Income Tax Appellate Tribunal - Ahmedabad
Bank Of Baroda,, Ahmedabad vs The Dy.Cit, Cpc, Tds,, Gaziabad on 30 November, 2017
ITA No. 1503/Ahd/2015
Bank of Baroda vs. DCIT
Assessment year: 2014-15
Page 1 of 3
IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL
AHMEDABAD "D" BENCH, AHMEDABAD
[Coram: Pramod Kumar AM and S S Godara JM]
ITA No. 1503/Ahd/2015
Assessment Year : 2014-15
Bank of Baroda .........................Appellant
Pritamnagar, 1st Sloop
Ellisbridge Branch
Ahmedabad - 380 006
[PAN : AAACB 1534 F]
Vs.
Dy. Commissioner of Income-tax .......................Respondent
CPC, TDS, Ghaziabad
Appearances by:
SN Divatia for the appellant
VK Singh for the respondent
Date of concluding the hearing : 25.09.2017
Date of pronouncing the order : 30.11.2017
O R D E R
Per Pramod Kumar, AM:
1. By way of this appeal, the assessee appellant has challenged correctness of the order dated 1st April 2015 passed by the CIT(A)-4, Ahmedabad upholding the interest demand under section 201(1A) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 for the assessment year 2014-15. Grievance of the assessee is that the CIT(A) erred in upholding this levy of interest of Rs.2,78,607/-.
2. The issue in appeal lies in a very narrow compass of material facts. The assessee before us is a nationalized bank's branch office. The taxes deducted at source under section 194A by the assessee for the month of September 2014 were deposited by the assessee on 8th October 2014. On these facts, while processing the TDS return under section 200A, interest for delay in depositing the tax at source, for a period of two months, i.e. September and October 2014, was charged. This interest amount of Rs.2,78,607/- was sought to be recovered by the Assessing Officer. Aggrieved, assessee carried the matter in appeal before the CIT(A) but without any success. Learned CIT(A) confirmed the said action of the Assessing Officer and observed as follows:-
"5. I have considered the facts of the case. The appellant has contended that the tax has been deducted and paid the same along with interest on 08.10.2013 and as per General Clause Act, the date from is to be excluded for the purpose of computation of period for charging interest. The AO has levied interest for two months. Section 201(1A) clearly states, if a person after deducting tax fails to pay the tax it shall be liable to pay simple interest at one and one-half percent for every month or part of a month on the amount of ITA No. 1503/Ahd/2015 Bank of Baroda vs. DCIT Assessment year: 2014-15 Page 2 of 3 such tax from the date on which such tax was deducted to the date on which such tax is actually paid. The issue in dispute is whether the day on which tax was deducted is to be excluded or not. The Hon'ble Apex Court in Criminal Appeal No.1079 of 2006 in case of M/s Econ Antri ltd. Vs. Ron Industries Ltd. & Anr, in order dated 26-03-2013 has held that for the purpose of calculating period of one month, the period has to be reckoned by excluding the date on which the cause of action arose. The contention of appellant that period of default is to be calculated from due date is incorrect. The period is to be calculated from the date of deduction and not due date. Accordingly, the AO is directed not to charge interest for two months and interest is to be levied for only 1 month. This ground is partly allowed."
3. The assessee is not satisfied and is in further appeal before us.
4. We have heard the rival contentions, perused the material on record and duly considered facts of the case in the light of applicable legal position.
5. We find that the time limit for depositing the tax deducted at source under section 194A, as set out in rule 30(2)(b) - which applies in the present context, is "on or before seven days from the end of the month in which the deduction is made". In the case before us, the TDS is deposited on 8th of October 2014. There is thus clearly delay in depositing tax at source. Learned counsel does not even dispute that. All that he prays for is that the levy of interest should be reduced to actual period of delay in depositing the tax at source, i.e. from the date on which tax was deducted and till the date on which tax was deposited. It is only if such a period exceeds one month, then the question of levy of interest will arise. However, what has been done in the present case is that the interest has been charged for two calendar months, i.e. September and October. This plea of the assessee indeed meets our approval in the sense that the question of levy of interest for the second month can arise only if the period of time between the date on which tax was deducted and the date on which tax was paid to the Government exceeds one month. We, therefore, direct the Assessing Officer to recompute the levy of interest under section 201(1A) accordingly.
6. As per learned counsel's plea that it is too strong a punishment to levy interest for a delay of first one day, such a plea is only to be noted and rejected. Who would know the time value of money better than a banker that the assessee is, and the interest is nothing more than a compensatory levy for the time during which tax deductor enjoyed the Government money. That is not at all penal in nature and we do not have any authority to relax this compensatory levy.
7. In the result, the appeal is partly allowed in the terms indicated above. Pronounced in the open court today on the 30th day of November, 2017.
Sd/- Sd/- S S Godara Pramod Kumar (Judicial Member) (Accountant Member) Ahmedabad, the 30th day of November, 2017 **bt ITA No. 1503/Ahd/2015 Bank of Baroda vs. DCIT Assessment year: 2014-15 Page 3 of 3 Copies to: (1) The appellant (2) The respondent (3) Commissioner (4) CIT(A) (5) Departmental Representative (6) Guard File By order TRUE COPY Assistant Registrar Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Ahmedabad benches, Ahmedabad
1. Date of dictation: ......4 pages manuscripts of Hon'ble AM attched....30.11.2017
2. Date on which the typed draft is placed before the Dictating Member: ... 30.11.2017........
3. Date on which the approved draft comes to the Sr. P.S./P.S.: ...30.11.2017...
4. Date on which the fair order is placed before the Dictating Member for Pronouncement:... 30.11.2017
5. Date on which the file goes to the Bench Clerk : ... 30.11.2017...
6. Date on which the file goes to the Head Clerk : ..................................
7. The date on which the file goes to the Assistant Registrar for signature on the order: ......