Friday 10 February 2012

s. 80HHC/ 28(iiid): DEPB sale proceeds is not “profits”

M/s Topman Exports vs. CIT (Supreme Court)


The assessee sold the Duty Entitlement Pass Book (“DEPB”) which had accrued on export of its products. S. 28 (iiid) provides that “any profit on the transfer” of the DEPB shall be business profits. Under Explanation (baa) to s. 80HHC, 90% of “the sum referred to in s. 28(iiid)” has to be reduced from the business profits. Under the third Proviso to s. 80HHC (3), in the case of an assessee having an export turnover exceeding Rs. 10 crores, the profits referred to in s. 80HHC (3) can be increased by 90% of “the sum referred to in s. 28 (iiid)” only if two conditions are satisfied. If the said conditions are not satisfied, no relief on account of DEPB can be granted u/s 80HHC. In Topman Exports vs. ITO 318 ITR 87 (Mum)(SB)(AT) the Special Bench of the Tribunal held that “the sum referred to in s. 28(iiid)” meant only the “profits” on transfer of the DEPB and not the entire sale proceeds. The Tribunal held that the amount received on account of DEPB had to be bifurcated into the “face value” of the DEPB and the “profit” and that while the “face value” was assessable u/s 28(iiib), the “profit” was assessable u/s 28(iiid). The consequence was that only the “profit” suffered the rigors of the third Proviso to s. 80HHC (3) and not the “face value“. On appeal by the revenue, the High Court (CIT vs. Kalpataru Colours and Chemicals 328 ITR 421 (Bom)) reversed the Tribunal and held that the sale proceeds could not be bifurcated into “profits” and “face value” and the entire sale proceeds was “profits” for s. 80HHC r.w.s. 28(iiid). On appeal by the assessee, HELD reversing the High Court:

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