ABB Global Industries and Services Pvt. Ltd. Vs DCIT (ITAT Bangalore)
A perusal of the order of the AO shows that the AO called upon the assessee to justify the allowability of the losses on account of exchange loss on forward contracts. The assessee gave two submissions dated 8.1.2014 and 23.1.2014, copies of which are placed at page nos. 26-27 & 28-34 respectively. In both the submissions, the details of forward contracts has not been mentioned.
As far as law on the issue is concerned, it is very clear that the forward contracts entered into for the purpose of protecting against loss and which has a nexus to the business of the assessee and which are on revenue account have to be allowed as a deduction. The decision cited on behalf of ld. counsel for the assessee supports the claim made in this regard. We, however, find that the details of forward contracts and nexus with the business of the assessee have not been submitted by assessee before the AO. We therefore are of the view that while upholding the principle that losses on account of exchange fluctuation on forward covered contracts are allowable as a deduction, we hold that the factual details in this regard should be examined by the AO and for the purpose we set aside the order of CIT(Appeals) and remand the issue to the AO for fresh consideration. The assessee has to show the nature of forward contracts and its nexus with the business of assessee and also the fact that such contracts are on revenue account and not on capital account.
FULL TEXT OF THE ITAT JUDGEMENT
ITA No.1448/Bang/2017 is an appeal by the assessee, while ITA No.1660/Bang/2017 is an appeal by the revenue. Both these appeals are directed against the order dated 12.04.2017 of the CIT(Appeals)-I, Bengaluru, relating to assessment year 2010-11.
2. First we shall take up for consideration the assessee’s appeal which is ITA No.1488/Bang/2017. Ground No.1 was not pressed for adjudication and hence dismissed as not pressed. Ground No.2 raised by the assessee reads as follows:-
“2. Forex Loss on Derivatives
2.1. The learned CIT(A) erred in upholding the disallowance made by the AO of Rs 1,82,04,000/- in respect of forex loss on derivatives by holding the same as hypothetical and contingent in nature.
2.2. The learned CIT(A) failed to appreciate the fact that these expenses are recognized in accordance with the accounting treatment provided in the Accounting Standard -11 and 30, issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
2.3. The learned CIT(A) failed to appreciate the fact that these forex losses are in respect of binding obligations and are not speculative in nature.
2.4. Without prejudice to above, the learned CIT(A) failed to appreciate the fact that this forex loss debited to profit and loss account is only a timing difference as the same has been reversed in the next year and offered to tax.
2.5. The learned CITA(A) erred in not considering the submission filed by the Appellant during the course of hearing in this regard.”
3. The assessee is a company engaged in the business of software development services. In the course of assessment proceedings, the AO noticed that the assessee had claimed a sum of Rs.1,82,04,000 as exchange loss on forward covered contracts. In support of the claim for deduction, the assessee submitted before the AO as follows:-
“The company regularly enters into forward contracts during the normal course of its business to hedge the foreign currency payable/receivable by it on working capital account in order to guard itself against foreign exchange fluctuations. The company has been consistent in its practice of recognizing the gains/losses resulting out of forward contracts and has been offering the income, if any, to tax arising from such contracts in accordance with AS 11.
Various courts have held that for the purposes of ascertaining taxable profits of a business, the principles of accounting should be applied so long as they are not in contradiction with any express provisions of the statute. In the present case, Acer India has accounted for the losses arising on account of the unexpired forward contracts in accordance with the requirements of AS-11 and the announcements made by the Institute of chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).”
4. The AO referred to CBDT Instruction No.3/2020 dated 23.3.2020 wherein the CBDT took the view that the ‘marked to market’ losses is in substance a concept required from the point of view of transparent accounting practices. These losses are notional losses and can be allowed as a deduction only if there is an actual settlement that has taken place. The Board therefore opined that such losses would be contingent in nature and cannot be allowed to be set off against taxable income. The AO also made a reference to the decision of the Hon’ble Madras High Court in the case of Indian Overseas Bank v. CIT, 250 ITR 146 (Mad) wherein it took the view that a mere credit entry in the books of account will not constitute income. In that case, the bank took credit for estimated profit on exchange holdings. The Hon’ble High Court held that income was hypothetical and cannot be taxed. The AO also took the view that the nature of expenses, whether it is capital or revenue account, has not been established by the assessee. For the aforesaid reasons, the AO disallowed the claim of assessee for deduction.
5. On appeal by the assessee, the CIT(Appeals) confirmed the order of AO. Hence ground No.2 is raised by the assessee before the Tribunal.
6. We have heard the submissions of the ld. counsel for the assessee and the ld. DR. The ld. counsel for the assessee brought to our notice the decision of the Special Bench ITAT in the case of ACIT v. Bank of Bahrain [2010] 41 SOT 290 (Mum)(SB) wherein the SB took the view that forward contract entered into by the assessee to sell foreign currency at an agreed price on a future date falling beyond last date of account period, i.e., before the date of maturity of forward contract, such loss has to be allowed as a deduction.
“7. Our attention was also drawn to a decision of the Bangalore Bench of Tribunal in the case of Quality Engineering & Software Technologies (P.) Ltd. v. DCIT (2014) 52 taxmann.com 515 (Bang. Trib.) wherein it was held that provision for losses incurred on derivative contracts was an allowable expenditure. In that case, the assessee entered into a forward contract in order to protect its interest against fluctuations in foreign currency in respect consideration for export proceeds and there was an actual contract for sale of merchandise. The Tribunal held that such transactions cannot be termed as speculative transaction.
8. Reliance was also placed by him on the decision of the Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of CIT v. D. Chetan (2016) 75 taxmann.com 300 (Bom). In the aforesaid case, the assessee entered into forward contract for the purpose of hedging in the course of normal business activities of import and export to cover up losses on account of differences in foreign exchange valuation. The Hon’ble Court held that losses on account of differences would not be a speculative activity, but a business activity and deduction claimed should be allowed. The Hon’ble High Court held as follows:-
“7. The impugned order of the Tribunal has, while upholding the finding of the CIT (Appeals), independently come to the conclusion that the transaction entered into by the Respondent assessee is not in the nature of speculative activities. Further the hedging transactions were entered into so as to cover variation in foreign exchange rate which would impact its business of import and export of diamonds. These concurrent finding of facts are not shown to be perverse in any manner. In fact, the Assessing Officer also in the Assessment Order does not find that the transaction entered into by the Respondent assessee was speculative in nature. It further holds that at no point of time did Revenue challenge the assertion of the Respondent assessee that the activity of entering into forward contract was in the regular course of its business only to safeguard against the loss on account of foreign exchange variation. Even before the Tribunal, we find that there was no submission recorded on behalf of the Revenue that the Respondent assessee should be called upon to explain the nature of its transactions. Thus, the submission now being made is without any foundation as the stand of the assessee on facts was never disputed. So far as the reliance on Accounting Standard-11 is concerned, it would not by itself determine whether the activity was a part of the Respondent-assessee’s regular business transaction or it was a speculative transaction. On present facts, it was never the Revenue’s contention that the transaction was speculative but only disallowed on the ground that it was notional. Lastly, the reliance placed on the decision in S. Vinodkumar Diamonds (P.) Ltd. (supra) in the Revenue’s favour would not by itself govern the issues arising herein. This is so as every decision is rendered in the context of the facts which arise before the authority for adjudication. Mere conclusion in favour of the Revenue in another case by itself would not entitle a party to have an identical relief in this case. In fact, if the Revenue was of the view that the facts in S. Vinodkumar (supra) are identical/similar to the present facts, then reliance would have been placed by the Revenue upon it at the hearing before the Tribunal. The impugned order does not indicate any such reliance. It appears that in S. Vinodkumar Diamonds (P.) Ltd. (supra), the Tribunal held the forward contract on facts before it to be speculative in nature in view of Section 43(5) of the Act. However, it appears that the decision of this court in CIT v. Badridas Gauridu (P.) Ltd. [2003] 261 ITR 256/[2004] 134 Taxman 376 (Mum.) was not brought to the notice of the Tribunal when it rendered its decision in S. Vinodkumar Diamonds (P.) Ltd. (supra). In the above case, this court has held that forward contract in foreign exchange when incidental to carrying on business of cotton exporter and done to cover up losses on account of differences in foreign exchange valuations, would not be speculative activity but a business activity.”
9. It was contended by the ld. counsel for the assessee that the facts of the assessee’s case are identical to the case decided by the Hon’ble Bombay High Court and the deduction claimed should be allowed.
10. We have considered the rival submissions. A perusal of the order of the AO shows that the AO called upon the assessee to justify the allowability of the losses on account of exchange loss on forward contracts. The assessee gave two submissions dated 8.1.2014 and 23.1.2014, copies of which are placed at page nos. 26-27 & 28-34 respectively. In both the submissions, the details of forward contracts has not been mentioned.
11. As far as law on the issue is concerned, it is very clear that the forward contracts entered into for the purpose of protecting against loss and which has a nexus to the business of the assessee and which are on revenue account have to be allowed as a deduction. The decision cited on behalf of ld. counsel for the assessee supports the claim made in this regard. We, however, find that the details of forward contracts and nexus with the business of the assessee have not been submitted by assessee before the AO. We therefore are of the view that while upholding the principle that losses on account of exchange fluctuation on forward covered contracts are allowable as a deduction, we hold that the factual details in this regard should be examined by the AO and for the purpose we set aside the order of CIT(Appeals) and remand the issue to the AO for fresh consideration. The assessee has to show the nature of forward contracts and its nexus with the business of assessee and also the fact that such contracts are on revenue account and not on capital account.
12. Ground No.3 raised by the assessee reads as follows:-
“3. Payment for software license fees
3.1. The learned CIT(A) erred in upholding the disallowance made by the AO of Rs. 1,10,33,217/- in respect of payments made for software license fees u/s 40(a)(ia).
3.2. The learned CIT(A) failed to appreciate the fact that payment for software license fee made by the Appellant is the consideration not for Copyright but for Copyrighted Article and hence, would not fall under the definition of the Royalty both under the Act and the respective Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements with the respective countries.”
13. The AO disallowed a sum of Rs.1,10,33,217 which was payment made by the assessee for acquiring software licence. The AO was of the view that payment in question was in the nature of royalty or fees for technical services and therefore taxable in India. Since the assessee had not deducted tax at source on the aforesaid payment, the AO disallowed the claim of assessee for deduction of the aforesaid sum for non-deduction of tax at source u/s. 195 of the Act and invoked the provisions of section 40(a)(i) of the Act. The AO placed reliance on the decision of Hon’ble Karnataka High Court in the case of CIT v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., 345 ITR 494 (Karn) wherein the Hon’ble Court held that when licence is granted to make use of software by making copy of the same and store it in hard-disk of designated computer and to take backup copy of the software, it will amount to a transfer of right to use software and would constitute royalty within the meaning of Article 12 of DTAA between India and USA.
14. On appeal by the assessee, the CIT(Appeals) confirmed the order of the AO. Before us, the ld. counsel for the assessee submitted that payments in question had been made in the previous year relevant to AY 2010-11. He brought to our notice that the decision of Hon’ble Karnataka High Court in the case of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (supra) was rendered on 15.10.2011 and prior to the aforesaid decision, the law with regard to TDS for software licences was in favour of the assessee and the view taken was that there was no obligation to deduct tax on purchase of software licence. Since the obligation to deduction tax at source is at the time of making payment or credit in the books of account of the assessee and since as on that date, the law was that there need not be a TDS obligation, there may not be any disallowance u/s. 40(a)(i). The ld. counsel for the assessee in this regard has placed reliance on the following decisions:-
1. Allegis Services India (P.) Ltd. v. DCIT (2017) 86 taxmann.com 63 (Bengaluru Trib)
2. Teekays Interior Solutions P. Ltd. v. DCIT, Order dated 15.2.2019 ITA No.400/Bang/2017 (Bang. Trib.)
3. CIT v. NGC Networks (India) P. Ltd., Order dated 29.1.2018 ITA No.397/2015 (Bombay High Court)
15. The ld. DR submitted that the decision of the Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka in the case of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (supra) is declaratory in nature and therefore will relate back even to the period prior to the aforesaid decision.
16. We have considered the rival submissions. We find that the decision rendered by this Tribunal in the case of Allegis Services India (P.) Ltd. (supra), the very same issue has been dealt with as follows:-
“7. We have considered the rival submissions as well as the relevant material on record. There is no dispute that the transaction in question regarding payment of purchase of software was completed in the F.Y. 2008-09 whereas the decision of Hon’ble jurisdictional High Court in the case of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (supra) was passed on 15.10.2011 much later than the time of transaction carried out by the assessee. It is also not in dispute that this issue of considering the payment for purchase of software as royalty is a highly debatable issue and various High Courts have taken divergent views on this issue. The co-ordinate Bench of this Tribunal in the case of Aurigene Discovery Technologies (P.) Ltd. (supra) has considered an identical issue in paras 3 to 5 as under :
‘ 03. We heard the rival submissions and gone through the relevant orders. The assessee resubmitted the plea taken before the lower authorities and placed on the ruling of the Hon’ble Bangalore ITAT in Sonata Information Technology Ltd. v. ACIT (103 ITD 324) which had held that payments for software licenses do not constitute royalty under the provisions of the Act and hence disallowance under section 40(a) (ia) of the Act would not be applicable. The change in the legal position on taxation of computer software was on account of the ruling of the Karnataka High Court in CIT v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (320 ITR 209), which was pronounced on 15.10.11 that is much later than the closure of the FY 2010-11. Subsequently, the Finance Act 2012 also introduced, retrospectively, Explanation 4 to section 9(1 (vi) of the Act to clarify that payments for, inter alia. license to use computer software would qualify as royalty. During the FY 10-11, the assessee did not have the benefit of clarification brought by the respective amendment. As such, for the FY 2010-11, in light of the provisions of section 9(1)(vi) of the Act read with judicial guidance on the taxation of computer software payments, tax was not required to be deducted at source. Given the practice in prior assessment years, the assessee was of the bona fide view that the payment of software license fee was not subject to tax deduction at source under section 194J/195 of the Act. It is submitted that liability to deduct tax at source cannot be fastened on the assessee on the basis of retrospective amendment to the Act (Finance Act 2012 amendment the definition of royalty with retrospective effect from 01.04.1976) or a subsequent ruling of a court (the Karnataka HC in CIT v Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (16 taxmann.com 141) was passed on October 15, 2011). Courts have consistently upheld this principle as seen in:
