Dr. Balabhai Nanavati Hospital[2017] 86 taxmann.com 107 (Mumbai – Trib.) SEPTEMBER 8, 2017
AMC was necessary to keep medical equipments and other hospital equipments in good working condition and this process was normally carried out by skilled mechanics and not any qualified technician. Through these AMCs, the assessee was carrying out routine normal maintenance which was covered by the provisions of section 195C and these were not technical services covered under section 194J.
As per Q. No. 29 of CBDT Circular No 7 dated 8-8-1995, Routine, normal maintenance contracts which includes supply o spares will be covered tinder Section 194C. However, where technical services are rendered, the provision of Section 1 94J will apply in regard to the deduction at source.
Held in Ultra Entertainment Solutions Ltd where in the election was regarding the nature of payments made by the assessee to another person , who was engaged by the assessee is to carry out all operations connected with the selling of online lottery tickets on behalf of the assesse, that tax is deductible u/s 194J
ITAT, Ahmedabad in the case of Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Ltd. vs. ITO, 3 SOT 468 (Ahd), wherein it was held that the payments made by the assessee company to Gujarat Electricity Board for entire operation and maintenance 6r’Power plant under a comprehensive contract could not be treated as payment “fees for professional services as contemplated in section 194J but were covered by section 194C of the Act”.
Decision dated 30.09.2011 in ITA Nos. 3059 to 3061 & 3081/Ahd./2009 of Ahmedabad Tribunal in the case of Nuclear Power Corporation Ltd, it has been held that repairs and annual maintenance of computers do not involve services of technical nature so as to be assessable as “fees for technical services” u/s 9(1)(vii) of the Act and hence the assessee was required to deduct TDS under Section 194C of the Act and not under Section 194J of the Act.
Hon’ble Madras High Court in the case of Skycell Communications Ltd. 251 ITR 53 (where it was held that the installation and operation of sophisticated equipments with a view to earn income by allowing customers to avail of the benefit of the user of such equipment does not result in the provision of technical service to the customer for a fee)
Similar decisions by the Bench of Mumbai Tribunal in the case of Dy. CIT v. Asian Heart Institute & Research Centre (P.) Ltd. [2017] 82 taxmann.com 250