Income from operating and maintaining IT Park is subject to tax as business income

Facts and Issue of the Case

The facts of the case as emanating from records are: The assessee is engaged in developing, operating and maintaining Information Technology Park(IT Park). The assessee received income of Rs.11,83,86,181/- from letting out, operating and maintaining of IT Park named G-Corp Tech Park and offered the same to tax under the head ‘Business Income’. In scrutiny assessment proceedings the Assessing Officer did not concur with the assessee’s claim with respect to income from IT Park as ‘Business Income’. The Assessing Officer held that rental income from IT Park is assessable under the head ‘Income from House Property’. Aggrieved against the assessment order, the assessee carried the issue in appeal before the CIT(A), assailing the findings of Assessing Officer in treating the income from operating and maintaining G-Corp Tech Park as income from ‘house property’. The CIT(A) after considering the facts and various decisions reversed the findings of Assessing Officer and held that the receipts from operation and maintenance of G-Corp Tech Park is to be assed under the head ‘Income from Business’. Hence, the present appeal by the Revenue.

Per contra, Shri Mehil Golvala appearing on behalf of the assessee supported the findings of CIT(A). The ld. Authorized Representative for the assessee referred to the Memorandum of Association of the assessee company at page 14 of the paper book. The ld. Authorized Representative for the assessee pointed that the main objects of the assessee company is to develop and operate technological parks, software parks, electronic and hardware technology park, etc. The ld. Authorized Representative for the assessee referred to CBDT Circular No.16/2017 dated 25/04/2017 to contend that lease rent from letting out the building, developing space along with amenities in an industrial park/SEZ is to be considered as ‘business income’. The ld. Authorized Representative for the assessee placed reliance on the decision rendered in the case of CIT vs. Magarpatta Township & Development Construction Co. Ltd. in Income Tax Appeal No. 318 of 2015 decided on 19/12/2017. The ld. Authorized Representative for the assessee further pointed that in the immediate preceding Assessment Year and in the succeeding Assessment Year the CIT(A) has accepted the plea of assessee and held the income from operating and maintaining G-Corp Tech Park assessable under the head ‘Business Income’. The Revenue has accepted the findings of CIT(A) as no appeal was filed by the Department against the said ordes. The ld. Authorized Representative for the assessee furnished copy of the order passed by CIT(A) in assessee’s own case for Assessment Year 2011-12 and order of CIT(A) for Assessment Year 2013-14.

Observation by the court

The court heard orders of authorities below examined. It is an undisputed fact that the assessee is operating and maintaining IT Park- G-Corp Tech Park. The issue in present appeal is in narrow encompass i.e. Whether the income from operating and maintaining of IT Park is to be assessed under the head ‘Income from House Property’ or under the head ‘Income from Business’. It is an unrebutted fact that in the preceding Assessment Year i.e. Assessment Year 2011-12 and in immediate succeeding Assessment Year i.e. Assessment Year 2013-14, the CIT(A) has held the income from operating and maintaining the same IT Park as income assessable under the head ‘Business Income’. No material has been placed on record to show that any appeal was filed by the Revenue against the order of CIT(A) for Assessment Year 2011-12 or Assessment Year 2013-14. Thus, the Revenue has accepted the same. Following the principle of consistency, appeal of the Revenue is liable to be dimissed.

Be that as it may, the CBDT vide Circular No.16/2017 in the light of decision rendered in the case of CIT vs. Velankani Information Systems Pvt. Ltd. reported as CIT vs. Information Technology Park Ltd. has clarified that in the case of an undertaking which develops and operates, or maintain and operate an industrial park/SEZ notified in accordance with scheme framed and notified by the Government, the income from letting out of the premises/developing space along with other facilities in an industrial park, SEZ is to be charged to tax under the head ‘profits and gains of business’. The Hon’ble Jurisdictional High Court in the case of CIT vs. Magarpatta Township & Development Construction Co. Ltd. (supra), after considering the aforesaid circular has reiterated this position.

Conclusion

The appeal of the revenue is dismissed by the court .

DCIT-Vs-N.V.Developers-Pvt.-Ltd.-ITAT-Mumbai

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