In an earlier post on this blog, Mr. Jayant Thakur had considered certain decisions of the Income Tax
Appellate Tribunal (notably, Chemosyn v.
ACIT) where the ITAT had held that “…
premium paid by the
company on buyback of shares of a warring shareholder group is deductible as
business expenditure in the hands
of the company…” It was
pointed out in that post that the Tribunal had followed its own earlier
decision in the case of Echjay Industries. It was further argued in that
post:
Appellate Tribunal (notably, Chemosyn v.
ACIT) where the ITAT had held that “…
premium paid by the
company on buyback of shares of a warring shareholder group is deductible as
business expenditure in the hands
of the company…” It was
pointed out in that post that the Tribunal had followed its own earlier
decision in the case of Echjay Industries. It was further argued in that
post:
“… when the Company buys back shares, it
is generally returning the value of the shares in the form of face value as
originally paid, accumulated reserves and value of assets like goodwill, etc.
that is not recognized in the books. Such return can hardly be a business
expenditure… The accounting treatment under accounting principles and also
under Section 77A (and related provisions) of the Companies Act, 1956, clearly
supports this. The face value of shares bought back is reduced from the paid up
capital and the surplus (premium) is debited to reserves such as securities
premium account or other reserves (other than revaluation reserve). These
provisions generally do not permit debiting the amount paid to profit and loss
account for the year… There is, however, merit in these decisions for a partial
amount, to the extent the facts support them. There may be cases where
shareholders may create such a nuisance value that it may seriously impact the
working of the company (as what has happened in the above cited cases). The
Company may end up buying back shares at a price higher than their fair value,
just to get such hurdles out of the way so the Company can focus on its
business. The excess may be deductible because it represents purely the amount
paid on account of business expediency. But the fair value paid should, it is
submitted, still not be deductible…”
is generally returning the value of the shares in the form of face value as
originally paid, accumulated reserves and value of assets like goodwill, etc.
that is not recognized in the books. Such return can hardly be a business
expenditure… The accounting treatment under accounting principles and also
under Section 77A (and related provisions) of the Companies Act, 1956, clearly
supports this. The face value of shares bought back is reduced from the paid up
capital and the surplus (premium) is debited to reserves such as securities
premium account or other reserves (other than revaluation reserve). These
provisions generally do not permit debiting the amount paid to profit and loss
account for the year… There is, however, merit in these decisions for a partial
amount, to the extent the facts support them. There may be cases where
shareholders may create such a nuisance value that it may seriously impact the
working of the company (as what has happened in the above cited cases). The
Company may end up buying back shares at a price higher than their fair value,
just to get such hurdles out of the way so the Company can focus on its
business. The excess may be deductible because it represents purely the amount
paid on account of business expediency. But the fair value paid should, it is
submitted, still not be deductible…”
An appeal against the ITAT
decision in Echjay was dismissed by the Bombay High Court. That appeal
was not dismissed on the merits, though. The appeal
was dismissed on account of the failure of the Revenue to remove the Registry’s
‘office objections’ – essentially, a dismissal for default. In two recent
decisions, though, the Bombay High Court confirmed the decisions of the ITAT on
the merits. The first was the appeal in the case of Chemosyn itself (CITv. Chemosyn, (2015) 371 ITR 427 (Bom]. The Court held:
decision in Echjay was dismissed by the Bombay High Court. That appeal
was not dismissed on the merits, though. The appeal
was dismissed on account of the failure of the Revenue to remove the Registry’s
‘office objections’ – essentially, a dismissal for default. In two recent
decisions, though, the Bombay High Court confirmed the decisions of the ITAT on
the merits. The first was the appeal in the case of Chemosyn itself (CITv. Chemosyn, (2015) 371 ITR 427 (Bom]. The Court held:
“An appeal from the order of the
Tribunal in Echjay Industries Ltd. (supra) was also dismissed by this Court…
We
find that the impugned order records a finding of fact that the amounts which
were paid by the respondent assessee for the purpose of purchase of its shares,
to its shareholder for subsequent cancellation was an expenditure incurred only
to enable smooth running of the business. Thus, the expenditure was incurred
for carrying on its business smoothly and therefore, was a deductible
expenditure. Thus, the impugned order of the Tribunal is essentially a finding
of fact…”
Tribunal in Echjay Industries Ltd. (supra) was also dismissed by this Court…
We
find that the impugned order records a finding of fact that the amounts which
were paid by the respondent assessee for the purpose of purchase of its shares,
to its shareholder for subsequent cancellation was an expenditure incurred only
to enable smooth running of the business. Thus, the expenditure was incurred
for carrying on its business smoothly and therefore, was a deductible
expenditure. Thus, the impugned order of the Tribunal is essentially a finding
of fact…”
In CIT v. Bramha Bazar Hotels, (2015) 235
Taxman 195 (Bom), the question was reconsidered. The Department pointed out
that the appeal in Echjay was not
dismissed on merits. The Department also relied on the decision of the Supreme
Court in Brooke Bond v. CIT, 225 ITR
798 (SC), to argue that expenditures in connection with share capital must
necessarily be treated as capital expenditures. The Court rejected these
arguments, followed its own order in Chemosyn,
and held:
Taxman 195 (Bom), the question was reconsidered. The Department pointed out
that the appeal in Echjay was not
dismissed on merits. The Department also relied on the decision of the Supreme
Court in Brooke Bond v. CIT, 225 ITR
798 (SC), to argue that expenditures in connection with share capital must
necessarily be treated as capital expenditures. The Court rejected these
arguments, followed its own order in Chemosyn,
and held:
“… expenditure so incurred by the
Respondent-Assessee for purchase of shares and subsequent cancellation thereof
was only for the purpose of enabling smooth running of its business… the
aforesaid finding is essentially a finding of fact and the Revenue was not able
to show that the finding is in any manner perverse and/or arbitrary… The
decision of the Apex Court in the case of Brooke Bond relied upon by the Revenue deals with the
situation where the assessee therein issued shares to the general public with a
view to increase its share capital. The expenditure incurred by Brooke Bond to
increase its capital, was claimed to be Revenue in nature and, therefore,
deductable. The Apex Court upheld the order of the High Court and held that the
amount spent to increase the share capital is not revenue but capital
expenditure. Thus, it is to be disallowed. The aforesaid decision was rendered
in a completely different fact situation from the one here. In this case, there
is no increase of share capital but the Company has been forced to pay off one
of the warring group of share holders by buying its shares for its own
well-being and carrying on business. It was the expenditure which was forced
upon the Respondent-Assessee so as to carry on its business and not an
expenditure of choice. Therefore, the Supreme Court in Brooke Bond India Ltd.
(supra) is inapplicable to the present facts…”
Respondent-Assessee for purchase of shares and subsequent cancellation thereof
was only for the purpose of enabling smooth running of its business… the
aforesaid finding is essentially a finding of fact and the Revenue was not able
to show that the finding is in any manner perverse and/or arbitrary… The
decision of the Apex Court in the case of Brooke Bond relied upon by the Revenue deals with the
situation where the assessee therein issued shares to the general public with a
view to increase its share capital. The expenditure incurred by Brooke Bond to
increase its capital, was claimed to be Revenue in nature and, therefore,
deductable. The Apex Court upheld the order of the High Court and held that the
amount spent to increase the share capital is not revenue but capital
expenditure. Thus, it is to be disallowed. The aforesaid decision was rendered
in a completely different fact situation from the one here. In this case, there
is no increase of share capital but the Company has been forced to pay off one
of the warring group of share holders by buying its shares for its own
well-being and carrying on business. It was the expenditure which was forced
upon the Respondent-Assessee so as to carry on its business and not an
expenditure of choice. Therefore, the Supreme Court in Brooke Bond India Ltd.
(supra) is inapplicable to the present facts…”
In Bramha Bazar, the question of law sought
to be raised by the Revenue before the High Court was in respect of the premium paid vis-a-vis the face value of the shares. The ITAT had recorded that “the extra amount paid over and above the face value… was claimed as a revenue business expenditure…” In Chemosyn, the question was in relation to ‘amount spent in acquiring the shareholding’: presumably the entire
amount, and not just the excess over market value. Therefore, the position appears to be that the entire amount representing the excess over the face value will be available as deduction if there is evidence that the payment was made for smooth running of the business.
to be raised by the Revenue before the High Court was in respect of the premium paid vis-a-vis the face value of the shares. The ITAT had recorded that “the extra amount paid over and above the face value… was claimed as a revenue business expenditure…” In Chemosyn, the question was in relation to ‘amount spent in acquiring the shareholding’: presumably the entire
amount, and not just the excess over market value. Therefore, the position appears to be that the entire amount representing the excess over the face value will be available as deduction if there is evidence that the payment was made for smooth running of the business.
[Disclaimer: I appeared for the taxpayer to
oppose the appeal before the High Court in Bramha Bazar. My
views cannot be regarded as independent. The issue is, however, of some
significance; and I would welcome any comments on the correctness or otherwise
of the stand taken.]
oppose the appeal before the High Court in Bramha Bazar. My
views cannot be regarded as independent. The issue is, however, of some
significance; and I would welcome any comments on the correctness or otherwise
of the stand taken.]