2006 (11) TMI 356 - AT - Income Tax

Tax Tribunal: Enhanced compensation taxable upon receipt, interest on finality. Deductions under sections 54B, 54F.

The Tribunal held that enhanced compensation is taxable in the year of receipt, with interest becoming taxable upon finality of the compensation issue. ... Income Issues Involved:1. Taxability of enhanced compensation and interest received against security.2. Deduction under sections 54B and 54F of the Income-tax Act, 1961.3. Distinction between conditionally and unconditionally received compensation and interest.Issue-wise Detailed Analysis:1. Taxability of Enhanced Compensation and Interest Received Against Security:The primary issue revolves around whether the enhanced compensation and the interest received against security are liable to tax in the year of receipt. The revenue argued that, based on the Delhi Special Bench decision in Dy. CIT v. Padam Prakash (HUF) [2006] 10 SOT 1, enhanced compensation should be taxed on a receipt basis regardless of whether it is received conditionally or unconditionally. The interest on such compensation should be assessed on an accrual basis from year to year unless it is finally determined.The assessee countered by citing the Madras High Court decision in CWT v. T. Girijammal [2006] 284 ITR 482, which held that additional compensation and interest are not taxable until they attain finality from higher court decisions. The Tribunal must consider the hierarchy of judicial decisions, prioritizing the Supreme Court and High Court rulings over Tribunal decisions.The Tribunal confirmed that the Special Bench decision in Padam Prakash (HUF) is binding and that enhanced compensation is taxable in the year of receipt. Interest on enhanced compensation is taxable when the compensation issue attains finality, in line with the Supreme Court decision in CIT v. Hindustan Housing & Land Development Trust Ltd. [1986] 161 ITR 524. Consequently, the revenue's appeal on enhanced compensation was allowed, and the appeal on interest was dismissed.2. Deduction Under Sections 54B and 54F of the Income-tax Act, 1961:The revenue's third ground concerned the CIT(A)'s allowance of deductions under sections 54B and 54F based on the actual receipt of enhanced compensation. The Tribunal noted that the revenue did not make submissions on this ground. Given the decision on the taxability of enhanced compensation, the Tribunal held that deductions under sections 54B and 54F are consequential and disposed of this ground accordingly.3. Distinction Between Conditionally and Unconditionally Received Compensation and Interest:The assessee's cross-objection emphasized that the distinction between conditionally and unconditionally received compensation and interest is immaterial as long as the dispute regarding the amount exists. The Tribunal, following its findings on the revenue's appeal, dismissed the cross-objection, noting that the grounds had become infructuous.Conclusion:The Tribunal concluded that enhanced compensation is taxable in the year of receipt, and interest on such compensation is taxable when the compensation issue attains finality. Deductions under sections 54B and 54F are consequential to this decision. The distinction between conditionally and unconditionally received amounts was deemed immaterial in light of the binding Special Bench decision. The revenue's appeal was partly allowed, and the assessee's cross-objection was dismissed.