IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
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ITA 532/2013
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THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX -V..... Appellant
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Through Mr. Sanjeev Sabharwal, Sr. Standing
Counsel.
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versus
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M/S NATIONAL FERTILIZERS LIMITED ..... Respondent
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Through Mr. Ved Jain, Advocate.
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CORAM:
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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJIV KHANNA
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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV SACHDEVA
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O R D E R
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26.11.2013
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Revenue by this appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act,
1961 (Act) impugns order dated 26th March, 2013 passed by the Income Tax
Appellate Tribunal in the case of National Fertilizers Limited in respect
of assessment year 2003-04 on the question of charging of interest under
Section 234B and C on the MAT credit under Section 115JAA of the Act.
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The issue is covered against the Revenue and in favour of the
assessee by decision of the Supreme Court in Commissioner of Income Tax
Vs. Tulsyan Nec Ltd. (2011) 330 ITR 226 wherein it has been held as
under:-
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?9.?We have discussed hereinabove the scheme of Section 115-JA(1)
and Section 115-JAA. The entire scheme of Sections 115-JA(1) and 115-JAA
shows that if an assessee is entitled to a tax credit as a consequence of
the assessee making payment of tax under Section 115-JA(1) in the year
one, then, the set-off of such tax credit follows as a matter of course
once the conditions mentioned in Section 115-JAA are fulfilled and the
grant of such credit is not dependent upon determination by the AO save
and except that the ultimate amount of tax credit to be allowed will be
dependent upon the final determination of the total income for the first
assessment year. There is no provision under Section 115-JAA which
postpones the right of the assessee to claim set-off to the determination
of the total income by the AO in the first assessment year.
Entitlement/right to claim set-off is different from the
quantum/quantification of that right. Entitlement of MAT credit is not
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dependent upon any action taken by the Department. However, quantum of tax credit will depend upon the assessment framed by the AO. Thus, the
right to set-off arises as a result of the payment of tax under Section
115-JA(1) although quantification of that right depends upon the ultimate
determination of total income for the first assessment year. Further, an
assessee has a right to take into account the set-off even while
estimating its liability to pay advance tax on the ?current income? in
accordance with the provisions of Chapter XVII(C). Although Section
209(1)(d) does not make any specific provision either before or after the
amendments carried out by the Finance Act, 2006 to the effect that an
assessee is entitled to set off the tax credit that would be available in
terms of Section 115-JAA(1) while computing the quantum of advance tax
that is to be paid, it must follow that an assessee would be entitled to
do so otherwise it results in absurdity viz. that an assessee pays
advance tax on the footing that it is not entitled (when in fact it is so
entitled as discussed above) to the credit and thereafter claims a refund
of such advance tax paid as a consequence of the set-off. Moreover, when
an AO makes an intimation under Section 143(1) he accepts the return
filed by the assessee to which the AO may make an adjustment and
consequently makes a demand or refund. Section 143(1) provides that where
a return is made under Section 139 and if any tax or interest is found
due on the basis of such return after adjustment of any TDS, any advance
tax, any tax paid on self-assessment and any amount paid otherwise by way
of tax or interest, then, without prejudice to provisions of sub-section
(2), an intimation will be sent to the assessee specifying the amount so
payable and such intimation shall be deemed to be a notice of demand
under Section 156 and all the provisions of the Act shall apply thereto.
This section itself makes it clear that whilst the AO determines the tax
payable he has to give credit for all taxes paid either by way of
deduction at source, advance tax, self-assessment tax or tax paid
otherwise which would include or which cannot exclude tax credit under
Section 115-JAA(1).?
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In view of the aforesaid position, the present appeal is dismissed.
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SANJIV KHANNA, J.
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SANJEEV SACHDEVA, J.
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NOVEMBER 26, 2013
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NA
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$ 53
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