost common, therefore, for the sake of convenience, we would like to dispose of all these appeals together. First of all we would like to take up ITA No.161/Rjt/2017 for Asst. Year 2014-15:
“1. The Ld. CIT(A) has erred in law as well as on facts of the case in holding that the assessee should not to be treated as assessee in default for non deduction of tax at source under section 194J on the ground of out of pocket expenses or auditors of Rs.2,17,114/-.
2. The Ld. CIT(A) has erred in law as well as on facts of the case in holding that tax is not required to be deducted at source u/s.194H of the I. T. Act on commission payments made to Sahayak.
3. The Ld. CIT(A) has erred in law as well as on facts of the case in holding that the assessee should not to be treated as assessee in default for non deduction of tax at source under section 194J of the I.T. Act, on short deduction of tax on payment of commissioner charges paid to dairies.
4. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Ld. CIT(A) ought to have decided the issue under reference, in the light of evidence obtained by him during the appellate proceedings after following the due procedure of law.”
3. Briefly stated, facts are that the appellant is a company incorporated as a producer company which is engaged in the business of pooling & purchasing milk primarily from its members & processing milk and milk products through third party processors. It markets the milk products under brand name – “Maahi” A survey action u/s.133(2A) was carried out at the appellant’s premises on 25/11/2014 for verification of TDS compliance and thereafter a show-cause notice was issued. Requesting the assessee to furnish the details of TDS made till date. Assessing Officer passed an order u/s.201(1) and 201(1A) on 28thMarch, 2016 holding the appellant to be an assessee in default for short deduction of tax at source from aggregate sum of Rs.3,37,12,318/- and raised demand thereof along with interest u/s.201(1A) of Rs.1,05,13,514/-, which is being challenged by the appellant and ld.CIT(A) partly allowed the appeal of the assessee.
4. Now department is before us.
5. We have gone through the relevant record and impugned order. So far Ground No.1 is concerned. Ld. AO has discussed the issue on Page No.10, Para 4(i) and ld. CIT(A) has discussed the detail at Page No.6, Para 5.3. As we can see that AO has contended that the payment for boarding and lodging expenses was made by the assessee to auditors on the basis of bills raised by them on which service tax was also charged and therefore, he considered it as payment to auditors which is taken at source u/s.194J. However, assessee submitted that the payment for boarding and lodging expenses of auditors was made by the assessee directly to the concern hotel on the basis of bills raised by the said hotels to the assessee and there was no payment for boarding and lodging expenses to the auditors. In support of these facts, assessee has submitted copy of relevant bills and proof showing payment thereof in the paper book which were also furnished to the AO and similar issue had arisen in the A.Y. 2015-16 in appellant’s own case and ld. CIT(A) gave the relief to the assessee. Assessee filed detailed reply to the AO and same is part of Paper Book at Page No.10 to 26.
6. As per the AR some amount was given to auditor for out of pocket expenses were paid by the assessee after deduction of tax. So in considered opinion, ld. CIT(A) has passed detailed and reasoned order, therefore, we do not want to interfere in the order passed by the ld. CIT(A) hence, this ground of appeal is dismissed.
7. So far as ground No.2 with regard to that Ld.CIT(A) has erred in law as well as on facts of the case in holding that tax is not required to be deducted at source u/s.194H of the I.T. Act on commission payments made to Sahayak. Ld. AO has discussed the matter on Page No.12, Para 4(ii) and ld. CIT(A) has discussed on Page No.19, Para 6.3. In this regard, ld AR stated that assessee company is established under Part IX-A of the companies Act for procuring milk from its members. Accordingly, assessee has established Milk Procurement Points at every village for pooling of milk from its member producer and assessee has engaged persons termed as Sahayak at these Milk Procurement Point to collect the milk. The Sahayak collects milk from the members, feeds the same in testing machines for determining fat & SNF content of the Milk. He stores the milk till the time the transporters appointed by assessee transport the same to the bulk chilling centre. Milk collection and payment system at Milk Procurement Point is entirely IT enable and the Sahayak does not maintain any records of individual farmers and quality of milk procured for the assessee. The agreement with the Sahayak is on principal to principal basis. Same is part of Paper Book at Page No.146 and it is mentioned therein “this agreement has been entered into on principal to principal basis and nothing contained in this agreement shall be deemed to neither constitute a joint venture partnership or agency relationship between the company and MAAHI nor authorise either party to made a representation or incur any liability on behalf of the other party” Similar issue was arose during the Asst. Year 2015-16 in assessee’s own case. Ld. CIT(A) granted the relief to the assessee. Payment is made to Sahayak on percentage basis on various parameters like number of farmers pouring milk, fat and SNF factor in milk, quantity to mild collected etc. which ensures payment is commensurate with work performed. The nature of work carried out by the Sahayak are covered by provisions of section 194C and accordingly tax was deducted on the same accordingly. Ld. AR cited a decision of Bhopal Sugar Industries Ltd. vs. STO 40 STC 42 (SC) and CIT vs. Ahmedabad Stamp Vendors Association (25 taxmann.com 201)(SC). On the basis of the consistency, we dismiss this ground of appeal of department.
8. So far as Ground No.3 is concerned that the ld. CIT(A) has erred in law as well as on facts of the case in holding that the assessee should not be treated as assessee in default for non-deduction of tax at source under section 194J of the I.T. Act, on short deduction of tax on payment of commissioner charges paid to dairies. Ld. AO has discussed this issue at Page No.14 Para 4(iii) and ld. CIT(A) has discussed at Page No.26 Para 7.3. In this case, in support of its contention, assessee submitted copy of conversion agreement with Mother dairy Fruit and vegetable Pvt. Ltd. & Giriraj Milk Products Ltd. Assessee further stated that it does not have own manufacturing facility, hence, it entered into job work contract with various dairies for conversion and packing of milk and milk products. Assessee provided raw milk and necessary materials to the dairies for processing as per specification of assessee. The dairies custom pack it on job work basis. Assessee deducted tax u/s.194C on conversion charges Rs.19.77 crores paid to such dairies since the job work falls within definition of ‘work’ u/s.194C. CBDT circular No.13/2006 dated 13th Dec, 2006 relied. Further stated the services rendered by the dairies are not technical services since the dairies are not expert on any technology which they could provide to the assessee, nor they provide any managerial services/consultancy services since there is no advice given by dairies to the assessee. The dairies are not assigned any exclusive work relating to quality check but are assigned work relating to conversion/processing of milk and milk products, wherein one of the requirements is to ensure quality parameters. The main and basic nature of transaction viz. conversion/processing of mild on job work basis does not lose its true characteristic. Similar issue was arisen for Financial Year 2014-15. Ld. CIT(A) had given relief to the assessee by these issues as follows:
