Relevant Extract of the decision of the Tribaunl in

A.C.I.T. 19 (3) , Mumbai Versus M/s Pahilajrai Jaikishin and M/s Pahilajrai Jaikishin Versus D.C.I.T. 19 (3) , Mumbai - 2016 (2) TMI 170 - ITAT MUMBAI

Thus, we hold that interest paid by the assessee firm to the partners on capital contribution is covered as an ‘expenditure’ as envisaged u/s 36(1)(iii) of the Act and the assessee firm has to firstly establish its claim of deduction of interest on capital by satisfying the provisions of Section 36(1)(iii) of the Act and then, Section 40(b) of the Act puts limitation on allowability of interest once it passes the requirements of provisions of Section 36(1)(iii) of the Act and thus , interest paid to partners on capital contribution is not a statutory allowance u/s 40(b) of the Act but is an expenditure u/s 36(1)(iii) of the Act. Thus, if this expenditure is incurred in relation to the income which does not form part of the total income under this Act as envisaged u/s 14A of the Act, the same shall only be allowed as deduction only against the exempt income u/s 14A of the Act or in other words , such interest expenditure on the partner capital shall be disallowed u/s 14A of the Act. Our above discussions will also take care of the contention of the assessee firm that under the presumptive scheme of taxation under Section 44AD and 44AE of the Act, the salary and the interest payable to partner is deducted from the income of the firm computed under 44AD(1) and 44AE(1) of the Act , subject to the conditions and limits specified in clause (b) of section 40 , rather this contention of the assessee support the stand that the salary and interest payable to partners are an ‘expenditure’ covered under Section 30 to 37 of the Act as held by Hon’ble Supreme Court in Munjal Sales Corporation(supra) . Thus, we hold that ‘expenditure’ as envisaged by Section 14A of the Act, duly include interest paid to the partners by the assessee firm if the same is incurred in relation to the income which is not includible in the total income u/s Section 14A of the Act and in that circumstances this interest paid to partners are to be considered as allowable expenditure only against the exempt income u/s 14A of the Act provided other conditions are fulfilled.

Thus, we hold that the interest on partner’s capital to the tune of ₹ 12,66,679/- as computed by the AO u/s 14A of the Act read with Rule 8D of the Income Tax Rules, 1962 is an expenditure , which is allowable as an expenditure being incurred by the assessee firm in relation to an income which does not form part of the total income of the assessee firm under the Act , and shall be allowed as deduction from the dividend income from Mutual Funds earned by the assesse firm as envisaged u/s 14A of the Act and shall go to reduce the exempt income earned by the assessee firm from dividend income from Mutual Funds as computed by the AO after applying provisions of Section 14A of the Act read with Rule 8D of Income Tax Rules, 1962 or in other words we uphold the disallowance of interest on partners capital to the tune of ₹ 12,66,679/- u/s 14A of the Act read with Rule 8D(2)(ii) of Income Tax Rules,1962.. We further hold that these allowance / deduction of expenditure of ₹ 12,66,679/- against the exempt income u/s 14A of the Act or in other disallowance u/s 14A of the Act, will not entitle the partner to claim relief in their individual return of income which shall be chargeable to tax as per the existing and applicable provisions of Section 28(v) of the Act read with Section 2(24)(ve) of the Act after including the afore-said interest income in the hands of the partners.

 

See:- A.C.I.T. 19 (3) , Mumbai Versus M/s Pahilajrai Jaikishin and M/s Pahilajrai Jaikishin Versus D.C.I.T. 19 (3) , Mumbai - 2016 (2) TMI 170 - ITAT MUMBAI
 

Interest on partner capital treated as expenditure, restricted against exempt income under Section 14A and applicable rules. Interest paid to partners on capital contribution is an expenditure under Section 36 and not a statutory allowance under Section 40(b); it must satisfy deduction conditions under Section 36 before Section 40(b) can limit it. If the interest relates to income not includible in total income, it is disallowable or allowable only against that exempt income under the provision addressing expenditures in relation to exempt income and the applicable rules, thereby reducing the exempt income rather than the taxable business income, and the partners must include the interest in their individual returns.