ITAT BANGALORE : TDS CREDIT IS AVAILABLE IN THE INCOME OF THE REPORTING YEAR, IT CANNOT BE DEFERRED TO OTHER YEARS

TDS CREDIT IS AVAILABLE IN THE INCOME OF THE REPORTING YEAR, IT CANNOT BE DEFERRED TO OTHER YEARS

THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL BANGALORE

DCIT

Vs

Cicon Engineers Private Limited

Appeal Number: ITA No. 973/Bang/2023

Date of Judgement : 05.02.2024

Background:

The appeal by the revenue pertains to the allowance of TDS credit in the assessment year 2017-18 by the CIT(A). The dispute primarily revolves around the treatment of TDS amounts in relation to the reporting of income by the assessee

Important Paras

Para 5. We have heard the rival submissions and perused the materials available on record. It is the case of the assessee that when the issue of availability of TDS credit in the appropriate assessment year is examined in the light of Section 199(3) r.w. Rule 37BA(3) of the Income Tax Rules, it would be clear that credit for tax deducted at source and paid to the Central Government, shall be given for the assessment year for which such income is assessable. The assessee contends that the TDS credit is available in the financial year where the corresponding income has been offered by the assessee. A reference was made to the decision of the Co- ordinate Bench in the case of Greatship India Ltd. vs. DCIT in ITA No.5562/Mum/2018 order dated 8th June, 2020 to contend that the TDS credit cannot be postponed to a different assessment year on the basis of deduction carried out by the deductor when the accrued income from such transaction has been reported in the earlier assessment year.

Para 5.1 A combined reading of Section 199(3) r.w. Rule 37BA(3) makes the position of law clear that credit for TDS is available in the year in which the income is reported and as a corollary, should not be deferred to some other assessment year. In the instant case, if the Revenue has allowed the credit in the subsequent assessment year when the TDS is shown to have been credited in the form 26AS, then assessee cannot claim the same in this A.Y. However, as stated on behalf of the assessee, the corresponding income will not be found to be recorded and therefore such direction would belie the letter and spirit of Section 199(3) and Rule 37BA(3) thereto. Thus, on first principles, we are inclined to agree with the stand taken on behalf of the assessee for eligibility of TDS credit in the Assessment Year 2017-18 itself when income has been claimed to have accrued/arisen and included for determination to chargeable income.

Para 5.2 In the same vein, however, we note that no positive finding of the Revenue Authorities below is available to show as to whether tax credit for TDS reflected in form No. 26AS in Assessment Year 2017-18 has been claimed or otherwise in another assessment year. A verification of factual position is required to shun the possibility of double claim. The assessee shall be entitled to credit of TDS corresponding to the income reported in the Assessment Year 2017-18 itself provided;

• the assessee has not claimed any credit of TDS in any other assessment year;
• an undertaking/affidavit is to be placed by the assessee before the Revenue Authorities to lend assurance that such credit claimed in Assessment Year 2017-18 shall not be doubly claimed in any other assessment year in future based on form 26AS or any other On being satisfied, the Assessing Officer shall grant the TDS credit in terms of observations made hereinabove. With these observations, the impugned order of the CIT(A) is set aside and restore back to the file of the Assessing Officer for grant of credit in AY 2017-18 in terms of our observations herein.

Para 5.3 The same view was taken in the case of coordinate bench in the case of Interglobe Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. in ITA No.6580/Del/2019 dated 7.6.2022 for the assessment year 2016-17. In view of this, we direct the AO to give TDS credit in terms of above observation. This ground of revenue’s appeal is partly allowed for statistical purposes.

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