Case Law Details
Lambda Therapeutic Research Ltd. Vs DCIT (ITAT Ahmedabad)
We find that the assessee has not demonstrated any benefit derived from its associated enterprises namely Lambda USA whereas it has advanced interest free loan of EURO 49,999/-. Thus, the question arises whether there is a need to make any adjustment on account of notional interest under the provisions of section 92C of the Act. In this regard we note that admittedly there was no benefit accrued to the assessee in the year under consideration but considering the interrelated activities carried out by the assessee along with associate enterprises, in our considered view it is not necessary that the benefit will arise in the year in which such loans and advances were provided without interest. A drug normally takes 8 to 10 years’ time for its development. Furthermore, this associated enterprise was set up for the activities which are directly connected with the assessee as discussed/elaborated in the preceding paragraph. In our view, the generation of the benefit in terms of money in the year under consideration only cannot be a criteria for making any adjustment under the transfer pricing provisions in the given facts and circumstances. Such income may arise in subsequent years.
It is also important to note that the assessee has given advances to Lambda Therapeutic Research Z.O.O. Poland which have been converted into equity. Thus, what is inferred is this that the loans and advances were given primarily as the investment in equity. In such cases there cannot be any adjustment on account of interest free loans/advances.
It is also significant to note that the Ld. CIT-A in his order has given a finding that there was no benefit derived by the assessee with respect to the amount of interest free loans and advances given to UK AE. However, on perusal of the details submitted by the assessee, we note that there was the benefit derived by the assessee from such associated enterprises which has been elaborated somewhere in the preceding paragraph. Thus, such finding of the Ld. CIT-A is factually incorrect. At the time of hearing the Ld. DR has also not controverted the fact of benefit derived by the assessee.
In view of the above and after considering the facts in totality, we hold that no adjustment under the transfer pricing provisions is required to be made with respect to the interest free loans and advances by the assessee to its associated enterprises in the given facts and circumstances.
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