Fees for “routine technical repairs” not assessable as “fees for technical services”

ADIT vs. BHEL-GE-Gas Turbine Servicing (ITAT Hyderabad)

The assessee paid sums to foreign parties for repairing and refurbishment of equipment. The AO held that the payments constituted “fees for technical services” u/s 9(1)(vii) and that the assessee ought to have deducted TDS u/s 195 r.w.s. 201 though the assessee argued that as there was no intellectual aspect involved in the repairs and refurbishment activity, it was no assessable as “fees for technical services”. The CIT (A) allowed the claim. On appeal by the department to the Tribunal, HELD dismissing the appeal: