TDS not deductible on interest payment to members by Co-Op Bank under Section 194A

Fact and Issue of the case

The assessee’s sole substantive ground on merits challenges correctness of both the lower authorities action invoking section 40(a)(ia) interest payment disallowance of Rs.2,00,095/- on account of non-deduction of TDS regarding payments made to members /non-members. Suffice to say, hon’ble apex court’s recent landmark decision in the Mavilavi Service Cooperative Bank Ltd. V/s. CIT (2021) 431 ITR page 1 (SC) has settled the law regarding the alleged distinction between members and nominal-members; as the case may be, regarding section 80P deduction claim; against the department.

Observation of the Court

The factual position is hardly different on merits as well wherein Mr. Jasnani strongly supported the learned lower authorities’ conclusion that the assessee had failed to deduct TDS on its interest payments. We find no merit in the Revenue’s instant arguments as we are in assessment year 2010-11 whereas “a cooperative bank” has been excluded from the purview of section 194(A)(3)(v) vide Finance Act 2015 w.e.f. 01.06.2015 only. This tribunal’s Special Bench decision is The Virudhunagar Central District Co-Operative Bank Ltd., V/s. ITO, ITA NO. 2055 & 2056/CHNY/2014; dated 09/10/2014 (Chennai) has followed hon’ble Madras high court’s judgment M/s. Coimbatore District Central Co-Operative Bank Ltd. V/s. ITO, Tax case (Appeal) Nos. 588-645/2015 dated 15/10/2015 while adjudicating the very issue against the department. This is coupled with the fact that hon’ble jurisdictional high court in (2004) 134 com 1 (BOM) Jalgaon district Central Co-operative Bank Ltd., V/s Union Of India has quashed the CBDT’s circular dated 11.09.2002 as ultra vires violating section 119 of the Act.

Their lordship’s further decisions in The Bailhongal Urban Cooperative Bank Ltd., V/s. CIT and Saraswat co-operative Bank V/s. ITO take note of forgoing legislation developments to hold that a co-operative bank/ assessee has no liability to deduct TDS on interest payments made to members. We thus delete the impugned section 194A r.w.s. 40 (a)(ia) disallowance of Rs. 2,00,095/- in very terms therefore. The assessee’s sole substantive grievance is accepted therefore.