M/S Jagraon Exports v. C.I.T-I Ludhiana
Background
This batch of twelve connected tax appeals all raised the same question: whether the proceeds generated from selling factory scrap should be counted as part of a business's "total turnover" when computing the special export deduction under Section 80HHC of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Decision Breakdown
The Court relied on its own recent decision in Commissioner of Income Tax vs Punjab Stainless Steel Industries & Ors. ([2014] 364 ITR 144 (SC)), which had already settled that scrap-sale proceeds are not part of "total turnover" for Section 80HHC purposes. Applying that precedent directly, the Court allowed all the appeals in Jagraon Exports' favour without further elaboration.
Lesson Learnt
Money earned from selling scrap material is treated differently from a business's main sales revenue for certain tax-deduction calculations: a useful point for exporters computing turnover-based tax benefits.