Case Law Details
ACIT Vs Owens Corning’s Industries (India) Private Limited (ITAT Hyderabad)
The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) in Hyderabad has made a significant ruling in the case of ACIT Vs Owens Corning’s Industries (India) Private Limited. The judgment tackles the complexities surrounding the rate of depreciation on computers and computer peripherals.
Background and Parties Involved
Before diving into the judgment, it is crucial to understand the entities involved. The appellant is the Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax (ACIT), and the respondent is Owens Corning’s Industries (India) Private Limited. The core of the disagreement was regarding the rate of depreciation for assets like computers, UPS, Cable Works, and Computer Tables, among others.
Issue: Depreciation Rate for Computers and Peripherals
The more debated part of the case was, concerning the rate of depreciation on computers and computer peripherals. The assessing officer had initially ruled that computer peripherals were only eligible for 25% depreciation, in contrast to the assessee’s claim of 60%.
Judgment and Precedents
The Tribunal, upon careful scrutiny of previous judgments, held that computers and computer peripherals are indeed eligible for a 60% depreciation rate. It cited numerous precedents, including cases like CIT vs. Sony India P. Ltd., Tetra Soft (India) (P.) Ltd., vs. ACIT, and more to support this stand.
Implications of the Judgment
The judgment holds significant implications for businesses, particularly those in the IT and related sectors. By clarifying that computer peripherals are also eligible for 60% depreciation, the Tribunal has laid down a clear guideline that could affect many other pending and future cases.
Conclusion
The ITAT Hyderabad’s decision in the ACIT Vs Owens Corning’s Industries case is a crucial development in the taxation landscape concerning the rate of depreciation on computer assets. By resolving the dispute in favor of a 60% depreciation rate for both computers and computer peripherals, the Tribunal has provided much-needed clarity on the subject, effectively dismissing the appeal from the Revenue.
By confirming the eligibility for 60% depreciation on computer peripherals, the Tribunal has aligned its stand with multiple precedents and set a significant benchmark for future cases.
FULL TEXT OF THE ORDER OF ITAT HYDERABAD
Aggrieved by the order dated 21/12/2015 passed by the learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-4, Hyderabad (“Ld. CIT(A)”), in the case of M/s. Saint Gobain Vetrotex India Limited (“the assessee”) for the assessment year 2004-05, Revenue preferred this appeal.
2. Two issues involved in this appeal. One is in respect of disallowance under section 40(a)(ia) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short “the Act”) to the tune of Rs. 1,13,28,493/- and the other is the addition of Rs. 1,99,76,907/- towards disallowance of depreciation on printers, UPS, Cable Works and Computer Tables.
3. Insofar as the first issue is concerned, at the outset, both the counsel submitted that this issue has been decided by the Co-ordinate Bench of the Tribunal in assessee’s own case in ITA Nos. 254 & 255/Hyd/2016 (assessment years 2002-03 and 2003-04) dated 15/12/2021 and by quoting and following the same, for the assessment year 2004-05 in ITA No. 256/Hyd/2016 by order dated 22/02/2022, the Tribunal upheld it in favour of the assessee. It is also submitted by them that no appeal has been preferred against the order dated 22/02/2022 in ITA No. 256/Hyd/2016 and it has become final.
4. We have gone through the orders dated 15/12/2021 and 22/02/2022 (supra) and found that precisely this issue has been decided by the Bench in favour of assessee. In these circumstances, respectfully following the decisions of the Co-ordinate Bench of the Tribunal, hold the issue in favour of the assessee, we dismiss the ground raised by Revenue.
5. Coming to the second issue, assessee claimed depreciation @60% on computer and software. Learned Assessing Officer was of the opinion that all the assets included under computers are not eligible for depreciation @60% and computer peripherals are eligible for depreciation only @25%.
6. Learned CIT(A) directed the learned Assessing Officer to take note of the decision of the Tribunal in assessee’s own case for the assessment years 2000-01 to 2007-08 and 2009-10 to re-compute the depreciation on intangible assets, except goodwill.
7. Learned AR submitted that computers as well as the computer peripherals are eligible for depreciation @60% and for this purpose, he placed reliance on 1. CIT vs. Sony India P. Ltd., (2012) 210 Taxman 149 (Del.) (HC); 2. CIT vs. Orient Ceramics & Industries Ltd., (2011) 11 taxmann.com 417 (Del.) (HC); 3. Tetra Soft (India) (P.) Ltd., vs. ACIT, Hyderabad (2015) 40 ITR (Trib) 479 (Hyderabad); 4. Smt. Nandury Sobha Rani, Shri Nandury Tejaswy vs. Addl. CIT, Hyderabad [ITA.No.332 & 333/Hyd/2011 dated 02.07.2012]; 5. ACIT vs. Ushodaya Enterprises Ltd., Hyderabad (2012) 19 ITR 199; 6. Ushodaya Enterprises Ltd., vs. DCIT, Hyderabad (2015) 155 ITD 701 (Hyd.); 7. M/s. Performica Software P. Ltd., vs., DCIT, Hyderabad [ITA.Nos.1015 & 1128/Hyd/2012 dated 13.09.2013]; 8. Expeditors International (India) (P) Ltd., vs. Addl. CIT, Delhi ITAT (2010) 2 ITR 153, and 9. DCIT vs. Data craft India Ltd., (2011) 9 ITR 712 (Mum.) (SB).
8. He further submitted that following this settled principle in these decisions in the case of D.E. Shaw India Pvt. Ltd., vs. DCIT, in ITA No. 1180/Hyd/2016, (assessment year 2009-10), dated 11/01/2017, Co-ordinate Bench of this Tribunal held the issue in favour of the assessee.
9. Per contra, learned DR vehemently contended that certain items like printers, USB etc., do not fall in the category of computers, to be eligible for depreciation @60% and the learned Assessing Officer was right in disallowing the excess depreciation.
10. On careful perusal of the decisions cited at Bar, we are of the considered opinion that this issue is no longer res integra. Computers as well as the computer peripherals are eligible for depreciation @60%. Hence, the disallowance is directed to be deleted. Ground is accordingly dismissed.
11. In the result, appeal of the Revenue is dismissed.
Order pronounced in the open court on this the 3rd day of August, 2023.
