TDS Credit eligible in year in which Assessee shows relevant Income despite credit appearing in 26AS of next Year

Mahesh Software Systems Pvt. Ltd. Vs ACIT (ITAT Pune)

The issue under consideration is whether TDS will be granted in the year in which assessee has recorded the corresponding income even if the deposit of TDS is in next financial year?

ITAT states that, the AO has relied on sub-rule (1) of section 37BA for denying the benefit of TDS during the year under consideration. This part of the Rule provides that the credit for TDS shall be given to the person to whom payment has been made or credit has been given on the basis of information relating to TDS furnished by the deductor. What is material for sub-rule (1) is the beneficiary of credit for the TDS, being the person to whom payment has been made, which in the instant case is the assessee. The ld. CIT(A) has, in addition, relied on sub-rule (4) of Rule 37BA, which again provides that the credit for TDS shall be granted on the basis of information relating to deduction of tax at source furnished by the deductor. How, this rule prejudices the claim of the assessee is anybody’s guess. Obviously, the information about the TDS by Ashok Leyland is not denied. Both the sub-rules simply provide for granting of the benefit of TDS. The point of time at which the benefit of TDS is to be given, is governed by sub-rule (3) of Rule 37BA, which unequivocally provides through clause (i) that the ‘credit for tax deducted at source and paid to the Central Government, shall be given for the assessment year for which such income is assessable’. It is, ergo, abundantly clear from the mandate of Rule 37BA(3)(i) that the benefit of TDS is to be given for the assessment year for which the corresponding income is assessable. Since the income of Rs.84.10 lakh, on which tax of Rs.8,41,050/- was deducted at source, is patently assessable in the year under consideration, ITAT hold that the benefit of the TDS should also be allowed in the same year, namely, the year under consideration. ITAT, therefore, overturn the impugned order and direct accordingly. In the result, the appeal is allowed.

FULL TEXT OF THE ITAT JUDGEMENT

This appeal by the assessee arises out of the order passed by the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals)-7, Pune on 12.01.2017 in relation to the assessment year 2011-12.

2. The only issue raised in this appeal is against the denial of credit for tax deducted at source amounting to Rs.8,41,050/-. M/s. Mahesh Software Systems Pvt. Ltd.,

3. Briefly stated, the facts of the case are that the assessee is engaged in the business of providing software services. It claimed credit for TDS amounting to Rs.8,41,050/- which was not appearing in Form No.26AS. On being called upon to explain as to how the benefit of this TDS was claimed, the assessee submitted that it raised invoice on Ashoka Leyland, Chennai, for Rs.84,10,500/- in March, 2011. Since tax of Rs.8,41,010/- on the invoice amount was deposited by Ashoka Leyland in April, 2011, they showed it in the succeeding year. The Assessing Officer (AO) did not accept the contention of the assessee by relying on Rule 37BA(1) of the Income-tax Rules, 1962. The ld. CIT(A) also affirmed the assessment order on this point.

4. We have heard both the sides and gone through the relevant material on record. A copy of the Sale register of the assessee has been placed at pages 46 and 47 of the paper book depicting total sales for the year under consideration at Rs.3,69,53,687.33. This amount of turnover of Rs.3.69 crore includes the invoice dated 28-03-2011 amounting to Rs.80,10,000/- raised on Ashoka Leyland. It is in respect of this amount of invoice Rs.80,10,000 plus other taxes etc. totalling to Rs.84,10,000/-, that Ashoka Leyland deducted tax at source amounting to Rs.8,41,050/-. Thus, it is established that the assessee recorded invoice of Rs.84.10 lakh in its accounts for the year under consideration. It is also equally true that Ashoka Leyland deducted tax at source on such amount to the tune of Rs.8,41,050/- but deposited it with the exchequer in the month of April, 2011. The dispute has arisen because of this only. Whereas the claim of the assessee is that the benefit of TDS should be allowed in the year in which the assessee has recorded the corresponding income and the Revenue is contending that such benefit can be given only in the year of deposit of TDS.

5. Section 199(3) of the Act, which is relevant for our purpose, reads as under:

“The Board may, for the purposes of giving credit in respect of tax deducted or tax paid in terms of the provisions of this Chapter, make such rules as may be necessary, including the rules for the purposes of giving credit to a person other than those referred to in sub-section (1) and sub-section (2) and also the assessment year for which such credit may be given”.

6. The relevant rule is 37BA which is reproduced as under:

“Credit for tax deducted at source for the purposes of section 199.

(1) Credit for tax deducted at source and paid to the Central Government in accordance with the provisions of Chapter XVII, shall be given to the person to whom payment has been made or credit has been given (hereinafter referred to as deductee) on the basis of information relating to deduction of tax furnished by the deductor to the income-tax authority or the person authorised by such authority.

(2) (i) where under any provisions of the Act, the whole or any part of the income on which tax has been deducted at source is assessable in the hands of a person other than the deductee, credit for the whole or any part of the tax deducted at source, as the case may be, shall be given to the other person and not to the deductee:

Provided that the deductee files a declaration with the deductor and the deductor reports the tax deduction in the name of the other person in the information relating to deduction of tax referred to in sub-rule (1).

(ii) The declaration filed by the deductee under clause (i) shall contain the name, address, permanent account number of the person to whom credit is to be given, payment or credit in relation to which credit is to be given and reasons for giving credit to such person.

(ii) The deductor shall issue the certificate for deduction of tax at source in the name of the person in whose name credit is shown in the information relating to deduction of tax referred to in sub-rule (1) and shall keep the declaration in his safe custody.

(3) (i) Credit for tax deducted at source and paid to the Central Government, shall be given for the assessment year for which such income is assessable.

(ii) Where tax has been deducted at source and paid to the Central Government and the income is assessable over a number of years, credit for tax deducted at source shall be allowed across those years in the same proportion in which the income is assessable to tax.

(4) Credit for tax deducted at source and paid to the account of the Central Government shall be granted on the basis of –

(i) the information relating to deduction of tax furnished by the deductor to the income-tax authority or the person authorized by such authority: and

(ii) the information in the return of income in respect of the claim for the credit, subject to verification in accordance with the risk management strategy formulated by the Board from time to time.

7. The AO has relied on sub-rule (1) of section 37BA for denying the benefit of TDS during the year under consideration. This part of the Rule provides that the credit for TDS shall be given to the person to whom payment has been made or credit has been given on the basis of information relating to TDS furnished by the deductor. What is material for sub-rule (1) is the beneficiary of credit for the TDS, being the person to whom payment has been made, which in the instant case is the assessee. The ld. CIT(A) has, in addition, relied on sub-rule (4) of Rule 37BA, which again provides that the credit for TDS shall be granted on the basis of information relating to deduction of tax at source furnished by the deductor. How, this rule prejudices the claim of the assessee is anybody’s guess. Obviously, the information about the TDS by Ashok Leyland is not denied. Both the sub-rules simply provide for granting of the benefit of TDS. The point of time at which the benefit of TDS is to be given, is governed by sub-rule (3) of Rule 37BA, which unequivocally provides through clause (i) that the ‘credit for tax deducted at source and paid to the Central Government, shall be given for the assessment year for which such income is assessable’. It is, ergo, abundantly clear from the mandate of Rule 37BA(3)(i) that the benefit of TDS is to be given for the assessment year for which the corresponding income is assessable. Since the income of Rs.84.10 lakh, on which tax of Rs.8,41,050/- was deducted at source, is patently assessable in the year under consideration, we hold that the benefit of the TDS should also be allowed in the same year, namely, the year under consideration. We, therefore, overturn the impugned order and direct accordingly.

8. In the result, the appeal is allowed.

Order pronounced in the Open Court on 20^th September, 2019.