NARESH MEHTA, MUMBAI V. COMM OF INCOME TAX(A) -50, MUMBAI

ITA 1204/MUM/2022

• Counselvise Citation: [2022] 106 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 1952 (ITAT-MUMBAI)
• Duration Of Justice: 1 month(s) 9 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 28-06-2022
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: D
• Assessment Year: 2018-2019
• Appeal Filed On: 19-05-2022
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Keywords: Opportunity of being heard
• Section: 273B; 142(1); 246A

Judgement Text

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL MUMBAI BENCH “D”, MUMBAI BEFORE SHRI AMIT SHUKLA, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND SHRI GAGAN GOYAL, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER ITA NOS. 1200 TO 1205/MUM/2022 : A.Ys : 2014-15 TO 2019-20 Naresh Mehta 394-B, Gupta Nivas, 1 st floor, Block No. 7, Bhav Daji Road, Matunga, Mumbai 400 019 PAN : AAEPM4671M (Appellant) Vs. Dy. Commissioner of Income Tax, Central Circle – 8(1), Mumbai. (Respondent) Appellant by : None Respondent by : Mahita Nair Date of Hearing : 29/06/2022 Date of Pronouncement : 29/06/2022 O R D E R PER BENCH : The aforesaid appeals have been filed by the assessee against separate impugned orders of even date, 28.03.2022, passed by learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-50, Mumbai (in short ‘CIT(A)’) in relation to proceedings under Section 271(1)(b) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (in short ‘the Act’) by levying penalty of Rs.10,000/-. 2. Facts in brief emanating from the appellate order is that in the course of assessment proceedings under Section 153A/143(3) of the Act for the aforesaid assessment years, the Assessing Officer had issued notice under Section 142(1) on 17.12.2020 asking for various details from the assessee. The notice was served electronically and according to the Assessing Officer, 2 ITA Nos. 1200 to 1205/Mum/2022 Naresh Mehta assessee had filed part submissions or has not filed detailed submissions to explain the case. While levying penalty the Assessing Officer has observed as under :- “3. Despite issuing penalty show cause for non-compliance the assessee has not filed all points/questionnaire asked in notice u/s 142(1) of the I.T. Act. Therefore, the assessing officer has left with no other option but to levy the penalty in this case. As the assessee has not bothered to respond the notice(s) issued in this case therefore, the undersigned assessing officer is satisfied that this is a fit case for levy of penalty u/s 271(1)(b) and hereby levy a penalty of Rs.10,000/- u/s 271(1)(b) for failing in complying with notice(s) issued under section 142(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. issue. Demand notice and Challan accordingly.” 3. The ld. CIT(A) has confirmed the penalty simply stating that the appellant-assessee has failed to avail the opportunity of being heard offered by the Assessing Officer and assessee cannot be said to be aggrieved person in terms of provisions of Section 246A of the Act. 4. A perusal of the submissions which was rendered before the Assessing Officer and ld. CIT(A), as incorporated in the appellate order, shows that the assessee had stated that, due to pandemic situation of Covid-19, the movement and attendance of the staff of authorised representatives and Chartered Accountant’s was seriously affected. There was practical difficulty in all these appeals as either the staff or their family members were infected with Covid and, therefore, even if part compliance was made, it was not a case for levy of penalty under Section 271(1)(b) of the Act. 5. Once the assessee has given such a reason and during that time the entire country was going through the pandemic situation of Covid-19 restrictions and despite that, assessee has made part compliance and later on, assessment has been completed under Section 153A/143(3) of the Act, 3 ITA Nos. 1200 to 1205/Mum/2022 Naresh Mehta then we do not find any reason as to why such a harsh step of initiating and levying of penalty under Section 271(1)(b) of the Act should be imposed for part non-compliance. In fact, the Hon'ble Supreme Court taking cognisance of the pandemic situation had extended the time limit from 15.03.2020 till 28.02.2022 though for the purpose of limitation. Now, the Assessing Officer is alleging that the assessee did not fully comply with notice dated 17.12.2020 and even the ld. CIT(A) did not find it to be reasonable cause, which in our opinion is a too stringent view under these circumstances. Accordingly, we hold that there was sufficient reasonable cause within the ambit and scope of Section 273B of the Act and, therefore, penalty levied under Section 271(1)(b) of the Act of Rs.10,000/- in all the assessment years is directed to be deleted. 6. In the result, all the appeals of the assessee are allowed. Order pronounced in the open court on 29.06.2022. Sd/- Sd/- (GAGAN GOYAL) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER (AMIT SHUKLA) JUDICIAL MEMBER Mumbai, Date : 29.06.2022 *SSL* Copy to : 1) The Appellant 2) The Respondent 3) The CIT(A) concerned 4) The CIT concerned 5) The D.R, “D” Bench, Mumbai 6) Guard file By Order Asstt. Registrar/Sr. Private Secretary I.T.A.T, Mumbai