1981 (10) TMI 15 - HC - Income Tax

Court clarifies capital computation under Surtax Act; paid-up capital alone not enough. Dividends /= reserves.

The court addressed issues related to the computation of capital under the Companies (Profits) Surtax Act, 1964. It ruled that an increase in paid-up ... Company, Reserves, Surtax Issues:1. Computation of capital under the Companies (Profits) Surtax Act, 1964.2. Interpretation of Rule 3 of the Second Schedule regarding the increase in capital due to the issue of bonus shares.3. Treatment of proposed dividends as reserves for the computation of capital.4. Inclusion of amounts deducted or rebates allowed under Chapter VI-A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, in the total income for assessment purposes.Analysis:1. The judgment addressed the computation of capital under the Companies (Profits) Surtax Act, 1964, focusing on the excess of chargeable profits over statutory deductions. The capital includes paid-up share capital, reserves, debentures, and borrowed moneys. Rule 3 of the Second Schedule deals with the increase in capital during the previous year. The case involved a controversy where the assessee claimed an increase in capital due to the issue of bonus shares, which was rejected by the Income Tax Officer (ITO) but accepted by the Tribunal.2. The interpretation of Rule 3 of the Second Schedule was crucial in determining whether the issue of bonus shares led to a valid increase in capital. The court emphasized that the conversion of reserves into bonus shares does not result in a fresh influx of capital into the company. The judgment cited precedents from the Bombay High Court and the Delhi High Court to support the conclusion that an increase in paid-up capital alone is not sufficient to trigger Rule 3; there must be an actual increase in the computed capital.3. The judgment also addressed the treatment of proposed dividends as reserves for capital computation under the Surtax Act, 1964. Following a precedent set by the court in Southern Roadways v. CIT, it was ruled that proposed dividends should not be considered as reserves for capital computation, favoring the Revenue over the assessee.4. Lastly, the court ruled on whether amounts deducted or rebates allowed under Chapter VI-A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, should be included in the total income for assessment purposes. Citing a previous decision in Addl. CIT v. Bimetal Bearings Ltd., the court ruled against the Revenue, stating that such deductions should not reduce the capital under Rule 4 of the Second Schedule to the Companies (Profits) Surtax Act, 1964.Overall, the judgment provided a detailed analysis of the computation of capital, the implications of bonus share issues, treatment of proposed dividends, and the inclusion of deductions in total income for assessment purposes under the relevant statutes.