Case Law Details
Brief of the Case
ITAT Mumbai held In the case of M/s. UniDeritend Limited vs. ACIT that the subsidy being provided to the assessee to encourage the setting up of wind mill to promote generation of energy through non conventional sources, thus, is to be treated as capital receipt. With regard to applicability of the section 41(1) is concerned, it relates to the benefit derived by an assessee in respect of loss, expenditure or trading liability and not in respect of capital receipts. So far as the Explanation 10 to Section 43(1) is concerned, as per the policy of the government, the subsidy is not given automatically on the acquisition of asset or for the purpose of acquisition of asset. The precondition is that the assessee must install a wind power project and that the wind power plant must be successfully operated with a minimum 12% plant load factor for at least one year. So the mere acquisition of the asset was not sufficient to claim subsidy. Hence, the grant of subsidy in this case is of such a nature that it cannot be directly relatable to the asset acquired. Also, in this case neither there was a transfer of any asset from the block nor did the block has ceased to exist, so no capital gain liability u/s 50. Accordingly, the subsidy received by the assessee is not taxable under section 41(1) neither under 43(1) and nor under section 50.
Facts of the Case
During the financial year 2001-02 the assessee had installed wind energy project at a cost of Rs.1189.87 lakhs. As per the policy of Maharashtra Government, to promote generation of energy through non conventional sources to supplement the ever increasing demand of the electricity in the state, the wind power projects have been granted status of small scale industries and the state government gives the capital subsidy up to 30% of the fixed capital investment to the promoters subject to a condition that wind power plant has successfully operated with a minimum 12% plant load factor for at least one year. The assessee accordingly applied for the said capital subsidy which was granted to the assessee during the relevant financial year 2007-08 at Rs.20 lakh. During the subsequent year i.e. F.Y. 2008-09, assessee had to refund back subsidy to the extent of Rs.10 lakhs.
The AO observed that the assessee had already claimed 100% depreciation on the windmill, and as such the subsidy was required to be reduced from the cost of asset and hence the assessee had received a benefit of Rs.10 lakh. He accordingly added the said sum into the income of the assessee. The AO further observed that even otherwise the written Down Value (WDV) of the asset was nil, hence subsidy was to be taxed as short term capital gains under section 50.
Contention of the Assessee
The ld counsel of the assessee submitted that the only dispute between the assessee and Department is that the liquor was sold at a lesser price than it was mentioned in the menu car or tariff card. According to the Ld. counsel, liquor business is a competitive one. The assessee has to give various discounts to attract the customers. Therefore, even though the sale price was mentioned in the tariff card and menu card, the assessee was forced to give discount at 50% to 10%. He explained that the assessee in fact was giving discount to corporate guests, walk in customers and happy hours discount, etc. Therefore, estimating the sale on the basis of the price mentioned in the tariff card and menu card is not justified. He submitted that in fact there was no suppression of sales. Therefore, the CIT (A) ought to have deleted the entire addition made by the Assessing Officer.
Held by CIT (A)
CIT (A) held that as 100% depreciation was allowed to the assessee on the asset itself; hence the receipt of subsidy was a benefit received and was hence taxable under section 41(1).
Held by ITAT
ITAT held that admittedly, in the case in hand, the capital subsidy, as it is named in the notification of the scheme dated 12.03.1998 of the Government of Maharashtra, has been granted as an incentive to promote and encourage the installation of wind mill for generation of electricity. The said subsidy being provided to the assessee to encourage the setting up of wind mill to promote generation of energy through non conventional sources, thus, is to be treated as capital receipt.
So far as the applicability of the section 41(1) is concerned, it relates to the benefit derived by an assessee in respect of loss, expenditure or trading liability and not in respect of capital receipts. So far as the ‘Explanation 10’ to ‘Section 43(1)’ is concerned, we find that as per the policy of the government, the subsidy is not given automatically on the acquisition of asset or for the purpose of acquisition of asset. The precondition is that the assessee must install a wind power project and that the wind power plant must be successfully operated with a minimum 12% plant load factor for at least one year. Admittedly, the assessee had installed the project in the financial year i.e. 2001-02. The assessee after successfully operating the plant with a minimum 12% plant load factor for one year had applied for capital subsidy vide letter dated 31.03.03, which subject to fulfillment of certain conditions were ultimately released to the applicant during the financial year i.e. 2007-08 at Rs.20 lakhs. However, out of the said amount of Rs.20 lakh, Rs.10 lakh had to be returned back by the assessee to the government. So the mere acquisition of the asset was not sufficient to claim subsidy. The subsidy was not given for the purpose of acquisition of the asset but on the production of power generation as an incentive to promote through non conventional sources. Hence, the grant of subsidy in this case is of such a nature that it cannot be directly relatable to the asset acquired.
The co-ordinate Kolkata bench of the Tribunal in the case of DCIT vs. Rasoi Ltd. (2014) 46 taxman.com 214 (KolkataTrib.), while relying upon the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of CIT vs. P.J. Chemicals Ltd. (1994) 210 ITR 830/76 taxman 611, has held that for computation of deprecation, no part of government subsidy for encouragement for setting up of industrial projects could be deducted from actual cost of WDV of fixed assets, if same is not relatable to acquisition of assets.
So far as the contention of the AO that the subsidy is liable to be taxed under section 50 is concerned, we find that in this case neither there was a transfer of any asset from the block nor did the block has ceased to exist. It is not a case of capital gains by way of transfer but it is only a case of capital receipt as observed above as an incentive by the state government to promote the generation of electricity through non conventional sources.
In view of the above, in our view, the subsidy received by the assessee is not taxable under section 41(1) neither under section 43(1) and nor under section 50.
Accordingly appeal of the assessee allowed.
contention of the assesse is related to another discussion. Kindly check.