1993 (6) TMI 46 - HC - Income Tax

Stamp duty & registration fees on lease deeds are revenue expenditure, says High Court

The High Court ruled in favor of the assessee, determining that the expenditure incurred for stamp duty and registration fees in relation to lease deeds ... Assessment Proceedings, Failure To Disclose Material Facts, Reassessment Proceedings Issues: The issue involved in this case is whether the sum expended by the assessee for stamp duty and other registration expenses in respect of lease deeds executed by the Government of Kerala is an allowable revenue expenditure.Judgment Details:The Kerala Agricultural Income-tax Appellate Tribunal initially disallowed the claim for deduction, treating the expenditure as capital in nature. The Appellate Assistant Commissioner, Kottayam, allowed the expenditure as revenue in nature. However, the Appellate Tribunal later upheld the assessing authority's decision, stating that the expenditure was of capital nature as the assessee obtained an enduring benefit from the lease arrangements for rubber plantation. The Revenue appealed the decision.Arguments:The assessee's counsel argued that recent Supreme Court decisions emphasized that even if an expenditure provides an enduring benefit, it may still be considered revenue expenditure if it facilitates trading operations or enhances business efficiency. The counsel cited various High Court decisions supporting the treatment of such expenses as revenue expenditure. On the other hand, the Revenue's counsel contended that since the lease obtained was for a period of ten years or more, the expenses should be considered capital expenditure due to the enduring nature of the benefit.Court's Analysis:The High Court analyzed recent Supreme Court decisions which emphasized a pragmatic approach to determine if an expenditure is revenue or capital in nature. The court highlighted that the test of 'enduring benefit' should not be applied blindly and must be viewed in the context of business necessity. The court referred to decisions of the Bombay and Madras High Courts, which supported treating such expenses as revenue expenditure, contrary to the decisions of the Allahabad, Calcutta, and Karnataka High Courts.Conclusion:The High Court held that the Appellate Tribunal had overemphasized the enduring benefit acquired by the assessee and ruled that the expenditure incurred for stamp duty and registration fees should be treated as revenue expenditure. The court favored the assessee, answering the question in the negative against the Revenue. The judgment was to be forwarded to the Agricultural Income-tax Appellate Tribunal, Additional Bench, Kottayam.