A 'Clarificatory' Provision In Tax Laws Cannot Impose A New Condition Retrospectively: Supreme Court
Live LawA retrospective provision in a tax act which is "for the removal of doubts" cannot be presumed to be retrospective, even where such language is used, if it alters or changes the law as it earlier stood, the Supreme Court observed while holding that Explanation 3C to Section 43B of the Income Tax Act is 'clarificatory' and does not add a new condition retrospectively.The bench of Justices. A retrospective provision in a tax act which is "for the removal of doubts" cannot be presumed to be retrospective, even where such language is used, if it alters or changes the law as it earlier stood, the Supreme Court observed while holding that Explanation 3C to Section 43B of the Income Tax Act is 'clarificatory' and does not add a new condition retrospectively. Section 43B reads as follows: Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, a deduction otherwise allowable under this Act in respect of— xxx xxx xxx any sum payable by the assessee as interest on any loan or borrowing from any public financial institution or a State financial corporation or a State industrial investment corporation, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement governing such loan or borrowing, or xxx xxx xxx shall be allowed only in computing the income referred to in section 28 of that previous year in which such sum is actually paid by him: Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply in relation to any sum which is actually paid by the assessee on or before the due date applicable in his case for furnishing the return of income under sub-section of section 139 in respect of the previous year in which the liability to pay such sum was incurred as aforesaid and the evidence of such payment is furnished by the assessee along with such return. Before the High Court, Revenue filed appeal raising the question "Whether the funding of the interest amount by way of a term loan amounts to actual payment as contemplated by Section 43B of the Income-tax Act, 1961?"