Employee EPF ESI contributions paid after due date but before return filing not deductible under Section 36(1)(va)

The HC dismissed a writ petition challenging denial of deduction for employee contributions to EPF and ESI paid after due date but before filing return. The court held that Section 43B and Section 36(1)(va) have different scopes and cannot be read together. For employee contributions received by employer from employees, only Section 36(1)(va) read with Section 2(24)(x) applies, not Section 43B which covers employer contributions. The court agreed with Gujarat and Kerala HC decisions distinguishing employee and employer contributions, rejecting interpretations by Karnataka, Punjab & Haryana, and Allahabad HCs that failed to recognize this distinction. The assessing authority's order denying deduction was upheld as legally correct.

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Issues Involved:
1. Maintainability of the writ petition due to the availability of an alternative remedy.
2. Disallowance of the sum paid towards Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees State Insurance (ESI) beyond the due date.
3. Interpretation and applicability of Sections 36(1)(va), 43B, and 2(24)(x) of the Income Tax Act.
4. Relevance and applicability of various judicial precedents and circulars.

Issue-wise Detailed Analysis:

1. Maintainability of the Writ Petition:
The respondent argued that the writ petition is not maintainable because the petitioner has an efficacious and statutory alternative remedy of appeal. The petitioner, however, contended that the issue is covered by various High Court decisions, making the writ petition maintainable despite the alternative remedy.

2. Disallowance of the Sum Paid Towards EPF and ESI Beyond the Due Date:
The core dispute is the disallowance of Rs. 12,25,257/- paid by the petitioner as employees' contribution towards EPF and ESI, which was made beyond the due date stipulated under the relevant enactment. The petitioner argued that since the payment was made before filing the return, it should be allowed as a deduction under the proviso to Section 43B. The respondent countered that the payment pertains to "employees' contribution" and falls under Section 36(1)(va), which requires payment within the due date specified under the relevant legislation.

3. Interpretation and Applicability of Sections 36(1)(va), 43B, and 2(24)(x) of the Income Tax Act:
- Section 2(24)(x): Defines income to include any sum received by the assessee from employees as contributions to any provident fund or superannuation fund.
- Section 36(1)(va): Allows deductions for sums received by the assessee from employees if credited to the employees' account in the relevant fund on or before the due date specified under the relevant Act.
- Section 43B: Pertains to deductions on actual payment basis, specifically for employers' contributions to welfare funds, provided the payment is made before the due date for filing the return of income.

The court noted that Section 43B deals with the employer's contribution, whereas Section 36(1)(va) deals with the employees' contribution. The amendment to Section 43B does not extend to Section 36(1)(va), which remains unamended and mandates payment within the due date specified under the relevant enactment.

4. Relevance and Applicability of Various Judicial Precedents and Circulars:
- Petitioner's Reliance on Judicial Precedents: The petitioner relied on decisions from the Supreme Court and various High Courts (e.g., Alom Extrusion Ltd., Sabari Enterprises, Hemla Embroidery Mills) that allowed deductions for contributions paid before the filing of the return.
- Respondent's Reliance on Judicial Precedents: The respondent cited decisions from the Gujarat and Kerala High Courts (e.g., Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation, Merchem Ltd.) that upheld disallowance for payments made beyond the due date under Section 36(1)(va).
- Circular No. 22 of 2015: Issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, clarifies that the circular does not apply to employees' contributions governed by Section 36(1)(va).

The court found that the decisions relied upon by the petitioner did not consider the specific scope of Section 36(1)(va) and were focused on Section 43B. The court agreed with the Gujarat and Kerala High Courts' interpretation that Section 36(1)(va) and Section 43B operate in different fields and cannot be read together to extend the benefit of the amendment in Section 43B to employees' contributions.

Conclusion:
The court dismissed the writ petition, upholding the disallowance of the sum paid towards EPF and ESI beyond the due date stipulated under the relevant enactment. The court emphasized the distinction between the scope of Section 43B and Section 36(1)(va) and concluded that the benefit of the amendment to Section 43B cannot be extended to employees' contributions governed by Section 36(1)(va). The court also noted that the relevant circular and statutory provisions were not challenged by the petitioner.

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