2016 (6) TMI 1320 - AT - Income Tax

Exclusion of Service Tax and VAT from Gross Receipts under Section 44BB

Helix Energy Solutions Group INC C/o Nangia & Company Versus Addl. DIT (IT) Range-3, Mumbai

The Tribunal allowed both appeals filed by the assessee for AY 2009-10 and AY 2010-11, holding that neither service tax nor VAT should be included in the ... Determining income under section 44BB - Receipts on account of service tax were includible in the gross receipts for the purpose of determining income under section 44BB - Receipts on account of VAT were includible in the gross receipts for the purpose of determining income under section 44BB - Held that:- As decided in DIT vs. Mitchell Drilling International Pvt [2015 (10) TMI 259 - DELHI HIGH COURT] for the purpose of computing the presumptive income for the purpose of section 44BB of the Act, the Service Tax collected by the assessee on the amount paid to it for rendering services is not to be included in the gross receipt in terms of sub section 44BB(2) and 44BB(1) and concluded that Service Tax is not an amount paid or payable or received or deemed to be received by the assessee for the services rendered by it and the assessee is only collecting the service tax for passing it to be Government, the Hon’ble Delhi High Court also considered the Circular No. 4/2008 dated 28.04.2008 of the CBDT which clarifies that the service tax paid by the tenant does not pertake a nature of the income of the landlord and that landlord only collecting tax for government for collecting income tax. In Oceaneering International GMBH (2015 (11) TMI 1546 - ITAT MUMBAI), the Co-ordinate Bench of this Tribunal while considering the issue, whether service tax collected by the assessee-company does not have any element of income and cannot be form part of the gross receipt for the purpose of computing the presumptive income of the assessee u/s. 44BB of the Act and after considering the almost identical fact answered the issue in favour of the assessee, Issues Involved1. Inclusion of Service Tax in Gross Receipts for Determining Income Under Section 44BB of the Income-Tax Act, 1961.2. Inclusion of VAT in Gross Receipts for Determining Income Under Section 44BB of the Income-Tax Act, 1961.Issue-Wise Detailed Analysis1. Inclusion of Service Tax in Gross Receipts for Determining Income Under Section 44BB of the Income-Tax Act, 1961Facts and Arguments:- The assessee, with its registered office in Bermuda and project office in Mumbai, engaged in providing services related to the exploration, exploitation, and production of mineral oil in India, filed its return of income for AY 2009-10.- The Assessing Officer (AO) included receipts of Rs. 22,13,77,861 on account of service tax in the gross receipts for determining income under Section 44BB.- The assessee argued that this inclusion was incorrect, citing the Delhi High Court's decision in DIT vs. Mitchell Drilling International Pvt. Ltd., which held that service tax collected by the assessee does not form part of the gross receipts for computing presumptive income under Section 44BB.Tribunal's Analysis:- The Tribunal referred to the Delhi High Court's interpretation in Mitchell Drilling International Pvt. Ltd., which clarified that Section 44BB introduces the concept of presumptive income and only amounts paid or payable for services provided by the assessee should be included in gross receipts.- The Delhi High Court emphasized that service tax collected by the assessee and passed on to the government does not have any element of income and should not be included in the gross receipts for the purpose of Section 44BB.- The Tribunal also noted that this position is supported by CBDT Circular No. 4/2008, which states that service tax collected does not partake the nature of income of the landlord and is merely collected on behalf of the government.Conclusion:- Based on the above legal precedents and CBDT circulars, the Tribunal concluded that the service tax collected by the assessee should not be included in the gross receipts for computing presumptive income under Section 44BB.- The Tribunal allowed the assessee's appeal on this ground.2. Inclusion of VAT in Gross Receipts for Determining Income Under Section 44BB of the Income-Tax Act, 1961Facts and Arguments:- The AO also included receipts of Rs. 7,645,919 on account of VAT in the gross receipts for determining income under Section 44BB.- The assessee contested this inclusion, arguing that VAT, like service tax, should not be considered part of the gross receipts as it is collected on behalf of the government.Tribunal's Analysis:- The Tribunal considered the principles established in the case of service tax and extended them to VAT.- It was noted that VAT collected by the assessee is also a statutory levy passed on to the government and does not constitute income for the assessee.- The Tribunal referred to the same legal precedents and CBDT circulars that applied to service tax, concluding that VAT, like service tax, should not be included in the gross receipts.Conclusion:- The Tribunal held that VAT collected by the assessee should not be included in the gross receipts for computing presumptive income under Section 44BB.- The Tribunal allowed the assessee's appeal on this ground as well.Final Judgment- The Tribunal allowed both appeals filed by the assessee for AY 2009-10 and AY 2010-11, holding that neither service tax nor VAT should be included in the gross receipts for the purpose of determining income under Section 44BB of the Income-Tax Act, 1961.- The order was pronounced in the open court on June 29, 2016.