Validity of Disallowance u/s 43B towards Overdue interest converted into loan, whether to be construed as constructive/deemed payment of interest

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Where assessee had converted overdue interest into loan and claimed the unpaid interest as deduction stating that the said conversion amounted to constructive payment of interest, the same was rightly disallowed by AO because interest can only be allowed when it is actually paid and conversion of unpaid interest into loan does not amount to deemed payment of interest in terms of section 43B.

Assessee-company was suffering huge losses and had become a sick company. In order to revive its business, it borrowed funds but was unable to pay interest timely to the bank. Accordingly, it approached the bank to convert the unpaid interest into loan and claimed deduction for the amount of unpaid interest claiming that conversion of interest into loan amounted to constructive payment of interest. AO rejected the assessee’s claim alleging that interest can only be allowed only when the same is actually paid in terms of section 43B. Held: Explanation 3C to section 43B provides that interest payable can only be allowed to an assessee when the same is actually paid and any interest which has been converted into a loan shall not be deemed to have been actually paid. Therefore, the assessee’s claim under section 43B in relation to deduction of unpaid interest for so-called constructive payment of interest, was not valid.

Decision: Against the assessee.

IN THE ITAT, KOLKATA BENCH

A.T. VARKEY, J.M. & M. BALAGANESH, A.M.

Teesta Agro Industries Ltd. v. DCIT

I.T.A. No. 2024/Kol/2016

15 May, 2018

Appellant by: B.K. Poddar, FCA

Respondent by: Saurabh Kumar, Addl. CIT, Sr. DR

ORDER

M. Balaganesh, A.M.

This appeal by the assessee arises out of the order of the learned Commissioner (Appeals)-4/Circle-12/Kol/14-15, dt. 16-5-2016 against the order passed by the ACIT, Inv. Circle-3(2), Kolkata [ in short the ld. AO] under section 143(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (in short “the Act”) dated 15-3-1996 for the assessment year 1993-94.

2. The first issue to be decided in this appeal is as to whether the learned Commissioner (Appeals) was justified in confirming the disallowance of Rs. 39,29,928 under section 43B of the Act on account of unpaid sales tax in the facts and circumstances of the case.

3. The brief facts of this issue is that the assessee M/s. Teesta Agro Industries Ltd. which was earlier known as Sunderban Fertilisers Ltd. was in receipt of Rs. 39,29,928 under sales tax deferment scheme sanctioned by the Government of West Bengal, meaning thereby the sales tax collected by the assessee need not be remitted to the sales tax authorities for a certain period of time. Accordingly the assessee did not make any remittance of this sales tax collection of Rs. 39,29,928 to the sales tax authorities. The assessee produced copy of the eligibility certificate issued in Form No. XIX by Assistant Commissioner, Commercial Taxes, West Bengal vide Certificate No. 6295 dated 25-6-1993 wherein the assessee dealer was given eligibility for deferment of payment of sales tax for a period of 7 years commencing from 21-5-1992. The learned assessing officer applied the provision of section 43B of the Act and held that since the assessee had not made the remittance of sales tax collected and the assessee had not produced any evidence to show that the unpaid sales tax which has been converted into loan by the state Government, the requirement of CBDT Circular No. 496, dt. 25-9-1987 was not fulfilled by the assessee and accordingly proceeded to make disallowance under section 43B of the Act.

4. The learned Commissioner (Appeals) noted in his order that Commercial Taxes Department, West Bengal had granted deferment of payment of tax to the extent of 90% of gross value of fixed assets or Rs. 35 crores whichever is less and that deferment was for a period of 7 years commencing from 21-5-1992 based on the eligibility certificate issued to the assessee. The learned Commissioner (Appeals) categorically stated that the assessee had furnished evidence in support of the claim that the sales tax liability was converted into loan. The assessee placed reliance on the CBDT Circular No. 496, dt. 25-9-1987. The learned Commissioner (Appeals) however, observed from a perusal of the said circular in para 5 it was clearly stated that the CBDT had decided where amendments were made in the sales tax laws on the lines mentioned in the circular, the statutory liability shall be treated as discharged for the purposes of section 43B of the Act. He observed that the assessee in the instant case has not furnished any evidence to prove that whether any amendment was carried out in sales tax laws and accordingly the circular would not come to the rescue of the assessee and upheld the disallowance made by the assessing officer. Aggrieved assessee is in appeal before us on the following ground :–

“(1) For that in the facts and Circumstances of the case the learned Commissioner (Appeals) was unjustifiable confirm the disallowance a sum of Rs. 39,29,928 under section 43B of Income Tax Act on account of unpaid Sales Tax.”

5. We have heard the rival submissions. We find that the assessee had duly placed on record the relevant provision of West Bengal Sales Tax Act, 1954 vide section 8H “deferment payment of tax” which is reproduced hereunder :–

8H. Deferment of payment of tax.–(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 8 or sub-section (1) of section 10, the tax payable by a registered dealer under this Act according to his returns referred to in section 8 or the tax due from him according to a notice issued under sub-section (1) of section 10 shall, subject to the other provisions of this section or the rules made thereunder, be deferred —

(a) in the case of a newly set up industrial unit in West Bengal from the prescribed date on which such tax becomes payable in a year during the period referred to in sub-section (2) under this Act in respect of notified commodity other than such notified commodity as may be prescribed, manufactured in such unit or goods purchased for use directly in the manufacture of such notified commodity, or

(b) In the case of an existing industrial unit in West Bengal which has been expanded on approval of the State Government, from the prescribed date on which such tax becomes payable in a year during the period referred to in sub-section (2) under this Act in respect of notified commodity, other than such notified commodity as may be prescribed. manufactured in the expanded portion of such unit on utilisation of the added capacity of the plant and machinery installed therein or goods purchased for use directly in the manufacture of such notified commodity,

for such period, not exceeding nine years, as may be prescribed, and different periods may be prescribed for different such new, set up or existing industrial units having regard to the location of such units in different areas as may be prescribed:

Provided that deferment of payment of tax payable by a dealer in respect of sales of notified commodities manufactured by him in any of the prescribed areas may be restricted to sales of such class or classes of notified commodities as may be prescribed:

Provided further that the period prescribed under this sub-section and sub-section (2) may, subject to such restrictions and conditions as may be prescribed, be extended by two years in the cases of such industrial units as may be prescribed, where investment in fixed capital assets exceeds on hundred crore rupees.”

It is not in dispute that the assessee is entitled/eligible for sales tax deferment, meaning thereby, the sales tax collected by the assessee need not be remitted to the sales tax department for a period of 7 years commencing from 21-5-1992 as is evident from the eligibility certificate issued by the Sales Tax Department (supra). This eligibility certificate admittedly has been issued in accordance with the provision of West Bengal Sales Tax Act, 1954. Hence it can be safely concluded that the assessee had sought for this eligibility certificate on sales tax deferral loan based on the provisions of the State Act, i.e., West Bengal Sales Tax Act. Hence the assessee would squarely fall under the benefit provided in the Circular No. 496, dt. 25-9-1987 which reads as under :–

Circular No. 496, dt. 25-9-1987

“Whether amount of sales tax liability converted into loans may be allowed as deduction in assessment for previous year in which such conversion has been permitted by or under Government orders —

1. Several State Governments have introduced sales tax deferred schemes as a part of the incentives offered to entrepreneurs setting up industries in backward areas. Under these schemes, eligible units are permitted to collect sales tax and retain such tax for a prescribed period. After this period, the sales tax is to be paid to the Government either in lump sum or in instalments.

2. Section 43B of the Income Tax Act, 1961, introduced by the Finance Act, 1983, with effect from 1-4-1984 provides, inter alia, that a deduction in respect or any sum payable by the assessee by way of tax or duty under any law for the time being in force shall be allowed from the income of the previous year in which such sum is actually paid irrespective of the previous year in which the liability to pay such sum was incurred. Since the introduction of this provision, the asses sees who collect sales tax, but do not pay the amounts to the Government during the previous year, under the deferral schemes provided by the State Governments are not entitled to the benefit of deduction from their income.

3. Representations have been received from various State Governments and others that cases of deferred sales tax payments should be excluded from the purview of section 43B as the operation of this provision has the effect of diluting the incentive offered by the deferral schemes.

4. The matter has been examined in consultation with the Ministry of Law and the various State Governments. The Ministry of Law has opined that if the State Governments make an amendment in the Sales Tax Act to the effect the sales tax deferred under the scheme shall be treated as actually paid, such a deeming provision will meet the requirements of section 43B.

5. The Government of Maharashtra have by the Bombay Sales Tax (Amendment) Act, 1987, made the amendment accordingly. The Board have decided that where amendments are made in the sales tax laws on these lines, the statutory liability shall be treated to have been discharged for the purposes of section 43B.

Circular No. 496 [F.No. 20J/34/86-/T(A-II)], dt. 25-9-1987

5.1. We also find that CBDT had also come out with Circular No. 674, dt. 29-12-1993 on the impugned issue which reads as under :–

“Whether amount of sales tax liability converted into loans may be allowed as deduction in assessment for previous year in which such conversion has been permitted by or under Government orders —

1. The scope of application of the provisions of section 43B to the sales tax collected but not actually paid under deferral schemes of the State Governments was considered in Board’s Circular No. 496, dt. 25-9-1987[Clarification 2], and it was decided that, where the State Governments make an amendment in the Sales-tax Act to the effect that the sales tax deferred under the scheme shall be treated as actually paid, the statutory liability shall be treated as discharged for the purposes of section 43B.

2. It has since been brought to the notice of the Board that some State Governments, instead of amending the Sales Tax Act have issued Government Orders notifying schemes under which sales tax is deemed to have been actually collected and disbursed as loans. Such Government Orders also provide that entries shall be made in the Government accounts giving effect to deemed collections by crediting the appropriate receipt-heads relating to sales-tax collections and debiting the heads relating to disbursal of loans. It has, therefore, been represented that, as such conversion of the sales tax liability into loans have similar statutory effect as can be achieved through amendments of the Sales-tax Act, the amounts covered under the scheme should be allowed as deduction for the previous year in which the conversion has been permitted by the State Governments.

3. The Board have considered the matter and are of the opinion that such deferral schemes notified by the State Governments through Government Orders meet the requirements of the Boards Circular No. 496, dt. 25-9-1987 in effect though in a different form. Accordingly, the Board have decided that the amount of sales tax liability converted into loans may be allowed as deduction in the assessment for the previous year in which such conversion has been permitted by or under Government Orders.

Circular No. 674, dt. 29-12-1993

In view of the above circulars of the CBDT which are binding on the revenue authorities and in view of the evidence submitted by the assessee that the sales tax had been converted into loan pursuant to provisions of the State Act, i.e., West Bengal Sales Tax Act, the assessee is deemed to have complied with the provisions of section 43B of the Act and accordingly entitled for deduction of the same. Hence we have no hesitation to consider grant of deduction of Rs. 39,29,928 under section 43B of the Act on account of unpaid sales tax. Accordingly ground no.1 raised by the assessee is allowed.

6. The next ground to be decided is as to whether the learned Commissioner (Appeals) was justified in confirming the disallowance of Rs. 1,51,26,826 under section 43B of the Act on account of unpaid interest to IDBI in the facts and circumstances of the case.

7. The brief facts of this issue is that the assessee explained that the company had suffered huge loss and became a sick company under Sick industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985 and stood under the purview of Board of Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR). The company in order to revive its business, borrowed funds on interest and due to adverse business situation, it was unable to pay interest on such loans immediately and accordingly approached the lending institution (IDBI) with a proposal for rescheduling the loan and for converting the unpaid interest into a loan which will be repaid over a period of time. The said proposal was accepted by IDBI. Accordingly the unpaid interest for the year under appeal got converted into loan. The assessee pleaded that since there was no outstanding interest to be paid on the last date of the financial year, it amounted to constructive payment of interest by the assessee thereby making it eligible for deduction under section 43B of the Act. The learned assessing officer observed that interest has been converted into loan and as such the liability to pay the interest had not arisen and accordingly the assessee is not eligible for deduction under section 43B of the Act. This action of the learned assessing officer was upheld by the learned Commissioner (Appeals).

Aggrieved the assessee is in appeal before us on the following ground :–

“(2) For that in the facts & Circumstances of the case unjustified in confirming the disallowance a sum of under section 43B of Income Tax Act being unpaid interest to IDBI Bank.”

8. We have heard the rival submissions. It is not in dispute that the unpaid interest has been converted/rescheduled into fresh loan. The assessee had only made a claim under section 43B of the Act as deduction passed on constructive payment of interest to the bank and constructive receipt thereon from the bank as loan. But we find that the provisions of Explanation 3C to section 43B of the Act are against the assessee which reads as under :–

Explanation 3C.–For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that a deduction of any sum, being interest payable under clause (d) of this section, shall be allowed if such interest has been actually paid and any interest referred to in that clause which has been converted into a loan or borrowing shall not be deemed to have been actually paid.”

From a perusal of the aforesaid provision it is very clear that the unpaid interest which got converted into loan cannot be claimed as deduction under section 43B of the Act. Hence we hold that the learned Commissioner (Appeals) had rightly confirmed the disallowance of unpaid interest in the sum of Rs. 1,51,26,826 payable to IDBI. Accordingly ground no. 2 raised by the assessee is dismissed.

9. During the course of hearing grounds no. 3 and 4 were stated to be not pressed in view of smallness of the amount. Accordingly grounds no. 3 and 4 are dismissed as not pressed.

10. Ground No. 5 raised by the assessee is general in nature and does not require any specific adjudication.

11. In the result the appeal of the assessee is partly allowed.

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