1989 (6) TMI 42 - HC - Income Tax

Unauthorized personal use of employer-provided car not a perquisite if not authorized. Full deduction allowed.

The court held that unauthorized personal use of a motor car provided by the employer for business purposes does not constitute a perquisite in the hands ... Perquisite, Salary, Standard Deduction Issues:1. Whether the unauthorized use of a motor car provided by the employer for business purposes, but used by the employee for personal reasons, constitutes a perquisite in the hands of the employeeRs.2. Whether the standard deduction under section 16(i) of the Income-tax Act can be restricted due to unauthorized use of the motor carRs.3. Whether the Tribunal's decision to delete the addition of the perquisite value and allow full deduction under section 16(i) was justifiedRs.4. Whether the unauthorised use of the motor car by the employee constitutes a perquisite under rule 3(c)(ii) of the Income-tax RulesRs.Analysis:The case involved determining whether the unauthorized personal use of a motor car provided by the employer for business purposes constitutes a perquisite in the hands of the employee. The Tribunal held that if the employer did not authorize personal use, it does not fall under rule 3(c)(ii) of the Income-tax Rules. The court emphasized that any unauthorised advantage taken by the employee without the employer's authority does not amount to a benefit or advantage under section 17(2)(iii). Citing legal precedents, the court clarified that unauthorized benefits do not qualify as perquisites.Regarding the standard deduction under section 16(i), the court explained that the deduction should not be restricted to Rs. 1,000 if the motor car is used wholly and exclusively for business purposes, as certified by the employer. The court highlighted that collusion between the employee and the employer was not found, justifying the full deduction under section 16(i). The court analyzed the provisions of sections 15, 16, and 17 to determine the computation of the employee's salary and perquisites, emphasizing the legal origin of benefits to be taxable as income.The court referred to previous judgments to support its decision, including cases where unauthorized use of company cars did not constitute a perquisite. By applying these principles, the court upheld the Tribunal's decision to delete the addition of the perquisite value and allow full deduction under section 16(i). Ultimately, the court answered all questions in favor of the assessee, directing the Income-tax Officer to allow the full deduction and forwarding the judgment to the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal.This detailed analysis clarifies the legal intricacies surrounding the unauthorized use of company-provided benefits and the computation of deductions under the Income-tax Act, providing a comprehensive overview of the judgment's key findings and implications.