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The first comparable taken by the TPO is CRISL Research and Information Services Ltd. The said comparable is common as the assessee has also selected the same in its original TP study. Though CRISL Ltd is basically a rating agency; however, since the segment results relating to the research activity has been taken into consideration; therefore, the other activity being rating agency does not effect the comparability solely because of this fact. The ld Sr counsel for the assessee has pointed out that about 60% of the income of the CRISL Ltd is from the related party transactions. This is a material fact that has to be considered for the purpose of selecting the uncontrolled comparable transactions as per sec. 92C(1) r.w.r 10B(1)(e) for the purpose of determination of ALP.
The language of this proviso to section 92C(2) makes it clear that selecting a price within the range of +-5% of such arithmetic mean if more than one price is determined by the most appropriate method. Therefore, the ALP shall be taken to be in the range of ± 5% of arithmetic mean of more than one price. Since in this case, one comparable is considered as ALP; therefore, the benefit under the said proviso would not be available.
The issue involved in the present case is relating to the determination of arm’s length price in relation to the international transactions involving payment of royalty by the assessee company to its associated enterprises. As provided in section 92C of the Act, such arms’s length price is to be determined by one of the methods prescribed, which is found to be the most appropriate method having regard to the nature of transaction or class of transaction or class of associated persons or functions performed by such persons or such other relevant factors as may be prescribed. The manner in which such most appropriate method is to be applied for determination of arm’s length price is prescribed in Rule 10B of Income-tax Rules, 1962.
Moreover, in the subsequent year i.e 2008-09 & 2009-10 the cup method as adopted by the assessee for benchmarking its international transactions has not been disputed by the revenue. Further, when the relevant data are now available, as stated by the ld Sr counsel, then it is appropriate to determine the ALP by adopting the same method as it was accepted in the subsequent year.
The fact of approval of the payment by the RBI has been succinctly recorded by the TPO in his order as well. He still chose to propose adjustment in respect of full payment. In our considered opinion, when the rate of royalty payment and fee for drawings etc. has been approved or deemed to have been approved by the RBI, then such payment has to be considered at ALP.
In our opinion, the assessee himself having taken these two non-related parties as comparables in its TP study, it cannot now turn back and say that one of the parties is not comparable without giving any cogent or convincing reason. The only reason given by the assessee in this regard is that the use of technology availed from Dupont has restricted application. It is, however, observed from the relevant figures that the domestic sales generated by the assessee using the technology of Dupont is quite comparable with the domestic sales generated from the use of technology of its AE Kansai Japan. There is thus no merit in the stand of the assessee that Depont is not a comparable case with Kansai Japan.
We further note that in this case the loan agreement was for fixed rate of interest. The LIBOR has been accepted in decision referred above as the most suitable bench mark for judging Arms’ length price in case for foreign currency loan. Hence, adjustment as made by the TPO is not warranted.
Insofar as question (b) is concerned, it becomes academic as if the eight comparables selected by the TPO are found not to be functionally comparable then the difference between the operating margin of the respondent at 15.05% as against the 18.97% of comparable companies being within the range of +/ – 5% the amounts received by the respondent – assessee is within the statutory limits. Therefore, we see no reason to entertain question (b).
Government Approves Issue of Circulars on Identification of Contract R&D Service Provider With Insignificant Risk and on Application of Profit Split Method Based on Recommendation of the Rangachary Committee; These Circulars Will Help in Providing Certainty to the Taxpayer on Issues Relating to Transfer Pricing of Development Centre
As regards the data used by the TPO while determining the ALP, we find that it is to be as per the provisions of section 92D of the Act that every person who has entered into international transactions is required to maintain information and documentation thereof. Rule 10B(4) provides that the information and documents as specified under Rule 10B(1) and 10B(2) should as far as possible be contemporaneous and should exist latest by the “specified date” referred to in section 92F(4) which has the same meaning as ‘due date’ in Explanation 2 to section 139(1) of the Act. In the assessee’s case, this would be ’30th day of September’ as it is a company.
