S. 43B Employees contributions to EPF/ESIC beyond due dates specified in relevant statutes, but before due date of filing ROI allowable

IN THE HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND AT NAINITAL
Income Tax Appeal No. 50 of 2009

The Commissioner of Income Tax

Versus

M/s Kichha Sugar Company Ltd.

JUDGMENT

Coram: Hon’ble Barin Ghosh, C.J.  Hon’ble V.K. Bist, J.

BARIN GHOSH, C.J. (Oral)

The Assessing Officer purported to disallow payments actually made by the assessee to the Provident Fund Authority on account of employees’ contribution towards provident fund. There was delay. Obligation to pay accrued within an accounting year, but dischasrged in the next accounting year but before filing of return for the accounting year when obligation accrued. The amount of contribution, thus paid, was disallowed by the Assessing Officer. The Appellate Commissioner has correctly held that the money thus paid is no longer in the hands of the employer and, accordingly, cannot be taken to be the income in the hands of the assessee. The same is the view of the Tribunal. The Department contends that in view of section 36(1)(va) read with section 2(24)(x) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”), such payment though made to the Provident Fund Authorities, should be treated to be income of the assessee. Section 36(1)(va) of the Act is as follows:-

“The deductions provided for in the following clauses shall be allowed in respect of the matters dealt with therein, in computing the income referred to in section 28-

any sum received by the assessee from any of his employees to which the provisions of sub-clause (x) of clause (24) of section 2 apply, if such sum is credited by the assessee to the employee’s account in the relevant fund or funds on or before the due date:

Explanation- For the purposes of this clause, “due date” means the date by which the assessee is required as an employer to credit an employee’s contribution to the employee’s account in the relevant fund under any Act, rule order or notification issued thereunder or under any standing order, award, contract of service or otherwise; “

2. Therefore, employees’ contribution deducted from the salaries of the employees of the assessee, if deposited with the Provident Fund Authority by the assessee on or before the due date for depositing the same, the amount, thus deposited, will entail deduction from the income of the assessee. Section 2(24)(x) of the Act is as follows:-“income” includes-

any sum received by the assessee from his employees as contributions to any provident fund or superannuation fund or any fund set up under the provisions of the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948, or any other fund for the welfare of such employees;”

3. Therefore, while any sum received by the assessee from his employees towards contributions to the Provident Fund is the income of the assessee, Section 36(1)(va) of the Act makes it a deduction in the event the contribution thus received is deposited on or before the due date. Section 43(B)(b) of the Act provides as follows:-“Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Acxt, a deduction otherwise allowable under this Act in respect of-

any sum payable by the assessee as an employer by way of contribution to any provident fund or superannuation fund or gratuity fund or any other fund for the welfare of employees,

shall be allowed (irrespective of the previous year in which the liability to pay such sum was incurred by the assessee according to the method of accounting regularly employed by him) only in computing the income referred to in section 28 of that previous year in which such sum is actually paid by him: