P.Chatterjee, J. - (1.) This is a reference under Section 66(1) of the Indian Income-lax Act, 1922. The Commissioner of Income-tax is the applicant. The assessment relates to the year 1953-54. The corresponding accounting year ended on the 30th June, 1952.
(2.) The assessee is a limited company. Its head office is in Calcutta. The assessee purchases and sells jute in the State of Orissa. The assessee is a registered dealer under the Orissa Sales Tax Act. During the accounting year the assessee sold jute to Messrs. McLeod & Co. Ltd.; the said company purchased the said jute for being used in two jute mills under its management, namely, Chitavatsah and Nellimarla Jute Mills. These jute mills are in Andhra Pradesh. The assessee used to charge sales tax at the rate of one anna per rupee on the value of the goods. Such sales tax was charged under a separate head in the bill in the following manner : "Sales tax, buyer's account... at the rate of one anna per rupee to be paid to the Orissa Government ". In the balance-sheet of the assessee as on the 30th June, 1952, under the head "Liability for expenses" a sum of Rs. 16,54,455 was shown on account of sales tax. The said sum was not actually paid to the Orissa Government during the year in question.
(3.) Hence the question arose as to whether the sum of Rs. 16,54,455 should be included in the total income of the assessee.;