2015 (7) TMI 560 - AT - Income Tax

Tribunal grants appellant's appeals, rejects Revenue's claims. Disallowed expenses treated as revenue, provisions accepted.

M/s Seagram Distilleries Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi and others Versus Jt. Commissioner of Income New Delhi and others

The Tribunal allowed the appellant's appeals, dismissing those filed by the Revenue. The disallowed brand registration expenses were treated as revenue ... Disallowance of brand registration expenses - revenue v/s capital - Held that:- Respectfully following the decision of this Tribunal in the appellant’s own case for the assessment year 2002-03, we allow this ground of appeal filed by the assessee wherein CIT(Appeals) noted that these expenses were for fees required to be paid for as per state excise law for registration of the brand and allowed it by holding the same as revenue in nature. - Decided in favour of assessee. Disallowance of provision for transit breakages - Held that:- The Tribunal confirmed the disallowance only on the ground that there was no basis for making provision for transit breakages as had no benefit of the decision of Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Rotrok Controls (India) Pvt. Ltd. Vs., [2009 (5) TMI 16 - SUPREME COURT OF INDIA]. It is undisputed that the provision was made based on the dispatch of goods to various destinations on the basis of past experience. The crucial facts to be taken into consideration that the provision made on the dispatch of goods is reversed the moment the goods reached the destination only actual breakages are charged to P&L account. It is only in respect of the goods which are under dispatch at the year end the provision was created. This shows that the amount debited to P&L account represents mostly actual breakages and this system of accounting is being followed continuously by the appellant. The provision is made on scientific basis and can be estimated such provision can be allowed as a deduction. Applying this principle to the facts of the case, even in this case the provision was made based on past experience and the actual damages were taken into account immediately after the goods reached the destination which means that the provision was made only in respect of goods which were under dispatch as at the end of the year. This provision was made based on the past experience. Therefore, the provision had been made on some basis. Therefore, based on the ratio laid down in the above cases, the provision is allowable as a deduction.- Decided in favour of assessee. Restricting the allowance of brand expenses to only 1/5th of such expenses - Held that:- From the details, it is clear that the expenditure is incurred only towards sales promotion and on advertisement issued. As decided in case of CIT Vs. Monto Motors [2011 (12) TMI 50 - DELHI HIGH COURT] advertisements and sales promotion are conducted to increase sale and their impact is limited and felt for a short duration. No permanent character or advantage is achieved and is palpable, unless special or specific factors are brought on record. - Expenditure are revenue in nature - Decided in favour of assessee. Addition on account of excessive depreciation claimed - CIT(A) deleted the addition - Held that:- The issue is no longer res integra as the Hon’ble Delhi High Court in the assessee’s own case in the preceding year by holding that the approach of the authorities below is correct having regard to the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of ITR Vs. Mahendra Mills, [2000 (3) TMI 3 - SUPREME Court ] holding that since the depreciation for the assessment year 2001-02 was not actually claimed, there was no justification to reduce the written down value by the amount on hypothetical depreciation. Matter would have been different had the Assessing Officer in the assessment proceedings for the assessment year 2000-01 actually granted depreciation to the assessee, may be forced depreciation without there being a claim by the assessee. Without giving such a benefit to the assessee by allowing depreciation in the previous year, there was no justification in reducing the value on the fixed assets. - Decided in favour of assessee. Issues Involved:1. Disallowance of brand registration expenses.2. Disallowance of provision for transit breakages.3. Limitation of allowance for brand expenses.4. Claim of depreciation on account of reducing WDV.Detailed Analysis:1. Disallowance of Brand Registration Expenses:The appellant claimed expenses incurred for registering brands in various states as revenue expenditure, which were disallowed by the Assessing Officer (AO) as capital expenditure. The CIT(A) allowed only 1/5th of the expenditure for the year under consideration, spreading the balance over four succeeding years. The Tribunal, following its decision in the appellant's own case for AY 2002-03, held that these expenses are recurring and do not result in the creation of an asset or enduring benefit. Therefore, the entire expenditure was allowed as revenue expenditure.2. Disallowance of Provision for Transit Breakages:The appellant made provisions for transit breakages based on past experiences, which were disallowed by the AO as contingent liabilities. The CIT(A) upheld the disallowance, citing a lack of scientific basis. The Tribunal, however, noted that the provision was made based on past experience and actual breakages were accounted for once goods reached their destination. Citing the Supreme Court's decision in Rotrok Controls (India) Pvt. Ltd. and other relevant judgments, the Tribunal held that provisions made on a scientific basis and estimated with reasonable certainty are allowable as deductions. Consequently, the provision for transit breakages was allowed.3. Limitation of Allowance for Brand Expenses:The appellant incurred significant expenses under advertising, sales promotion, and rebates, which the AO treated as capital expenditure due to their enduring benefit. The CIT(A) allowed only 1/5th of the expenses for the year, spreading the balance over subsequent years. The Tribunal, referencing the decision of the Hon'ble Jurisdictional High Court in CIT Vs. Monto Motors, held that advertisement expenses aimed at increasing sales are typically revenue expenditures. Since the expenses did not result in the creation of a new asset and were incurred periodically to maintain customer interest, the Tribunal allowed the entire expenditure as revenue expenditure.4. Claim of Depreciation on Account of Reducing WDV:The AO reduced the Written Down Value (WDV) by notionally allowing depreciation for years where no claim was made. The CIT(A) allowed the appellant's claim for depreciation based on the Tribunal's prior decision in the appellant's case. The Tribunal upheld this decision, citing the Delhi High Court's ruling in the appellant's case, which held that without actual allowance of depreciation in previous years, there was no justification to reduce the WDV by hypothetical depreciation. Thus, the appellant's claim for depreciation was allowed.Separate Judgments:The Tribunal's decision was consolidated and did not include separate judgments by different judges. The appeals filed by the assessee were allowed, and those filed by the Revenue were dismissed. The decision was pronounced in the open court on 10th July, 2015.