Global

Details

  • Service: Tax, Global Transfer Pricing Services, Global Compliance Management Services
  • Type: Regulatory update
  • Date: 1/28/2013

India - Transfer pricing adjustment for advertising, marketing, promotion expenses 

January 28:   The Delhi Special Bench of the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal found for the government in upholding a transfer pricing adjustment in relation to advertising, marketing, and sales promotion expenditures incurred by the taxpayer with respect to an intangible for and on behalf of a foreign related party.

The special bench concluded that the taxpayer’s activities concerning the marketing intangible can be construed to be a service provided by the taxpayer to the related party for which a mark-up is appropriate. LG Electronics India Private Ltd v. ACIT (ITA No. 5140/Del/2011)

Overview

The taxpayer (a wholly owned subsidiary of a Korean entity) was given the right to use technical information, designs, drawings, and industrial property rights in exchange for the payment of a royalty at the rate of 1%.


The taxpayer reported a sales ratio of 3.85%.


The Transfer Pricing Officer, however, considered information from two comparables to find a sales ratio of 1.39%; and that the taxpayer promoted the brand owned by the Korean related-party, the Transfer Pricing Officer concluded that the taxpayer ought to have been compensated by the Korean entity for the excess advertising, marketing, and promotion expenses of 2.46%. Thus, a transfer pricing adjustment was made.


A “special bench” was convened to consider the issues, and the recent decision upheld the transfer pricing adjustment.


Read a January 2013 report [PDF 224 KB] prepared the KPMG member firm in India: Transfer pricing adjustment in relation to AMP expenditure permissible – Delhi Special Bench of Tax Tribunal



Contact a tax professional with KPMG's Global Transfer Pricing Services.




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