ITAT held that the taxpayer's payments to a non-resident vendor...

ITAT held that the taxpayer's payments to a non-resident vendor were not subject to withholding under s.195 because the receipts constituted business profits under Article 7 of the DTAA, not fees for technical services under s.9(1)(vii)/Article 12. The vendor, a Norway tax resident, had no PE in India and its personnel stayed aggregate 29 days (< three months under Article 5(3)), so the activity did not create a taxable presence. The Tribunal concluded the contract was essentially for sale and repair/replacement of parts (a works contract), not FTS; accordingly the taxpayer was not an assessee-in-default under ss.201(1)/201(1A). Appeal allowed.

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