Disallowance u/s 14A read with Rule 8D cannot exceed exempt income

Daga Global Chemicals Pvt. Ltd vs. ACIT (ITAT Mumbai), ITA No. 5592/MUM/2012, Date of Pronouncement : 01/01/2015 Assessee argued that No expenditure directly or indirectly was incurred by the assessee for earning exempt income and further the investment in shares was made in earlier years out of own funds and not out of borrowed funds, therefore, no disallowance u/s 14A r.w. Rule 8D is to be made. On the other hand, Shri Akhilendra Yadav strongly defended the conclusion arrived at by the ld. Commissioner of Income tax (Appeals) by contending that a well reasoned order has been passed by the ld. First Appellate Authority as apportionment of expenditure for earning the dividend income was done as per the provisions of the Act. It was pleaded that section 14A r.w. Rule 8D of the Rules is clearly applicable to the facts of the present appeal. We have considered the rival submissions and perused the material available on record. The facts, in brief, are that the assessee is a limited company, engaged in trading of bulk and fine, chemicals, solvent and pharmaceutical raw materials declared its income at Rs.74,40,000/- on 26/09/2009. The assessee credited dividend income of Rs. 1,82,262/- in its profit and loss account. The Assessing Officer while framing the assessment invoke section 14A r.w. Rule 8D by contending that assessee claimed various expenses which are related to exempt income in its profit & loss account and disallowed Rs. 14,58,412/-. On appeal, before the ld. Commissioner of Income tax (Appeals) broadly the stand taken in the assessment order was affirmed against which the assessee is in further appeal before this Tribunal. The totality of facts clearly indicates, as claimed by the assessee that no borrowed funds were utilized for earning the exempt income by the assessee and further the dividend were directly credited in the bank account of the assessee and no expenditure was claimed. What it may be, we find that the assessee only received Rs. 1,82,362/- as dividend income, therefore, there is no question of disallowance of Rs. 14,58.412/- by invoking section 14A r.w. Rule 8D under the facts available on record. It was also explained by the ld. counsel for the assessee that on identical fact in earlier years, no disallowance was made. In the present assessment year also, no borrowed funds were invested by the assessee for making investment in shares or for earning dividend income. At best, if any disallowance could be made that can be restricted to Rs. 1,485/- which were claimed as demat charges. Disallowance u/s 14A r.w. Rule 8D cannot exceed the exempt income. In view of this fact, we find merit in the claim of the assessee. The appeal of the assessee is therefore, allowed. Finally, the appeal of the assessee is allowed.