2022 (9) TMI 601 - AT - Income Tax

Tribunal partially rules in favor of assessee, allowing appeal due to Covid-19 delay. Management Support fees not taxable.

The Tribunal allowed the appeal, partially ruling in favor of the assessee. The delay in filing the appeal due to the Covid-19 pandemic was condoned, and ... Income deemed to accrue or arise in India - Management Support fees received pursuant to an Agreement with Indian entity, for rendering services in the nature of Commercial, Management, Marketing and Administrative - assessee is a non-resident company incorporated in Sweden - as claimed that this amount was not chargeable to tax because of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and Sweden read with the DTAA between India and Portuguese - HELD THAT:- The assessee rendered Managerial Support Services to its Indian entity. It claimed the benefit of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clause contained in Protocol to India-Sweden DTAA, in turn, relying on India-Portuguese DTAA and claimed that the amount was not chargeable to tax. Per contra, the AO followed the orders passed by the DRP for earlier years deciding the issue in favour of the Revenue. It is seen that the subject matter under consideration came up for consideration before the Tribunal for the immediately preceding assessment year 2016-17 [2021 (6) TMI 667 - ITAT PUNE] following its order for earlier years, has held that the amount received by the assessee towards Management Service fees is not chargeable to tax. DR fairly accepted the position. Thus we overturn the impugned order and direct not to include amount in the assessee’s total income. These grounds are allowed. Income received towards Human Resources services and Leadership Seminar and Conference services provided to its Indian entity by treating it as ‘FTS’ - Scope of 'Fees for Included Services” - assessee claimed the amounts as not chargeable because of India-Portuguese DTAA - HELD THAT:- Leadership training receipt has been specifically held to be not chargeable to tax in the light of Article 12(4)(b) of the DTAA between India and Portuguese. However, we find that for the year under consideration there is some overlapping in the receipts from HR services and Leadership Training. Assessee as placed on record certain additional evidence which, inter alia, is required to be examined afresh to precisely determine the nature of HR services, we consider it expedient to set aside the impugned order on the issue of Leadership training and HR services. We order accordingly and remit the matter to the file of the AO for examining if both the receipts are covered under Article 12(4)(b) of the DTAA between India and Portuguese. AO will examine the details of the receipts under both the heads for evaluating if such receipts, other than Leadership training, are covered under Article 12(4)(b) of the DTAA between India and Portuguese for determining their taxability or otherwise. Ground allowed for statistical purposes. Issues:1. Delay in filing the appeal due to Covid-19 pandemic.2. Taxability of Management Support fees under DTAA.3. Taxability of Human Resources services and Leadership Seminar and Conference services under DTAA.Issue 1: Delay in filing the appeal due to Covid-19 pandemicThe appeal was time-barred by 166 days, but the delay was attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic. The assessee relied on judgments by the Hon'ble Supreme Court related to the extension of limitation due to the pandemic. The Tribunal accepted this reason and condoned the delay, admitting the appeal for disposal on merits.Issue 2: Taxability of Management Support fees under DTAAThe assessee, a non-resident company, received Management Support fees from its Indian entity. The AO treated this amount as fees for technical services (FTS) covered under the India-Sweden Treaty and India-Portuguese treaty. However, the Tribunal, following its precedent, held that the amount was not chargeable to tax based on the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clause and overturned the impugned order, directing not to include the amount in the assessee's total income.Issue 3: Taxability of Human Resources services and Leadership Seminar and Conference services under DTAAThe assessee challenged the inclusion of amounts received for HR services and Leadership Seminar and Conference services as FTS under the India-Portuguese DTAA. The Tribunal noted that the receipts were claimed as not chargeable under the DTAA. While Leadership training fees were previously held not chargeable, there was an overlap with HR services. Additional evidence was presented regarding HR services, which was not considered by the authorities. The Tribunal remitted the matter to the AO for re-examination to determine the taxability of both receipts under the DTAA, ensuring the assessee gets a reasonable hearing opportunity.In conclusion, the appeal was partly allowed, with the Tribunal ruling in favor of the assessee regarding the taxability of Management Support fees and remitting the issue of HR services and Leadership Seminar and Conference services back to the AO for further examination.