PEELA GOVIND APPARAO, VISAKHAPATNAM V. INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD-4(3), VISAKHAPATNAM

ITA 16/VIZ/2023

AI Insights

The case involves Peela Govind Apparao, a wholesale trader in cement, who appealed against the orders of the Income Tax Officer and the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), National Faceless Appeal Centre, which had treated his cash deposits during the demonetization period as unexplained and subjected them to tax under section 115BBE of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Tribunal found that these deposits were part of the business turnover and thus should be taxed at a profit rate of 12.5%, rather than being treated as unexplained cash.

• Counselvise Citation: [2023] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 128602 (ITAT-VISAKHAPATNAM)
• Duration Of Justice: 1 month(s) 17 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 27-02-2023
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: PartlyAllowed
• Bench Allotted: SMC
• Next Hearing Date: 26-02-2023
• Assessment Year: 2017-2018
• Appeal Filed On: 10-01-2023
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act, 1961
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Section: 68; 144; 142(1); 69A

Judgement Text

आयकर अपीलȣयअͬधकरण, ͪवशाखापटणम पीठ, ͪवशाखापटणम IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, VISAKHAPATNAM BENCH, VISAKHAPATNAM Įी दुåवूǽ आर एल रेɬडी, ÛयाǓयक सदèय एवं Įी एस बालाकृçणन, लेखा सदèय के सम¢ BEFORE SHRI DUVVURU RL REDDY, HON’BLE JUDICIAL MEMBER आयकर अपील सं./ I.T.A. No.16/Viz/2023 (Ǔनधा[रण वष[ / Assessment Year :2017-18) Peela Govind Apparao, Visakhapatnam. PAN: AOPPP 2714 K Vs. Income Tax Officer, Ward-4(3), Visakhapatnam. (अपीलाथȸ/ Appellant) (Ĥ×यथȸ/ Respondent) अपीलाथȸ कȧ ओर से/ Appellant by : Sri GVN Hari, Advocate Ĥ×याथȸ कȧ ओर से / Respondent by : Sri ON Hari Prasada Rao, Sr. AR सुनवाई कȧ तारȣख / Date of Hearing : 27/02/2023 घोषणा कȧ तारȣख/Date of Pronouncement : 28/02/2023 O R D E R PER SHRI DUVVURU RL REDDY, JUDICIAL MEMBER This appeal filed by the assessee against the order of the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), National Faceless Appeal Centre, Delhi [CIT(A)-NFAC] vide DIN & Order No. ITBA/NFAC/S/250/2022-23/1047331575(1), dated 15/11/2022 2 arising out of the order passed U/s. 144 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 [the Act] for the AY: 2017-18. 2. The assessee has raised the following grounds of appeal: “1. The order of the Ld. CIT(A) is contrary to the facts and also the law applicable to the fac ts of the case. 2. The Ld. CIT(A) is not justified in deciding the appeal ex-par te. 3. The Ld. CIT(A) is no t justified in sustaining the addition of Rs. 21,17,600/- made by the Assessing Officer U/s. 69A of the Ac t towards alleged unexplained cash deposits in the bank account of the appellant. 4. The Ld. CIT(A) ought to have appreciated that the Assessing Officer having considered the cash deposits as turnover of the appellant and estimated the profit @ 8% ought not to have treated the very same cash deposits as unexplained. 5. Any other grounds may be urged at the time of hearing.” 3. Briefly stated the facts of the case are that the assessee is an individual and carrying on wholesale trade in Cement. The assessee filed his return of income regularly up to the AY 2016- 17. Subsequently, owing to losses in the business and family disputes, the assessee did not file his return of income. Thereafter, the assessee discontinued the business slowly in a phased manner and the business was totally stopped during the 3 FY 2018-19. During the FYs 2016-17 to 2018-19, the assessee sustained losses and hence the assessee furnish the return of income for the AY 2017-18. Notices U/s. 142(1) of the Act were issued on 29/1/2018; 19/06/2018; 04/09/2019. On 25/11/2019 show cause notice was also issued to the assessee but there was no reply from the assessee. Thereafter, the Ld. AO passed ex-par te order u/s. 144 of the Act and determined the total income at Rs. 24,92,280/- which includes two additions viz., (i) deposits in SBI, Kotapadu during demonetization period and treated the same as unexplained money U/s. 69A of the Act and charged the tax as per section 115BBE of the Act for Rs. 21,17,600/- and (ii) total deposits in CC Account and Current Account amounting to Rs.46,83,500/- treated as ‘turnover of the assessee’ and estimated the income thereon @ 8% ie., 3,74,640/-. The deposits in the bank account represent the realization of the amounts partly from sundry debtors of earlier years and partly from the current year sale proceeds. Considering the above stated facts, the Ld. AO estimated the income before the demonetization period and after demonetization period and brought to tax the entire deposits during the demonetization period U/s. 115BBE of the Act which works out to Rs. 21,17,000/- and passed the assessment order on 29/11/2019. On being aggrieved by the 4 order of the Ld. AO, the assessee preferred an appeal before the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC. On appeal before the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC, inspite of issuance of notice, the assessee did not respond and therefore the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC passed the order confirming the order of the Ld. AO. On being aggrieved by the order of the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC, the assessee is in appeal before the Tribunal by raising the above mentioned grounds of appeal. 4. Before me, it is the contention of the Ld. AR that the Ld. AO has failed to consider the cash deposits during the demonetization period as the assessee’s business turnover and considered them only as cash deposits and estimated the income @ 8% ie., before demonetization. The Ld. AR further submitted that the Ld. AO has treated the entire cash deposits made during the demonetization period as unexplained cash deposits and made an addition u/s. 68 of the Act and U/s. 115BBE of the Act. But the said amount pertains to the sale proceeds of the assessee. This fact was not considered by the Ld. AO and the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC and erred in invoking the provisions of section 115BBE of the Act against the deposits made by the assessee during the demonetization period. Therefore, the Ld. AR pleaded 5 for estimation of income @ 8% on the deposits made during the demonetization period also. Per contra, the Ld. DR submitted that the assessee has not furnished any details regarding the cash deposits and therefore, the Ld. AO as well as the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC have rightly invoked the provisions of section 115BBE of the Act and pleaded for confirming the orders of the Ld. Revenue Authorities. 5. I have heard both the sides and perused the material available on record and the orders of the Ld. Revenue Authorities. During the course of arguments, it is the submission of the assessee that this Tribunal may be pleased to estimate the profit of the assessee @ 8% on the deposits made by the assessee during the demonetization period but the Ld. DR requested that in the absence of any details, the estimation @ 12.5% is justifiable. Considering the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case as well as considering the nature of business of the assessee and accepting the contention of the Ld. DR, I find it reasonable to estimate the profit of the assessee @ 12.5% on the cash deposits made by the assessee during the demonetization period considering the said deposits are his business income/turnover. Accordingly, I direct the Ld. AO to consider the 6 profit of the assessee @ 12.5% on the deposits made by the assessee during the demonetization period. It is ordered accordingly. Thus, the grounds raised by the assessee are partly allowed. 6. In the result, appeal of the assessee is partly allowed. Pronounced in the open Court on the 28 th February, 2023. Sd/- (दुåवूǽ आर.एल रेɬडी) (DUVVURU RL REDDY) ÛयाǓयकसदèय/JUDICIAL MEMBER Dated : 28.02.2023 OKK - SPS आदेश कȧ ĤǓतͧलͪप अĒेͪषत/Copy of the order forwarded to:- 1. Ǔनधा[ǐरती/ The Assessee – Peela Govind Apparao, Prop. Govind Enterprises, D.No. 27-9, 9 th Ward, Gavarapeta, Gondupalem Vilalge, K. Kotapadu Mandal, Visakhapatnam. 2. राजèव/The Revenue – Income Tax Officer, Ward-4(3), Pratyakshakar Bhavan, MVP Double Road, Visakhapatnam. 3. The Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, 4. आयकर आयुÈत (अपील)/ The Commissioner of Income Tax 5. ͪवभागीय ĤǓतǓनͬध, आयकर अपीलȣय अͬधकरण, ͪवशाखापटणम/ DR, ITAT, Visakhapatnam 6. गाड[ फ़ाईल / Guard file आदेशानुसार / BY ORDER Sr. Private Secretary ITAT, Visakhapatnam