2015 (7) TMI 978

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....ossly erred in law and on facts in holding that the assessee cooperative bank is not eligible for exemption u/s. 194A(3)(v) of the Act from TDS on interest paid/credited on time deposits to its members. 3. At the very outset, it was brought to the notice of the rival parties that an identical issue has been considered and decided by this very Bench in the case of Belgaum District Central Cooperative Bank Ltd. Vs. ITO, TDS Ward, Belgaum in I.T.A.Nos. 312 to 315/PNJ/2014, wherein the Bench has considered the provisions of the Finance Act, 2015. The relevant portion of which reads as under:- "Section 194A(1) read with section 194A(3)(i) of the Act provide for deduction of tax on interest (other than interest on securities)'over a spec-if....

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....mbers of different categories. This has led to dispute as to whether the co-operative banks, for which the specific pro-visions of tax deduction exist in the form of section 194A(1), section(c)4A(3)(i)(b) and 194A(3)(viia)(b) of The Act can take the benefit of general exemption provided to all co-operative societies from deduction of tax on payment of interest to members. The matter has been carried to judicial forums and in some cases a view has been taken that the provisions of section 194A(3)(viia)(b) of the Act makes no distinction between members and non-members of co-operative banks for the purposes of deduction of tax, hence, the co-operative banks are required to deduct tax on payment of interest on time deposit and cannot avoid the....

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....rom deduction of tax from payment of interest to members by a co-operative society under section 194A(3)(v) of the Act shall not apply to the payment of interest on time deposits by the cooperative banks to its members." 3.1 It was observed that with this amendment, the impugned provision was not applicable during the years under appeal and it is clear that the provisions are applicable w.e.f. 01/06/2015. The Bench has also considered Circular No. 09/2002 of the CBDT and stated that the Board has clarified that the provisions of TDS are not enforceable in respect of interest paid by the Cooperative Society/Bank to its members, but tax has to be deducted from the interest paid to the non-members. 3.2 The Bench has also considered the fact ....