ORDER
PER BENCH :
The present appeals are filed by the above mentioned assessees feeling aggrieved by the orders passed by appellate authority for various assessment years mentioned hereinabove.
2. Since the issue in all the appeals is common and is related to disallowance of employee's contribution of PF/ESI on account of delay in deposits as per the respective Acts. Therefore, we clubbed all of them together for the sake of brevity and convenience and disposing the same by way of this consolidated order. However, we are taking ITA No.97/Del/2022 [Assessment Year -2019-20] as a lead case wherein the assessee has raised the following grounds:
1. "Ld. CIT(A) has erred in law and on merits of the case was not justified in confirming the addition of Rs 40504/- & Rs. 236490/- made by A.O (CPC) on account of late deposit of employee contribution towards ESI/PF , even it is paid before due date of filing of ITR in view of Section 43B of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and ignored various judicial pronouncement cited by the assessee like CIT v.
7
Alom Extrusions Ltd. [2009] 319 ITR 306 (SC); CIT v. Vinay Cement Ltd. [2007] 213 CTR 268 (SC); Pr. CIT v. Raj. State Bev. Corpn. Ltd. [2017] 84 taxmann.com 185 (SC); Deputy Commissioner of Income-tax v. Aimil Ltd. [2010] 321 ITR 508 (Delhi) In a latest order dated 10.09.2018 the Jurisdictional High Court of Delhi in ITA 983/2018 Pro Interactive Service (India) Pvt. Ltd has held this issue in the favor of assessee and held that: no substantial question of law arises for consideration in this appeal. The legislative intent was/is to ensure that the amount paid is allowed as an expenditure only when payment is actually made. We do not think that the legislative intent and objective is to treat belated payment of Employee's Provident Fund (EPD) and Employee's State Insurance Scheme (ESI) as deemed income of the employer under Section 2(24)(x) of the Act."
2. CIT(A) has erred in law in confirming the disallowance of employee contribution to ESI in the light of amendment in sections 36(1)(va) as well as in section 43B by inserting corresponding Explanations through Finance Act, 2021. Although the impugned employee PF/ESI now comes under the provision of section 36(1)(va) only, but the memorandum explaining Finance Bill, 2021 says that these amendments will take effect from 01.04.2021 and will accordingly apply to AY 2021-22 and subsequent Assessment Years. Thus the legislature itself has condoned the impugned default before 01.04.2021.
3. Latest Case Laws relied upon After amendment in Finance Act 2021(Covered Matter)
8
Insta Exhibitions Private Limited vs ACIT ITA No 6941/DEL/2017 (and ITA no 4959/DEL/2016) wherein it was held that belated payments of ESI and PF cannot be treated as deemed income u/s 2(24). Further it was held that 'notes on clauses introducing Finance Bill holds that amendment is effective from A.Y 2021-22' and thus deleted the addition on this account.
Shashi Rajawat u/s ITO (ITAT Jaipur) (Pronounced on 12.10.2021)
Employee contribution towards ESI/PF though paid before due date of filing of return of Income Tax u/s 139(1) is hereby directed to be deleted. CIT (A) referred explanation to 36(1)(v)(a) and 43 B by Finance Act 2021 and referred the rationale of amendment as explained in memorandum, However, he has simply failed to consider the express wording as the ITAT memorandum which say "these amendments will take effect from 01.04.2021 and will accordingly apply to assessment year 2021-22 and subsequent assessment years.
Vansh Jain vs ITO (ITA No.1853/Del/2020)
(Pronounced on 13.10.2021)
Since in the instant case the assessee admittedly has deposited the employees' contribution to PF & ESI before the due date of filing of the income tax return, therefore, respectfully following the decisions cited (supra), I hold that the Ld. CIT(A) is not justified in sustaining the adjustment made by the A.O-CPC of Rs.3,26,330/- on account of belated payment of employees' contribution to
9
PF & ESI. I, therefore, set aside the order of the Ld. CIT(A) and direct the A.O. to delete the disallowance. The grounds raised by the assessee are accordingly allowed. Adama Solution Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
ITA.No.1800/Del./2020 (Order pronounced on
13.10.2021)
The amendment made in section 36(1)va) is effective from 01.04.2021 and will, accordingly apply in relation to A.Y. 2021-2022 and subsequent assessment year. In view of this we allow the solitary ground of appeal raised by the assessee holding that the addition/disallowance made by the learned assessing officer of late deposit of employees contribution to the provident fund and ESI, as it is deposited before the due date of the filing of the return of an income but beyond the due date prescribed Under the respective provident fund and ESI laws is not sustainable in law. In the result, appeal of the assessee is allowed."
Since in the instant case the assessee admittedly has deposited the employees' contribution to PF & ESI before the due date of filing of the income tax return, therefore, respectfully following the decisions cited (supra), I hold that the Ld. CIT(A) is not justified in sustaining the adjustment made by the A.O-CPC."
3. Similar grounds with different amounts and assessment years have been raised in other appeals but however, the sum & substance and the issues involved in all the appeals are identical.
10
4. Before us, at the outset, Learned AR submitted that the sole grievance of the assessee is confirming the additions on account of delay in deposit of employee's contribution towards provident fund and ESI fund.
5. Before us, Learned AR submitted that additions have been made in the intimation issued by CPC, Bangalore u/s 36(1)(va) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 ("the Act") for the reason that the contribution received towards PF/ESIC by the assessee from its employees was not deposited before the due date. He submitted that though there has been delay in deposit of PF/ESIC Contributions but all the contributions received by the assessee from its employees, have been deposited with the appropriate authorities before the filing of return of income by the assessee. He therefore, submitted that since the amounts have been deposited before the filing of return of income, no disallowance is called for and for aforesaid proposition, he relied on the decision of Azamgarh Steel & Power vs. CPC in ITA No.1626/Del/2020 dated 31.05.2021 and CIT vs. AIMIL Ltd. [2010] 188 Taxman 265 (Delhi) and various other decisions.
11
6. Learned Sr. DR on the other hand supported the order of lower authorities and also placed reliance on the decision of Delhi Tribunal in the case of Vedvan Consultants Pvt. Ltd. vs DCIT in ITA No.1312/Del/2020 order dated 26.08.2021. He also submitted that the amendment brought out by Finance Act 2021 would be applicable to the present case as by the amendment, it has been clarified that provisions of Section 43B of the Act shall not apply and shall be deemed never to have been applied to a sum received by the assessee from any of his employees to which the provisions of sub clause (x) of Clause (24) of Section 2 applies.
7. We have heard the rival submissions and perused the material available on record. The issue is no more res-integra. The issue has already been settled in favour of the assessee by various judicial pronouncements by the Tribunal. The Hon'ble Jurisdictional High Court of Delhi in the case of PCIT vs Pro Interactive Service (India) Pvt.Ltd. in ITA No.983/2018 [Del.] order dated 10.09.2018 held as under:-
"In view of the judgement of the Division Bench of Delhi High Court in Commissioner of Income Tax versus AIMIL Limited, (2010) 321 ITR 508 (Del.) the issue is covered against the Revenue and, therefore, no substantial question of law arises for consideration in this appeal.
12
The legislative intent was/is to ensure that the amount paid is allowed as an expenditure only when payment is actually made. We do not think that the legislative intent and objective is to treat belated payment of Employee's Provident Fund (EPD) and Employee's State Insurance Scheme (ESI) as deemed income of the employer under section 2(23)(x) of the Act."
8. As far as reliance by Ld. Sr. DR on the amendment brought out by Finance Act, 2021 is concerned, "notes on clauses" to the Finance Bill 2021 clearly states that the amendment will take effect from 01stApril 2021 and will prospectively apply in relation to the assessment year 2021-22 and subsequent assessment year. In such a situation, we are of the view that the amendment brought out by Finance Act, 2021 does not apply to the assessment year under consideration.
9. Before us, the Revenue has not placed any material on record to demonstrate that the aforesaid order cited hereinabove has been overruled/stayed/set aside by higher judicial forum. In view of the aforesaid facts, we are of the view that the AO was not justified in denying the deduction claimed by the assessee on account of late deposit of PF/ESI/EPF, albeit before filing the return of income. Admittedly, in all the above-stated matters, the Revenue had not
13
contended that the assessee has deposited the contribution after the filing of the return of income.
10. We have proceeded to conclude the issue of allowability of expenses attributable to employee provident fund and employee state insurance scheme on the assurance that the employee's contributions towards PF & ESI have been deposited before the due date of filing of return of income. However, the Revenue shall be at liberty to seek restoration of the appeal where it is found as a matter of fact that the assessee has failed to deposit the employee's contribution before the due date of filing of return of income stipulated u/s 139(1) of the Act in accordance with law. In view of the above and respectfully following the decision of the Hon'ble Jurisdictional High Court of Delhi cited hereinabove, we allow the appeals filed by the captioned assessees.
11. Apropos to ITA No.111/Del/2022 concerning Assessment Year 2019-20 in the case of Dayal Industries Pvt.Ltd. appearing at Serial No.2 captioned above, it was pointed out on behalf of the assessee that the factual position in the instant case is materially different vis-à-vis other cases. It was pointed out that there was no delay whatsoever on the part of the assessee to deposit employee's contribution towards PF & ESI as stipulated under the respective
14
Acts. However, typographical error occurred in the Tax Audit Report for which the relevant facts were placed before the Ld.CIT(A) as well. The relevant facts have also placed on record before the Tribunal as well.
12. In the result, all captioned appeals of the respective assessees are allowed.
Order pronounced in the open court on 18.05.2022. Sd/- Sd/-
(PRADIP KUMAR KEDIA) (KUL BHARAT)
ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER
Date:-18.05.2022
*Amit Kumar*
Copy forwarded to:
1. Appellant
2. Respondent
3. CIT
4. CIT(Appeals)
5. DR: ITAT
ASSISTANT REGISTRAR
ITAT NEW DELHI
15