Dcit, Circle-1(1), Bhubaneswar, ... vs M/S. Paradeep Phosphates Limited, ... on 4 August, 2017
o In the instant case, on facts, the ITO (TDS) had taken the view that since the
sale of the concerned software included a licence to use the same, the payment
made by the assessee to foreign suppliers constituted 'royalty' which was deemed
to accrue or arise in India and, therefore, TAS was liable to be deducted under
section 195(1). The said finding of the ITO(TDS) was upheld by the Commissioner
(Appeals). However, in the second appeal, the Tribunal held that such sum paid
by the assessee to the foreign software supplier was not a 'royalty', and that the
same did not give rise to any 'income' taxable in India and, therefore, the
assessee was not liable to deduct TAS. However, the High Court did not go into
the merits of the case and it went straight to conclude that the moment there is
remittance, an obligation to deduct TAS arises, which view stood overruled,
o Since the High Court did not go into the merits of the case on the question of
payment of royalty, the impugned judgment of the High Court was to be set aside
and cases were to be remitted back to the High Court for de novo consideration of
the cases on merits. A copy of the aforesaid Judgment in the said case of GE
India Technology Cen.(P) Ltd. Vs CIT is enclosed and marked as Annexure-7 for
your kind reference.