2022 (11) TMI 1367 - AT - Income Tax

Assessee's Appeal Partly Allowed, Tribunal Emphasizes Transfer Pricing Filters & Adjustments

The appeal filed by the assessee was partly allowed for statistical purposes. The Tribunal remitted several issues back to the Assessing Officer/Transfer ... TP Adjustment - comparable selection - A.R. submitted regarding exclusion of comparable companies as they fail the higher threshold limit of Rs. 200 crores for turnover filter - HELD THAT:- The turnover of Infosys Ltd. is at Rs.59,289 crores as against the turnover of the assessee at Rs.75.43 crores. In our opinion, this issue is covered by the judgement of the coordinate bench in the case of Mindteck India Ltd. [2022 (6) TMI 1334 - ITAT BANGALORE] Tribunal consistently holding that when the turnover exceeding Rs.200 crores is to be excluded from the list of comparable to determine the ALP of International transaction with the A.E. In view of the above, we direct the AO/TPO to exclude Infosys Ltd. from the list of comparables. Great Software Laboratory Pvt. Ltd. - As the functionality details was not considered by the AO/TPO and also by Ld. DRP and hence, the issue is remitted to the file of AO/TPO for reconsideration. Accordingly, the issue is remitted back to the file of AO/TPO to examine the issue in the light of above details of functions furnished by the assessee before us. Mind Tree Ltd. - A.R. furnished the details of functionality before us. These facts are not at all commented by the AO/TPO or by Ld. DRP. Hence, the issue is remitted back to the file of AO/TPO for fresh consideration in the light of above functionality of Mind Tree Ltd. company. Persistent Systems Ltd. - This issue is infructuous in view of our findings on the basis of turnover filter of this company. Aptus Software Labs Pvt. Ltd. - Main contention of assessee is that the employee cost filter applied by AO/TPO is 20%, whereas in this case, employee cost filter is less than 20%. Hence, it should be excluded - In our opinion, these facts are to be examined by AO/TPO in the relevant assessment year 2016-17. Accordingly, the issue is remitted back o the file of AO/TPO only in respect of assessment year 2016-17. Consilient Technologies Pvt. Ltd. - As it is appropriate to remit this issue to the file of AO/TPO to consider it afresh in the light of submissions made by the Ld. A.R. with regard to functionality of the comparable. This issue is accordingly remitted to the file of AO/TPO for fresh consideration. L&T Infotech Ltd. to be rejected on turnover filter. Sagarsoft (India) Limited satisfies all the contents related to the functionality test. Exclusion of Inteq BPO from the final set of comparable companies for ITES segment - We are of the opinion that this comparable came for consideration in the case of Vee Technologies Pvt. Ltd .[2022 (3) TMI 1533 - ITAT BANGALORE] wherein held that this company is involved in business process management services and cannot be considered as a comparable to a company providing ITeS such as the assessee. Being so, we direct the AO/TPO to exclude Inteq BPO Services Pvt. Ltd. from the list of comparables. Directed accordingly. ISN Global Solutions Pvt. Ltd. - In this case, the AO/TPO has applied filter that minimum 75% of operating revenue should be from exports. However, this comparable fails this test. Hence, in our opinion, the AO/TPO is justified excluding this company ISN Global Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (ISN Global) from the list of comparables in ITeS segment. Accordingly, rejection of this company in the list of comparables by the Ld. AO/TPO is justified. R Systems International Ltd. - This company has not included in the search matrix conducted by the AO/TPO. Being so, at this stage, it is not possible to include this company in the list of comparables.Hence, it is rejected for exclusion from the list of comparables. Issues Involved:1. General Grounds2. Segmental Profit and Loss Accounts3. Software Development (IT) Segment4. Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) Segment5. Other Grounds6. Additional GroundsDetailed Analysis:1. General Grounds:- The assessee argued that the orders passed by the lower income tax authorities were prejudicial and should be quashed. It was contended that the Assessing Officer (AO) erred in referring the matter to the Transfer Pricing Officer (TPO) without proper justification. The Tribunal noted these arguments but did not require adjudication on these general grounds.2. Segmental Profit and Loss Accounts:- The assessee did not press these grounds during the hearing, leading to their dismissal.3. Software Development (IT) Segment:- Turnover Filter: The Tribunal excluded companies with turnovers exceeding INR 200 crores, such as Infosys Ltd., Larsen & Toubro Infotech Ltd., Persistent Systems Ltd., Thirdware Solution Ltd., Cybage Software Pvt Ltd., Nihilent Ltd., R Systems International Ltd., and Tech Mahindra Limited, based on the precedent that high turnover companies are not comparable to the assessee.- Functional Comparability: The Tribunal remitted the issue of comparability for Great Software Laboratory Pvt. Ltd., Mindtree Ltd., Aptus Software Labs Pvt. Ltd., and Consilient Technologies Pvt. Ltd. back to the AO/TPO for fresh consideration based on functionality differences.- Persistent Systems Ltd.: This issue was deemed infructuous due to the turnover filter decision.- Employee Cost Filter: The Tribunal remitted the issue concerning Aptus Software Labs Pvt. Ltd. back to the AO/TPO to verify the employee cost filter for the relevant assessment year.4. Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) Segment:- Turnover Filter: Companies like Microland Ltd., Tech Mahindra Business Services Ltd., Infosys BPM Ltd., and SPI Technologies India Pvt Ltd. were excluded due to turnovers exceeding INR 200 crores. Ultramine & Pigment Ltd. was retained as its turnover was within the limit.- Functional Comparability: The Tribunal remitted the issue of comparability for Datamatics Business Solutions Ltd. and Ultramine & Pigment Ltd. back to the AO/TPO for fresh consideration. Inteq BPO Services Pvt. Ltd. was excluded based on the Tribunal's decision in a similar case.- Export Revenue Filter: The Tribunal upheld the exclusion of ISN Global Solutions Pvt. Ltd. as it failed the export revenue filter.- Persistent Losses Filter: The Tribunal did not press the ground concerning the modification of the persistent losses filter.5. Other Grounds:- Working Capital Adjustment: The Tribunal directed the AO/TPO to calculate and grant the working capital adjustment based on the precedent set in Huawei Technologies India Pvt. Ltd.- Consequential Relief: The ground concerning consequential relief of interest under sections 234B & 234C was dismissed as it was consequential in nature.6. Additional Grounds:- Inclusion of Comparables: The Tribunal remitted the issue of including ACE Software Exports Ltd., Issumation Technologies Pvt. Ltd., and Inteq Software Private Ltd. back to the AO/TPO for fresh consideration.- Exclusion of Comparables: The Tribunal remitted the issue of excluding Infobeans Technologies Ltd., OFS Technologies Ltd., and Cygnet Infotech Pvt. Ltd. back to the AO/TPO for fresh consideration.Conclusion:The appeal filed by the assessee was partly allowed for statistical purposes, with several issues remitted back to the AO/TPO for fresh consideration and directions provided for specific adjustments. The Tribunal's decision emphasized the need for comparability and adherence to established filters in transfer pricing assessments.