TagTaxation

After the Department’s partial victory of sorts in the Vodafone tax battle, recent decisions of various Tribunals holding that liaison offices are generally not subject to taxation come as much needed relief for MNCs. This, however, is subject to a few qualifications. As the decision of the AAR in Ikea Trading v. Director of Income Tax, [2009] 308 ITR 422 illustrates, an MNC can avail of this...

An earlier post had discussed a decision of a Special Bench of the Mumbai Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) in Daga Capital [26 SOT 603], highlighting its far-reaching implications on expenditures incurred ‘in relation to’ the earning of tax-free income under the Income Tax Act (Act). The Special Bench, following the Supreme Court decision in Doypack Systems [(1988) 2 SCC 299], held that the...

According to a report in the Economic Times, the Supreme Court has refused to admit Vodafone’s SLP against the order of the Bombay High Court in the Vodafone tax matter. The Court has asked Vodafone to respond to the show cause notice issued by the Revenue. It now appears that the battle will reach the Supreme Court – if at all – only after a long time. The judgment of the Bombay High Court has...

A recent decision of the Bombay High Court in Clifford Chance v. DCIT revisits interesting legal issues connected to the taxation of non-residents under Section 9 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Section 9(1) deals with “income deemed to accrue or arise in India”. The relevant part of the Section read – prior to 2007 – as follows: Section 9(1). The following incomes shall be deemed to accrue or arise...

An earlier post mentioned that the decision of the Bombay High Court in the Vodafone case had gone against the petitioners, i.e. Vodafone. However, the text of the judgment which was not available as on the date of that post has become available since, and throws up some interesting issues for discussion. The issues before the Court were (a) the constitutionality of the certain amendments...

The much-awaited judgment of the Bombay High Court in the tax case involving Vodafone has now been delivered. Newspaper reports indicate that the court has decided against Vodafone, although the judgment itself is yet to be available. The Financial Times reports: The Mumbai High Court on Wednesday dismissed a challenge by Vodafone against a $2bn tax case in a blow to the UK group and a potential...

In a case decided less than a month back, a special (3 member) bench of the Bombay ITAT considered and decided a number of tax issues arising with respect to entities dealing in shares and securities. Given the considerable attention devoted on late to financial institutions and mutual funds, this decision is one of enormous significance. The Bench considered three appeals together, one by the...

An earlier post here had looked at the interrelation between the ratios of Azadi Bachao Andolan and McDowell on the issue of tax evasion, and concluded that the stricture against tax evasion laid down in McDowell hadn’t been completely laid to rest by Azadi, and that there still was scope for challenging a proposed transaction as being motivated purely by tax avoidance. A recent decision of the...

The CBDT has notified that if a DTAA provides that the income of a resident “may be taxed” in the other country, such income will be considered to be part of the total income of the assessee (CBDT Notification No. 91/2008). The notification is available here. The implication is that such income will be part of total income, although relief can be claimed under the applicable...