2012 (1) TMI 52 - SC - Income Tax

Offshore sale of foreign holding company is bona fide FDI; no tax on capital gains under Section 9(1)(i), Section 195

Vodafone International Holdings BV. Versus Union of India & Anr.

Vodafone International Holdings BV. Versus Union of India & Anr. - 2012 (6) SCC 613, [2012] 341 ITR 1, 2012 (1) SCR 573, JT 2012 (1) SC 410 Issues Involved:1. Taxability of the transfer of shares of a foreign company indirectly holding assets in India.2. Applicability of Section 9 of the Income Tax Act, 1961.3. Interpretation of tax avoidance and tax evasion principles.4. Applicability of Section 195 of the Income Tax Act regarding tax deduction at source.5. Status and implications of the India-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).6. The concept of 'controlling interest' and its tax implications.7. The role of corporate structures and the lifting of the corporate veil in tax matters.Issue-wise Analysis:1. Taxability of the Transfer of Shares of a Foreign Company Indirectly Holding Assets in India:The Supreme Court examined whether the transfer of shares of CGP Investments (Holdings) Ltd. (CGP), a Cayman Islands company, by Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd. (HTIL) to Vodafone International Holdings BV (VIH) could be taxed in India. The Court concluded that the transaction was an offshore transfer between two non-residents, and the subject matter was the transfer of a single share of CGP, which held indirect control over Indian assets. The Court held that this offshore transaction did not attract Indian tax jurisdiction.2. Applicability of Section 9 of the Income Tax Act, 1961:Section 9(1)(i) of the Income Tax Act deems certain incomes to accrue or arise in India. The Court emphasized that for Section 9 to apply, the income must arise from a capital asset situated in India. The Court held that the transfer of CGP shares did not involve the transfer of any capital asset situated in India, as the situs of the CGP share was in the Cayman Islands. Therefore, Section 9(1)(i) was not applicable.3. Interpretation of Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion Principles:The judgment discussed the principles laid down in McDowell & Co. Ltd. v. CTO and Union of India v. Azadi Bachao Andolan. The Court reiterated that legitimate tax planning within the framework of the law is permissible, but colorable devices and dubious methods to avoid tax are not. The Court clarified that the transaction between HTIL and VIH was a bona fide structured FDI investment and not a preordained tax avoidance scheme.4. Applicability of Section 195 of the Income Tax Act Regarding Tax Deduction at Source:Section 195 requires tax to be deducted at source on payments made to non-residents if the income is chargeable to tax in India. The Court held that Section 195 applies only to payments made from a resident to a non-resident and not between two non-residents. Since the transaction between HTIL and VIH was an offshore transaction between two non-residents, Section 195 was not applicable.5. Status and Implications of the India-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA):The Court discussed the India-Mauritius DTAA and the Circular No. 789 issued by the CBDT, which clarified that the Tax Residency Certificate (TRC) issued by Mauritius authorities is sufficient evidence of residency and beneficial ownership. The Court held that in the absence of a Limitation of Benefits (LOB) clause in the DTAA, the benefits of the treaty could not be denied to Mauritius-based companies. However, the TRC does not prevent the Revenue from investigating tax fraud or round-tripping.6. The Concept of 'Controlling Interest' and Its Tax Implications:The Court examined whether controlling interest constitutes a separate capital asset. It held that controlling interest is an incident of holding shares and not an identifiable or distinct capital asset independent of the holding of shares. Therefore, the transfer of CGP shares did not result in the transfer of controlling interest as a separate taxable event.7. The Role of Corporate Structures and the Lifting of the Corporate Veil in Tax Matters:The judgment emphasized that corporate structures created for genuine business purposes should be respected. The Court held that the Revenue must establish that a structure was created or used as a sham or tax avoidant to invoke the principles of lifting the corporate veil or substance over form. In this case, the Court found that the Hutchison structure was a legitimate business arrangement and not a device to avoid tax.Conclusion:The Supreme Court set aside the Bombay High Court's judgment and held that the transfer of CGP shares by HTIL to VIH was not taxable in India. The Court directed the Revenue to return the sum of Rs. 2,500 crores deposited by Vodafone with interest and to return the Bank Guarantee within four weeks.