THE DY. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, CENTRAL CIRCLE-5(1), MUMBAI V. M/S PRITI CONSTRUCTION, MUMBAI

ITA 2780/MUM/2022

AI Insights

The case involves the revenue's appeal against the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) - 53, which had deleted the additions made by the Assessing Officer on account of bogus purchases, subcontract expenses, and unsecured loans. The assessee, M/s Priti Constructions, a partnership firm engaged in civil contract works, was subjected to a reassessment under section 147 of the Income Tax Act following a search and seizure operation. The Assessing Officer had made additions to the assessee's income for the assessment year 2013-14, which were contested and subsequently deleted by the CIT(A). The revenue's appeal to the Tribunal challenged the CIT(A)'s decision, arguing that the assessee had not substantiated the genuineness of the transactions. However, the Tribunal upheld the CIT(A)'s decision, agreeing that the assessee had provided sufficient evidence to substantiate the transactions.

• Counselvise Citation: [2023] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 299394 (ITAT-MUMBAI)
• Duration Of Justice: 6 month(s) 2 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 02-05-2023
• Appeal Filed By: Department
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: G
• Next Hearing Date: 05-02-2023
• Assessment Year: 2013-2014
• Appeal Filed On: 30-10-2022
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act
• Result in Favour of: Revenue
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Keywords: Bogus purchase; Additional evidence; Accommodation entries
• Section: 147; 68; 143(3); 142(1); 153A; 250; 43; 13

Judgement Text

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL “G” BENCH, MUMBAI BEFORE SHRI B.R BASKARAN, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER & SHRI PAVAN KUMAR GADALE, JUDICIAL MEMBER ITA No. 2780/Mum/2022 (A.Y: 2013-14) The DCIT,Central.C.5(1), Room No. 1928, 19 th Floor,Air India Bldg, Nariman Point, Mumbai-400021. Vs. M/sPritiConstructions, C, 113, Shyam Kamal, 27, Tejpal Road, Vile Parle (E), Mumbai-400057. PAN/GIR No. : AAAFP0516A Appellant .. Respondent Appellant by : Shri.Dr.Kishor Dhule CIT-DR & Smt. Neeraja Sharma.DR Respondent by : Shri. JP Bairagra, Shri Ashiskumar Bairagra & Shri Akhilesh Pevekar. AR Date of Hearing 06.02.2023 Date of Pronouncement 03.05.2023 आदेश / O R D E R PER BENCH: The revenue has filed the appeal against the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) – 53 passed u/s 250 of the Act. The revenue has raised the following grounds of appeal: i. Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the LdCIT(A) erred in deleting the addition of Rs. 6,46,000/- on account of bogus purchase ignoring the ITA No. 2780/Mum/2022 M/s Priti Construction., Mumbai. - 2 - fact that the assessee failed to prove the genuineness of purchases, and any expenditure in respect of which payments by account payee cheques is not enough evidence to prove the genuineness of the transaction ? ii. Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld. CIT(A) is justified in deleting the addition of Rs. 1,43,84,669/- as alleged sub-contract expenses ignoring the facts that the assessee failed to prove the genuineness of these expenses and to produce evidences to substantiate the genuineness ?" iii. Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld. CIT(A) erred in deleting the addition of Rs. 50,00,000/- u/s 68 of the Act in respect of unsecured loans ignoring the facts that the assessee has not proved the genuineness of the transaction, the identity of the creditors, and credit-worthiness of the parties to the satisfaction of the AO, so as to discharge the primary onus?" iv. "The appellant craves to leave, to add, to amend and / or to alter any of the ground of appeal if need be." 2. The brief facts of the case are that the assessee is a partnership firm and is engaged in the business of civil contract works, construction of roads and buildings and undertakes BMC and Government contract works. The assessee has filed the return of income for the A.Y 2013-14 on 30.09.2013 disclosing a total income of Rs. 1,49,27,450/- and the scrutiny assessment was completed u/s 143(3) of the Act on ITA No. 2780/Mum/2022 M/s Priti Construction., Mumbai. - 3 - 02.03.2016 determining total income of Rs. 1,49,27,450/-. There was search and seizure action U/sec132 of the Act carried out in the group of M/s RPS Infra Projects and related entities on 06.11.2019. Therefore the assessments relating to A.Y. 2014-15 to 2017-18 and subsequent years were covered and completed u/s 143(3) r.w.s 153A of the Act. The Assessing officer (A.O) found that the assessee is a beneficiary of accommodation entries in the nature of purchases, subcontract expenses and labour charges and unsecured loans in the F.Y.2012-13 and the A.O. has a reason to believe that the income has escaped the assessment and issued notice U/sec148 of the Act. In compliance, the assessee has filed the return of income on 14.04.2021 disclosing a total income of Rs.1,49,27,450/- and the assessee was provided with the reasons for reopening and the assessee has filed objections. The A.O. has disposed off the objections on 24.12.2021. 3. The A.O. has issued notice U/sec 142(1) of the Act calling for the details on the disputed issues. The assessee has filed the voluminous details substantiating the claims made in the Audited ITA No. 2780/Mum/2022 M/s Priti Construction., Mumbai. - 4 - financial statements and the return of income filed. Whereas the A.O. in order to verify the genuineness of the transactions has issued notice U/sec133(6) of the Act on the parties concerned with the purchases, subcontract expenses and unsecured loans. Since these entities have not provided the complete details, the A.O. has issued show cause notice referred at Para 6 of the order. In response to the notice, the assessee has submitted the details vide letter dated 25.03.2022 referred at page 6 to 13 of the order. The assessing officer dealt on the facts and submissions on expenditure on account of bogus purchases at Para 7 to 7.11 of the order and made disallowance of purchases from M/s Nidhi Enterprises of Rs.6,46,000/-. On the second disputed issue of expenditure on bogus sub contract payments, the A.O. has dealt on the facts pertaining to the party at page 37 to 43 of the order and made disallowance of payments made to M/s R.K.Builders Rs1,43,84,669/-. And the on the Last disputed issue of unsecured loans the A.O. has considered the submissions and dealt at Para 8 to 8.10 of the order and made addition of unsecured loan account of M/s Kanak ITA No. 2780/Mum/2022 M/s Priti Construction., Mumbai. - 5 - Gems Pvt Ltd of Rs.50,00,000/-as unexplained cash credits u/sec 68 of the Act. Finally the A.O. has assessed the total income of Rs.3,49,68,120/- and passed the order u/sec 147 r.w.s 143(3) of the Act dated 26.03.2022. 4. Aggrieved by the order, the assessee has filed an appeal before the CIT(A). Whereas, the CIT(A) has considered the grounds of appeal, submissions of the assessee, findings of the scrutiny assessment, remand report, provisions of law, judicial decisions and up held the validity of reassessment proceedings u/sec147 of the Act and granted relief in other grounds of appeal observing at page 8 Para 5 to 7.1 of the order read as under: 5. Ground No.2 is regarding disallowance of Rs.6,46,000/- as alleged bogus purchases. 5.1 During A.Y2013-14, the AO has disallowed purchases of Rs. 6,46,000/made by the assessee from Nidhi Enterprises. The facts of the case, findings of the AO in the assessment order and the submission made by the appellant are similar to that for A.Y. 2014-15. The issue has been discussed in Para no.6 of this appellate order for A.Y. 2014-15 and the ground has been adjudicated in favour of the assessee. There is no material change in the facts of the case for A.Y2014-15 and 2013-14, thus, following the decision taken on this ITA No. 2780/Mum/2022 M/s Priti Construction., Mumbai. - 6 - issue in A.Y. 2014-15, Ground Nos. 2 of the appeal for A.Y. 2013-14 are also allowed. Accordingly, ground no. 2 of the appeal is allowed. 6. Ground No.3 is regarding disallowance of Rs.1,43,84,669/- in respect of bogus Sub contract. 6.1 During A.Y. 2013-14, the AO has disallowed job work and labour expenses of Rs.1,43,84,669/- made to R. K. Builders. The facts of the case, findings of the AO in the assessment order and the submission made by the appellant are similar to that for A.Y. 2014-15. The issue has been discussed in Para no. 7 of this appellate order for A.Y. 2014-15 and the ground has been adjudicated in favour of the assessee. Thus, following the decision taken on this issue in A.Y. 2014-15, Ground No. 3 of the appeal for A.Y. 20163-14 is allowed. Accordingly, ground no. 3 of the appeal is allowed. 7. Ground No.4 is regarding addition of Rs.50,00,000/- u/s. 68 of the Act in respect of unsecured loans. 7.1 For A.Y. 2013-14, the AO has made addition of unsecured loans of Rs.50,00,000/- from Kanak Gems Pvt. Ltd. The issue regarding addition of unsecured loans from the said party has been discussed in Para 8 of the appellate order for A.Y. 2014-15. With respect to the said unsecured loans received from the said party, the facts of the case, findings of the AO in the assessment order and the submission made by the appellant are similar to that for A.Y. 2014-15. For A.Y. 2014-15, the addition made by the AO in respect of unsecured loans has been deleted. There is no change in material facts of the case for A.Y.2014-15 and AY.2013-14, thus, following the decision taken on this ITA No. 2780/Mum/2022 M/s Priti Construction., Mumbai. - 7 - issue in A.Y. 2014-15, the addition made by the AO in respect of unsecured loans received from Kanak Gems PvtLtd in A.Y. 2013-14 is also deleted. Accordingly, Ground No.4 of the appeal is Partly Allowed. The CIT(A) has considered the submissions, details and relied on the similar findings and decision of the appellate authority in the subsequent assessment years and deleted the additions made in respect of bogus purchases, subcontract expenses, unsecured loan and partly allowed the assessee appeal. Aggrieved by the order of the CIT(A), the revenue has filed the appeal before the Honble Tribunal. 5. At the time of hearing, the Ld.DR submitted that the CIT(A) has erred in deleting bogus purchases expenses, bogus subcontract expenses were the assessee has not substantiated the claim with the complete details and the CIT(A) has erred in deleting the unsecured loan though the assessee has not proved the identity, genuineness and creditworthiness of the lender and the Ld.DR supported the order of the A.O and prayed for allowing the revenue. Per Contra, the Ld. AR ITA No. 2780/Mum/2022 M/s Priti Construction., Mumbai. - 8 - supported the order of the CIT(A) and substantiated the submissions with the factual paper book, notes and judicial decisions. 6. We heard the rival submissions and perused the material on record. The grievance of the revenue that, the CIT(A) has erred in deleting the additions of the bogus purchases expenses, bogus subcontract expenses and unsecured loan .The Ld.AR submitted that the assessee has cooperated in submitting the information in the assessment proceedings, whereas the A.O has ignored the information, evidences and Audited financial statements. The Ld. AR emphasized that the assessee has discharged its burden by submitting the details/information in the original assessment proceedings and in the remand proceedings. Whereas in respect of bogus purchases and subcontract expenses, the assessee has submitted the details of PAN, income tax returns, copies of bills, ledger confirmation, bank statement and Form.no.26AS. But the AO has made addition as the parties were not produced and the payments were not proved. In the appellate proceedings before the CIT(A), the assessee has filed additional evidence and ITA No. 2780/Mum/2022 M/s Priti Construction., Mumbai. - 9 - CIT(A) has admitted the evidence and issued directions to the A.O. and called for the report. In the remand proceedings before the A.O, the parties have appeared and furnished the details and the A.O. has recorded the submissions. The third disputed issue with respect to unsecured loan, the assessee has obtained loan during the year and the transactions were reflected in the financial statements. The assessee has submitted the documentary evidence with PAN number of lender, address, contact number, confirmation, Income tax returns, bank statement, audited balance sheet, MCA data and GST details. 7. The CIT(A) has called for the remand report from the AO on the additional evidence and in the remand proceedings the parties have appeared before the AO and the statement was recorded. Further the assessee also submitted the audited financial statements, confirmations, Bank statements, copy of the income tax return, to substantiate the genuineness and credit worthiness of loan creditor. The CIT(A) has considered the facts, circumstances and remand report and observed that the assessee prima-facie has complied the ingredients required u/s 68 of the Act of identity, ITA No. 2780/Mum/2022 M/s Priti Construction., Mumbai. - 10 - genuineness and creditworthiness. Further, the CIT(A) relied on the judicial decisions and test checked the genuineness and creditworthiness of the lender and the CIT(A) came to a reasonable conclusion that the assessee has discharged its burden on submitting the information. We considered the facts, circumstances and submissions as discussed above are of the view that the CIT(A) has passed a reasoned and conclusive order. Accordingly we do not find any infirmity in the order of the CIT(A) and uphold the same and dismiss the grounds of appeal of the revenue. 8. In the result, the appeal filed by the revenue is dismissed. Order pronounced in the open court on 03.05.2023. Sd/- Sd/- (B R BASKARAN) (PAVAN KUMAR GADALE) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER Mumbai, Dated 03.05.2023 KRK, PS Copy of the Order forwarded to : 1. The Appellant 2. The Respondent ITA No. 2780/Mum/2022 M/s Priti Construction., Mumbai. - 11 - 3. The CIT (Judicial) 4. The PCIT 5. DR, ITAT, Mumbai 6. Guard File आदेशान ु सार/ BY ORDER, //True Copy//() 1. ( Asst. Registrar) ITAT, Mumbai