Date Of Judgment 14-08-2018 I.t.a v. St.augustin Social Service Society

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU. DATED THIS THE 14 DAY OF AUGUST 2018. PRESENT THE HON'BLE Dr. JUSTICE VINEET KOTHARI AND THE HON’BLE Mrs.JUSTICE S.SUJATHA| 1.T.A.No.710 OF 2015 BETWEEN' 1.THERE COMMISSIONE OF INCOME TAX (EXEMPTIONS)|C R BUILDINGS|QUEENS ROADBANGALOREC R BUILDINGS|QUEENS ROADBANGALORE 2.DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF INCOME TAX (EXEMPTIONS)CIRCLE-17(2)BANGALORECIRCLE-17(2)BANGALORE APPBRLLANT (BY MRSANMATHIE I, ADV.) AND' ST AUGUSTIN SOCIALSERVICK SOCIBTYAUGUSTIN NIVASHOSUR ROAD.BANGALORE -560 095PAN: AAATS5633FE RESPONDENT (BY MR.A SHANKAR & MR.M LAVA, ADVS.) Date of Judgment 14-08-2018 I.T.A.No.710 /2015 The Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) and another Vs. St.Augustin Social Service Society THIS INCOME TAX APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 260-A OF INCOME TAX ACT 1961, ARISING OUT OF ORDERDATED:08/07/2015 PASSED IN ITA NO.317/BANG/2015, FOR)THR ASSESSMENT YRBAR 2011-2012 WITH A PRAYER TO 1.DECIDE THE FOREGOING QUESTION OF LAW AND / OR SUCHOTHER QUESTIONS OF LAW AS MAY BE FORMULATED BY THEHON'BLBE COURT AS DBEMBD FIT AND SBT ASIDE THEAPPELLATE ORDER DATED: 08/07/2015 PASSED BY THE ITAT,'B'BENCH,|BENGALURU,ASSOUGHTFOR,INTHERRESPONDENT-ASSESSEE'S CASE, IN APPEAL PROCEEDINGS IN-ITA NO. 317/BANG/2015 FOR A.Y. 2011-12 ®& GRANT SUCHOTHER RELIEF AS DEEMED FIT, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE. THIS ILT.A. COMING ON FOR HEARING, THIS DAY | S.SUJATHAJ. DKELIVE RED THE FOLLOWING: JUDGMENT Mr.Sanmathi EI.Adv. for Appellants-RevenueMr.A.Shankar and Mr. .LavaAdvs. tor Respondent-Assessee Both the learned counsel at bar submit that the! controversy raised in the present case is covered by a decisionof this Court. 2 |The suggested substantial question of law in the memo of appeal of Revenue is quoted herein below for readyreference:-. Date of Judgment 14-08-2018 I.T.A.No.710 /2015 The Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) and another Vs. St.Augustin Social Service Society 3/21 “1 WhetherOnthe facts|and|inthecircumstances of the case, the Tribunal is right in|holding that the assessee is eligible for carry|forward of deficit of the assessee to _ thsubsequent years when the income of a charitable|or religious trust/institution is required to be|computedby|applyinggeneralcommercialprincipleswithoutreferringtothe|regularprovisions of Income Tax as contained under|Chapter-IV and as such while arriving at the|incomeof|(CcharitableOLrreligioustrust/ institution, various heads of income ascontemplated under Section 14 and_ specificprovisions|of|computationof|incomeunderrespective heads as envisaged under Section15 to|59 are not pressed into action.” 3.|This Court in case oft‘Commissioner of Income Tax-Ill, Pune v. Rajasthan & Gujaratt Charitable|Foundation Poona’ [2018] 89 taxmann.com 127 [SC)I withregard to allowability and Depreciation in the hands ofReligious and Charitable Trust held as under: Date of Judgment 14-08-2018 I.T.A.No.710 /2015 The Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) and another Vs. St.Augustin Social Service Society 4/21 ioaeLearned Counsel at the Bar submittedthat so far as the issue regarding claim ofDepreciation under Section 32 of the Act isconcerned, the controversy is no longer resintegra, having been settled by the Hon'bleSupreme Court in the case of|©“ ‘Commissioner of Income Tax-III, Pune v. Rajasthan &|GujaratiCharitableFoundationPoona’[2018] 89 taxmann.com 127 [SC» by which|the Hon’ble Supreme Court has affirmed theview taken by the Bombay High Court in‘Commissioner of Income Tax v. Institute ofBanking Personnel Selection (IBPS)’ [2003]131 Taxman 386 [Bom.|. Lhe relevant portion|of the said Judgment of Bombay High Court asquoted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court andaffirmed is quoted below for ready reference. “In the said judgment, [Bombay High|Court}the|contentionof|the|DepartmentpredicatedOTLdoublebenefit was turned down in_ thefollowing manner: 5/21 of Income Tax-III, Pune v. Rajasthan &|GujaratiCharitableFoundationPoona’[2018] 89 taxmann.com 127 [SC» by which|the Hon’ble Supreme Court has affirmed theview taken by the Bombay High Court in‘Commissioner of Income Tax v. Institute ofBanking Personnel Selection (IBPS)’ [2003]131 Taxman 386 [Bom.|. Lhe relevant portion|of the said Judgment of Bombay High Court asquoted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court andaffirmed is quoted below for ready reference. “In the said judgment, [Bombay High|Court}the|contentionof|the|DepartmentpredicatedOTLdoublebenefit was turned down in_ thefollowing manner: 5/21 3. As stated above, the first question|which requires consideration by thiscourt is : whether depreciation was|allowable on the assets, the cost of|which has been fully allowed asapplication of income under section 11in the past years? In the case of CIT v.MunisuvratJain1994Tax|LawReporter, 1084 the facts were as|follows. TheaSSCS SCCWas (OCharitable Trust. It was registered asa Public Charitable Trust. It was also|registeredwith the Commissioner,|Pune.The assessee derived incomefrom the temple property whichwas a Trust property.During the)course of assessment proceedings for|assessment years 1977-78, 1975-79and 1979-80,the assessee claimeddepreciation on the value of thebuilding at the rate of 2.5 per centand they also claimed depreciation on|furniture at the rate of 5 per cent. The|question which arose before the court|fordeterminationLUGS,whether Date of Judgment 14-08-2018 I.T.A.No.710 /2015 The Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) and another Vs. St.Augustin Social Service Society 6/21 depreciation could be denied to theASSESSEE, asexpenditureOrlacquisition of the assets had been|treated as application of income in the.year of acquisition? It was held by the|Bombay High Court that section 11 of|the Income Tax Act makes provision in|respect of computation of income of the.Trust from the _ properly held focharitable or religious purposes and it|also provides for application and|accumulation of income. On the other|hand, section 28 of the Income Tax Act|deals with chargeabiity of income|from profits and gains of business and|section 29 provides that income from|profits and gains of business shall be|computed in accordance with section30 to section 45C, That, section 32(1)of the Act provides for depreciation in|respectof|building,plantandmachinery owned by the assesseeand used for the business purposes. It|further provides for deduction subject|to section 34. In that matter also, a| 7/21 similar argument, as in the present|case, was advanced on behalf of the|revenue, namely, that depreciation canbe allowed as deduction only under|section 32 of the Income Tax Act and|not under general principles. The courtrejected this argument. It was heldthatnormaldepreciationCATbeconsidered as a legitimate deduction|in computing the real income of the|assessee on_ general principles orunder section 11(1)(a) of the Income|TaxAct.TheCOUTTrejectedthe|argument on behalf of the revenue that|section 32 of the Income Tax Act was|the only section granting benefit ofdeduction on account of depreciation.|It was held that income of a Charitable|Trust derived from building, plant andmachinery and furniture was liable tobe computed in normal commercial|manner although the Trust may not becarrying on any business and the|assets in respect whereof depreciation|is claimed may not be_ business 8/21 assets. In all such cases, section 32 of| the Income Tax Act providing fordepreciation for computation of income|derived from business or profession 1s not applicable. However, the income of.the Trust is required to be computed|undersection.I]OTLcommercialprinciples after providing for allowance|for normal depreciation and deduction|thereoffrom gross income of the Trust. |In view of the aforestated Judgment ofthe Bombay High Court, we answerquestion No. 1 in the affirmative L.e., in|favour of the assessee and against the|department. 8/21 assets. In all such cases, section 32 of| the Income Tax Act providing fordepreciation for computation of income|derived from business or profession 1s not applicable. However, the income of.the Trust is required to be computed|undersection.I]OTLcommercialprinciples after providing for allowance|for normal depreciation and deduction|thereoffrom gross income of the Trust. |In view of the aforestated Judgment ofthe Bombay High Court, we answerquestion No. 1 in the affirmative L.e., in|favour of the assessee and against the|department. 4.Question No. 2 herein isidentical to the question which was|raised before the Bombay High Courtin the case of Director of Income Tax|(Exemption)Vv.FramjeeCawasjee|Institute (1993) 109 CTR 463 (Bom). In|that case, the facts were as follows:The assessee was the Trust. It derived|its income from depreciable assets.| Date of Judgment 14-08-2018 I.T.A.No.710 /2015 The Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) and another Vs. St.Augustin Social Service Society 9/21 TheaSsSSCSSCtookintoaccount|depreciationOF|thoseassetsin|computing the income of the Trust.|The Income Tax Officer held thatdepreciation could not be takeninto account because, full capitalexpenditure had been allowed inthe year of acquisition of theassets.The assessee went in appeal|beforethe|AssistantAppellateCommissioner. TheappealWas.rejected. The Tribunal, however, tookthe view that when the Income Tax!Officer stated thatfull expenditure hadbeen allowed in the year of acquisition|of the assets, whathe really meantwas that the amount spent onacquiring those assets had beentreated as ‘application of income’of the Trust in the year in whichthe income was spent in acquiringthose assets. This did not mean'that in computing income fromthose assets in subsequent years,depreciation in respect of those Date of Judgment 14-08-2018 I.T.A.No.710 /2015 The Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) and another Vs. St.Augustin Social Service Society 10/21 assetscannotbe|takenintoaccount.This view of the Tribunalhas been confirmed by, the Bombay|High Court in the above judgment.|Hence, Question No. 2 is covered by|the decision of the Bombay High Courtin the above judgment. Consequently,|Question No. 2 is answered in the|affirmative1.é.,in favour}of theassessee and against, the department. After hearing learned counsel for the parties,weare of the opinion that the aforesaid view|taken by the Bombay High Court correctlyStates the principles of law and there ts no'need to interfere with the same7 < 6. Sincethe1SSUEregardingclaimof|Depreciation in the hands of the Charitable Trustis no longer res integra, We are of the opinionthat no substantial question of law now arises inthe present Appeals filed by the Revenue.” 4With regard to carrying forward of the losses for being set off against the income of the charitable trust for the Date of Judgment 14-08-2018 I.T.A.No.710 /2015 The Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) and another Vs. St.Augustin Social Service Society 11/21 present Assessment Year, the controversy covered by thejudgment inCommissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions)and another .vs. Ohio University Christ CollegerenderedOT]17.07.20181n|ITA.No.312/2016 and ITA No.313/2016>.in which this Court held as under: “16. In so far as the second question proposedby the Revenue, quoted above is concerned also,|we find that the Tribunal’s findings in this regard|do not give rise to any substantial question of law.The said findings are quoted below for ready|reference : “5.1 In the course of assessmentproceedings,theAssessingOfficerobserved that the assessee had claimedapplicationof|incomeOnaccount|of|expenditure of earlier years, whichhas been brought forward and set offin the year under consideration.TheAssessing Officer disallowed the same on|the ground that there is no expressprovisionin|theActpermittingtheadjustmentof|earlierYeda’rbrought 12/21 “16. In so far as the second question proposedby the Revenue, quoted above is concerned also,|we find that the Tribunal’s findings in this regard|do not give rise to any substantial question of law.The said findings are quoted below for ready|reference : “5.1 In the course of assessmentproceedings,theAssessingOfficerobserved that the assessee had claimedapplicationof|incomeOnaccount|of|expenditure of earlier years, whichhas been brought forward and set offin the year under consideration.TheAssessing Officer disallowed the same on|the ground that there is no expressprovisionin|theActpermittingtheadjustmentof|earlierYeda’rbrought 12/21 forward expenses as application of income|in the current year. According to theAssessingOfficer,the|applicationof|income for charitable purposes must beduring the relevant previous year. Sincethe income of the trust is exempt from tax,the question of deficit does not arise andalso the trust is required to utilize 85% ofthe income of the previous year forcharitable purposes during the year. Inthis view of the matter and for the abovereasons, the Assessing Officer disallowedthe assessee’s claim of expenditure ofearlier years being brought forward andset off during the year. 5.2 On appeal, the learned CIT(Appeals) allowed the amortization of theexpenditure as claimed by the assesseeand deleted the disallowance made by theAssessing Officer by placing reliance on|the decision of the|Hon’ble KarnatakaHigh Court in the case of CIT Vs.Society of the Susters of St. Anne 13/21 reported in 146 ITR 28 (1984) andCBDT Circular No.5-P(LXX)-6 of 1968. 5.3.1 We have heard the rivalcontentionsof|boththe|learnedDepartmental Representatives for Revenue|and the learned Authorised RepresentativefortheaASSCSSCEand|perusedandcarefullyconsideredthematerialOnrecord,includingthe|judicialpronouncements cited. The facts of the|issue before us 1s that the-assessee hadincurredcertain preliminaryexpenditure in the year of setting upof the trust. The same its amortised bythe assessee trust over a period of 5years from the year of incurring ofexpenditure.The fact of amortizationwas not disputed by the Assessing Officerin|the|assessment|proceedingsforAssessment Year 2007-O8 where the entireamount was added back claiming 1/5[th]Oftheexpenditure.Theun-amortizedexpenditure has been brought forward andSetoffas|applicationof|incomein. The Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) and another Vs. St.Augustin Social Service Society 14/21 subsequentyears,includingtheassessment years 2008-09 and 2009-10which are under consideration. 5.3.2 We find that the tssue before usis directly related to the issue decided bythe Hon’ble Karnataka High Court in thecase of Sisters of St. Anne (supra) cited bythe assessee. In the said case, the Hon’bleKarnataka High Court at paras 8 to 10|thereof has held as under : - 5.3.3 Further, the CBDT CircularNo.5-P (LXX)-6 of 1968 cited by _ thassessee makes it clear that income'Should be understood in its commercialsense : in the case of trusts also and|thereforethe|commercialprinciple|enunciated by the Hon'ble Karnataka HighCourt in the above referred case of Sistersof St. Anne (supra) applies to trusts aswell. In view of the factual and legal matrixof this issue in the case on hand asdiscussed above, we concur with the| Date of Judgment 14-08-2018 I.T.A.No.710 /2015 The Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) and another Vs. St.Augustin Social Service Society 15/21 decision of the learned CIT (Appeals) incancelling the disallowance made by theAssessing Officer and in allowing the|amortization of expenses. Consequently,Ground No.B (1 to 6) of the Revenue’sappeal for Assessment Year 2008-09 andGround No.C for Assessment Year 2009-10are dismissed.” Date of Judgment 14-08-2018 I.T.A.No.710 /2015 The Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) and another Vs. St.Augustin Social Service Society 15/21 decision of the learned CIT (Appeals) incancelling the disallowance made by theAssessing Officer and in allowing the|amortization of expenses. Consequently,Ground No.B (1 to 6) of the Revenue’sappeal for Assessment Year 2008-09 andGround No.C for Assessment Year 2009-10are dismissed.” 17. In our opinion, the matter is squarely covered bya decision of the cognate Bench of this Court in thecase ofCIT vs. Society of the Sisters of St. Anne(1984) 16 Taxman 400 (Kar.) and (1984) 146)ITR 28,wherein the congnate Bench of this Courtheld that even the depreciation not involving anycash outflow is also in the character of expenditureand therefore such depreciation is nothing butdecrease in the value of property through wear andtear, deterioration or obsolescence and the allowancemade for that purpose in the books of accountswere deemed to be the application offunds for thepurpose of Sec. 11 of the Act. The relevant portion ofthe said judgment is also quoted below for readyreference: Date of Judgment 14-08-2018 I.T.A.No.710 /2015 The Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) and another Vs. St.Augustin Social Service Society 16/21 “11. Mr. Srintvasan, however, urgedthat there are enough indications in)Section 11 to exclude the mercantile|system of accounting. The learned counselrelied upon sections 11(1)(a) and 11(4) in)support of his contention. We do not thinkthat there is anything in these sub-sections|to support the contention of Mr. Srinivasan.Explanation to section I1(1)(a) on _ thcontrary takes note of the income notreceived in a particular year. It lends)support to the contention of the assesseethat accounting need not only be on cash)basis. Section 11(4) is not intended toexplain how the accounts of the businessundertaking should be maintained. It isintended only to bring to tax the excessincome computed under the provisions ofthe Act in respect of business undertaking. 12.The depreciation tif it its noallowed as necessary deduction forcomputingtheincomefromthecharitable institutions, then there isno way to preserve the corpus of the The Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) and another Vs. St.Augustin Social Service Society 17/21 trust for deriving the income.TheBoard also appears to have understood|the income’ under section 11(1) in itscommercial sense. The relevant portion ofthe Circular No.5XX-6 of 1968, dated 19-6-1968|(SeeTaxmann’sDirectTaxes|Circulars, Vol. 1, 1980 edn. P.85) reads: “Where the trust derives income from|house property, interest on _ securitiescapital gains, or other sources, the word‘Income’ Should be understood in itscommercial sense, 1.e., book income, afteraddingbackanyappropriationsOrapplications thereof towards the purposesof the trust or otherwise, and also afteradding back any debits made for capitalexpenditure incurred for the purposes ofthe trust or otherwise. It should be noted,in this connection, that the amounts so}added back will become chargeable to taxunder section 11(3) to the extent that theyrepresent outgoings for purposes otherthan those of the trust. The amounts spentor applied for the purposes of the trust Date of Judgment 14-08-2018 I.T.A.No.710 /2015 The Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) and another Vs. St.Augustin Social Service Society 18/21 from out of the income, computed in the|aforesaid manner, Should not be less than7° per cent of the latter, if the trust ts to getthe full benefit of the exemption under)section 11(1).” 13. In CIT v. Trustee of H.E.H. The| Nizam’s|SupplementalReligiousEndowment Trust (1981) 127 ITR 378, the|Andhra Pradesh High Court has accepted|the accounts maintained in respect of the)trust in conformity with the principles ofaccountancyforthePUFPOSEesofdetermining the income derived from theproperty held in trust.” Date of Judgment 14-08-2018 I.T.A.No.710 /2015 The Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) and another Vs. St.Augustin Social Service Society 18/21 from out of the income, computed in the|aforesaid manner, Should not be less than7° per cent of the latter, if the trust ts to getthe full benefit of the exemption under)section 11(1).” 13. In CIT v. Trustee of H.E.H. The| Nizam’s|SupplementalReligiousEndowment Trust (1981) 127 ITR 378, the|Andhra Pradesh High Court has accepted|the accounts maintained in respect of the)trust in conformity with the principles ofaccountancyforthePUFPOSEesofdetermining the income derived from theproperty held in trust.” 1&. In view of the aforesaid findings of thelearned Tribunal, allowing any expenditure of theearlier year which has been brought forward and setoff in the year under consideration, is a justifiedfinding of fact based on the correct interpretation oflaw and the judgment relied upon by it rendered bythe cognate Bench. Therefore, the same does not callfor interference. A similar view was also taken bythe Dwision Bench of Bombay High Court in Date of Judgment 14-08-2018 I.T.A.No.710 /2015 The Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) and another Vs. St.Augustin Social Service Society 19/21 Commissioner of Income-tax uv. Institute ofBanking (2003) 264 ITR 110,wherein the Division|Bench of Bombay High Court held that the incomederived from the trust property has also got to becomputed on commercial principles and if commercialprinciples are applied, then adjustment of expensesincurred by the trust for charitable and religiouspurposes in the earlier years against the incomeearned by the trust in the subsequent year will haveto be regarded as application of income of the trustforcharitable.and.religiousPurposes,in|thesubsequent year. The relevant portion of the saidjudgment of Bombay High Court is also quoted belowfor ready reference : “NormaldepreciationCEaYbe.considered as a legitimate deduction incomputing the real income of the assessee —on general principles or under sectionI1(1})(a)of|the|Inome-taxAct,L961.Income of a charitable trust derived from|building,plantandmachineryandfurniture is liable to be computed in a|normal commercial manner although thetrust may not be carrying on any business|and|theassetsin|respectwhereof Date of Judgment 14-08-2018 I.T.A.No.710 /2015 The Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) and another Vs. St.Augustin Social Service Society 20/21 depreciation1sclaimed.notbe.business assets. In all such cases, section32 of the Act providing for depreciation, forcomputationof|income|derivedfrom)business or profession is not applicable. |However, the income of the _ trust irequired to be computed under section 11)on commercial principles after providing forallowance for normal depreciation anddeduction thereoffrom the gross income ofthe trust. [Incomederivedfrom|thetTuSTproperty has also got to be computed on|commercial principles and tf commercialprinciples are applied, then adjustment of|EXPeENnSsincurredby|the|trustforcharitable and religious purposes in theearlier years against the income earned bythe trust in the subsequent year will haveto be regarded as application of income ofthe trust for charitable and_ religiouspurposes in the subsequent year in which|adjustment had been made having regardto the benevolent provisions contained in Date of Judgment 14-08-2018 I.T.A.No.710 /2015 The Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) and another Vs. St.Augustin Social Service Society 21/21 section 11 of the Act and such adjustmentwill have to be excluded from the income ofthe trust under section 11(1)(a).” In view of the controversy covered by the above decisions of this Court, we are of the opinion that thesubstantial question of law as suggested by the appellantsdoes not now arise for our further consideration in thepresent appeal. The appeal filed by Revenue is accordingly|disposedot|in terms of the aforesaid judgments of this Court. No costs. SS| Sd/-.JUDGE| Sd/-.JUDGE|