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Showing contexts for: computer software technical services in M/S.Polaris Consulting And Services ... vs Principal Commissioner Of Income Tax-5 on 11 September, 2020Matching Fragments
9.We have perused the order passed by the Tribunal and the finding on this issue is in paragraph No.8. The Tribunal referred to clause (iv) to Explanation (2) to Section http://www.judis.nic.in 10A of the Act, which defines ''Export Turnover'' and referred to Explanation (2) to Section 10A of the Act, which defines the term 'computer software' and held that 'technical services' include development of software, testing of software, domestication of software and since the assessee is engaged in developing and providing software to meet the need base of their customers, the software development cannot be done without technical services and technical services is part and parcel of software development. The Tribunal proceeded to add that software is 'goods' and involve technical services and is part and parcel of rendering services; no software development is possible without technical services; software development and technical services are two faces of one coin and there cannot be software without rendering technical services and hence held that the finding of the Assessing Officer is justified as well as that of the CITA.
7.Production parallel run-Undertaking a dry run of the developed software system.
8.Customer user acceptance – Final acceptance of the Software developed.”
11.The assessee's contention was that activity No.7 (supra) is usually undertaken onsite at the client's location. Activity Nos.4 to 6 and 8 can happen offshore and/or onsite. The need to send the personnel of the assessee to clients' location arises based on the nature of project, its size and complexity and the requirements of the client. Further they reiterated that all the activities are integral part of software development process and what is finally delivered to the client is computer software, which is essentially a computer programme and the deliverable does not comprise of any advice on the computer software/programme. The assessee http://www.judis.nic.in produced copy of the Registration Certificate given by the STPI, sample contract for development of computer programme, sample Statement of Work (SOW) in relation to the sample contract, copies of filing with the STPI and some sample invoices and related SOFTEX filings. Thus, by placing heavy reliance on these materials, the assessee contended that it can be inferred that their business does not include rendering of any technical services on 'standalone basis'. Further, any service rendered, such as installation/training etc., is purely incidental to the activity of development of the computer programme, akin to a seller of an advanced machinery installing the same and training the user. The assessee placed reliance on the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of TATA Consultancy Services vs. State of Andhra Pradesh [(2004) 271 ITR 401]. By placing reliance on the said decision, the assessee contended that both branded software and unbranded/customised software have been held to be 'goods' by the Hon'ble Supreme Court and the computer software would be in the nature of 'goods' and hence it will be erroneous to consider them as a provider of 'technical services'. Further, by referring to the customer contract and related statements of work and invoices, the assessee contended that it is engaged only in the activity of developing http://www.judis.nic.in computer software and is not a technical services provider. The assessee also contended that there is a distinction in law between development of computer programme and rendering of technical services and in this regard referred to Section 10AA of the Act, defining ''Export Turnover''.
13.Be that as it may. We may point out that the CITA did not endeavour to examine the scope of the agreement. In fact, certain observations made by the CITA would enure in favour of the assessee. By way of illustration, in paragraph No.10(c) of the Order of the CITA, he would state that computer software cannot be defined or understood in a narrow sense of the term to mean only software in the form of product/goods as claimed. As the assessee is engaged in developing, transmitting and providing software to meet the needs and requirements of the clients, it encompasses http://www.judis.nic.in providing all the relevant technical services necessary and attendant with the development and export of computer software. If this was the finding of the CITA, the resultant conclusion should have been that the assessee is only engaged in the development of the computer software and not rendering any technical services on 'standalone basis'. However, we find that the conclusion arrived at by the CITA stating that the assessee is rendering technical services is an incorrect conclusion not supported by any reasons. We would add by stating that the CITA was required to examine the documents produced by the assessee to find out as to whether there was any technical services rendered on 'standalone basis'. This is more so because, the CITA accepted that the 'development of software' encompasses 'providing of technical services'. Therefore, unless and until there was a material available in the hands of the CITA or the Assessing Officer to come to a conclusion that there is technical services on 'standalone basis' rendered by the assessee, the Assessing Officer and the CITA were not justified in coming to a conclusion that the technical services were rendered by the assessee and the amounts paid need to be excluded.
a. freight b. telecommunication charges c. insurance attributable to the delivery of computer software outside India;d.
expenses, if any, incurred in foreign exchange in providing technical services outside India;
19. If the assessee is engaged in the business of providing technical services outside India in connection with the development or production of computer software then expenses if any incurred in foreign exchange in providing technical services outside India is liable to be deducted out of 'Export Turnover'. The said provision has no application in the case of export out of India of computer software or its transmission from India to a place outside India by any means. The law makes a distinction between technical services rendered in connection with export of http://www.judis.nic.in computer software and export of technical services for the purpose of development or production of computer software outside India. If the technical services rendered by the assessee's Engineers is in connection with the export of computer software for the purpose of testing, installation and monitoring of software such a turnover do not fall within clause (ii) of subsection (1) of section 80HHE of the Act. Such a turnover falls within sub-clause (i) of subsection (1) of Section 80HHE of the Act, that is export out of India of computer software or its transmission from India to a place outside India by any means. The expenditure incurred in the form of foreign exchange for such services cannot be excluded in computing the 'Export Turnover' as it forms part of the 'Export Turnover'. In the instant case as is clear from the order of the Assessing Authority, he proceeds on the assumption that the assessee is a company engaged in rendering technical services outside India in connection with production of said software. Therefore the expenditure incurred in foreign exchange in providing such technical services outside India of Rs.62.7 lakhs was excluded in computing the 'Export Turnover' and 'Total Turnover' for arriving at deduction under Section 80HHE of the Act. The assesee is engaged in the business of export out of India of computer software and its transmission to places from India outside India. Before a computer software is exported, the Software http://www.judis.nic.in Engineers of the assessee would have initial discussion with regard to the requirements, specifications etc. Thereafter computer software is manufactured and then it is transmitted from India to a place outside India. The software Engineers deputed abroad who among other things have to do testing, installation and monitoring of software supplied to the client. Though the said services are technical in nature it does not fall within clause (ii) of subsection (1) of section 80HHE of the Act of providing technical services outside India in connection with the development or production of computer software. It falls under sub-clause (1) of sub-section (1) of Section 80 HHE of the Act. Therefore, the said expenditure cannot be excluded in computing export turn over. In that view of the matter we do not see any merit in this appeal. Accordingly, the said question of law is answered in favour of the assessee and against the revenue. Ordered accordingly.