RUTH MAMIDI, WEST GODAVARI V. INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD-1, TADEPALLIGUDEM

ITA 3/VIZ/2023

AI Insights

The case involves Mrs. Ruth Mamidi, who appealed against the order of the CIT(A)-NFAC, which arose from an ex-parte assessment order under Section 144 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for the Assessment Year 2017-18. The Income Tax Department had identified substantial cash deposits made by the assessee during the demonetization period, which were not accompanied by a corresponding income tax return. The Tribunal examined the sources of these deposits, including the sale of inherited agricultural land and gifts received, and assessed their legitimacy based on the evidence provided.

• Counselvise Citation: [2023] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 135782 (ITAT-VISAKHAPATNAM)
• Duration Of Justice: 6 month(s) 12 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 16-07-2023
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: PartlyAllowed
• Bench Allotted: SMC
• Next Hearing Date: 20-06-2023
• Assessment Year: 2017-2018
• Appeal Filed On: 03-01-2023
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act, 1961
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Keywords: Gift
• Section: 271(1)(c); 144; 139; 142(1); 250; 69A

Judgement Text

आयकरअपीलȣयअͬधकरण, ͪवशाखापटणमपीठ, ͪवशाखापटणम IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, VISAKHAPATNAM ‘SMC’ BENCH, VISAKHAPATNAM Įीदुåवूǽआरएलरेɬडी, ÛयाǓयकसदèयकेसम¢ BEFORE SHRI DUVVURU RL REDDY, HON’BLE JUDICIAL MEMBER आयकरअपीलसं./ I.T.A. No.03/Viz/2023 (Ǔनधा[रणवष[/ Assessment Year: 2017-18) Mrs. Ruth Mamidi, 3-45 Ananthapalli, Ramalayam Veedhi, Nallajerla Mandal, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh – 534111. PAN: CXMPM 2888 M Vs. Income Tax Officer, Ward-1, Tadepalligudem, Andhra Pradesh-534101. (अपीलाथȸ/ Appellant) (Ĥ×यथȸ/ Respondent) अपीलाथȸकȧओरसे/ Appellant by : Sri C. Subrahmanyam, AR Ĥ×याथȸकȧओरसे/ Respondent by : Sri ON Hari Prasada Rao, Sr. AR सुनवाईकȧतारȣख/ Date of Hearing : 21/06/2023 घोषणाकȧतारȣख/Date of Pronouncement : 17/07/2023 O R D E R PER DUVVURU RL REDDY, Judicial Member : This appeal filed by the assessee is directed against the order of the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-National Faceless Appeal Centre, Delhi [Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC] in DIN & Order No. ITBA/NFAC/S/250/2022-23/1043242493(1), dated 30/05/2022 arising out of the order passed U/s. 144 of the 2 Income Tax Act, 1961 [the Act], dated 19/12/2019 for the AY 2017-18. 2. At the outset, it is noticed from order sheet that there is a delay of 159 days in filing the appeal before the Tribunal. In this regard, the Ld. AR drawn the attention of the Bench to the affidavit filed by the assessee wherein the explained the reasons and sought for condonation of delay and the relevant portions from the affidavit are extracted herein below: “1. ...... 2. However, on 22/07/2022, assessee slipped while climbing the steps and injured herself. Immediately thereon went for medical treatme nt upon which it was diagnosed that the assessee fractured her left leg for which she was treated and the Doctor advised the assessee to take co mple te bed rest for 6 weeks. 3. In the meanwhile filing of appeal slipped out of assessee’s mind. Whereas, during the third week of Dece mber, 2022, assessee received a phone call fro m the Inco me Tax Officer to pay the tax de mand outstanding for the subject AY. Immediately, thereaf ter assessee realized that an appeal against the impugned order passed U/s. 271(1)(c) of the Act which she was conte mplating to file could not be filed. Thereupon, assessee approached the Counsel on 27/12/2022 who said he shall do the needful within a week’s time accordingly, the appeal was filed on 4/01/2023 as against the due date i.e., 289/07/2022 causing a delay of 206 days. 5. But for the reasons stated herein above, assessee has no malafide intentions in filing the appeal within the due date as provided in the statute . 6 .......” 3 3. From the above contents of the affidavit filed by the assessee, I am of the considered view that there is a reasonable and sufficient cause that prevented the assessee in filing the appeal before the Tribunal within the prescribed time limit. Therefore, in my view, it is a fit case to condone the delay and hence I hereby condone the delay of 159 days in filing the appeal before the Tribunal and proceed to adjudicate the appeal on merits. 4. Brief facts of the case are that on the basis of data analytics and information gathered during the phase of online verification under ‘Operation Clear Money’, the Income Tax Department gathered a list of assessees who had deposited substantial cash in bank account(s) but not filed their return of income for the AY 2017-18. In such assessee’s list, the Department found that the assessee (Smt. Mamidi Ruth) has made cash deposits of Rs. 41,50,000/- in her bank accounts during the Financial Year 2016-17 besides other credits through transfers / cheques at Rs. 4,63,635/- the details of which are tabulated by the Ld. AO in his order at page 2. As per the data available before the Ld. AO, it is noted by the Ld. AO that the assessee has made cash deposits of Rs. 41,50,000/- during the AY under consideration but not filed 4 her return of income for AY 2017-18 U/s. 139 of the Act. Accordingly, the Ld. AO issued notice U/s. 142(1) of the Act on 12/3/2018 and served on the assessee on 15/3/2018 and called for the assessee to file her return of income as per the relevant provisions of the Act. But the assessee failed to furnish the return of income either U/s. 139 of the Act or in response to the notice issued U/s. 142(1) of the Act. However, the assessee was given an opportunity vide letter dated 21/8/2019 and served on the assessee on 24/8/2019. Considering the non-compliance of the assessee, the Ld. AO issued a show cause letter dated 20/09/2019 and served on the on 21/9/2019 manually and another show cause letter on 03/12/2019 and requested her to furnish the information called for and asked as to why the cash deposits made by the assessee during the demonetization period should not be treated as her undisclosed cash credits made into her bank accounts. Since the assessee did not furnish the information and explanation with evidence with respect to the cash deposits made, the Ld. AO invoked the provisions of section 144(1)(b) of the Act and completed the assessment proceedings ex-parte and passed the assessment order U/s. 144 of the Act dated 19/12/2019. In the assessment, the Ld. AO made an addition of Rs. 46,13,635/- U/s. 69A of the Act and determined 5 the total income at Rs. 46,13,635/- against the NIL income returned by the assessee. Aggrieved by the order of the Ld. AO, the assessee filed an appeal before the Ld. CIT(A), NFAC. On appeal, the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC considered the submissions of the assessee and partly allowed the appeal of the assessee by granting relief to the assessee to the extent of Rs. 6,50,000/-. Aggrieved by the order of the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC, the assessee is in further appeal before the Tribunal by raising the following Grounds of Appeal: “1. That under the facts and circumstances of the case the orders passed under the provisions of section 250 of the Ac t is contrary to the provisions of law. 2. The Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC having given relief to the extent of Rs. 6,50,000/- erred in confirming the balance amount of Rs. 39.80 lakhs U/s. 69A of the Ac t. 3. The Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC failed to consider the submissions made before him and the evidence filed but concluded the proceedings in a summary and casual manner, therefore such order is no t legally tenable and liable to be dismissed. 4. The Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC failed to adjudicate the ground wherein the assessee challenged the applicability of the amend ment brought into section 115BBE of the Ac t which is operational from 15/12/2016 and canno t be made applicable for deposits made prior to this date. 5. For these and other reasons that are to be urged at the time of hearing of the case the appellant prays that the additio ns made are 6 unwarranted, therefore the same may be deleted in the interest of justice and fair play.” 5. At the outset, the Ld. AR submitted before me that the assessee’s parents were holding 8.30 acres of agricultural land in West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh and also gold jewellery of 6 Tulas. After the demise of assessee’s parents, the assessee and her sister inherited 8.30 acres of agricultural land out of which the assessee got 5.07 Acres as her share and assessee’s sister got 3.23 Acres. After the division of shares, the Revenue records were also accordingly got mutated in the case of the assessee. Thereafter, assessee decided to dispose off the existing dry land and to buy agricultural wet land and therefore the assessee sold out her agricultural land vide registered document dated 28/12/2016 for a sale consideration of Rs. 25,71,000/-. During the time registration, the purchaser of the land made a request to get the signatures of the assessee’s sister and assessee’s son & daughter. Since, the said three individuals are no way concerned with the ownership of the land, they have agreed and singed the sale document. The assessee’s children and her sister have confirmed the same by submitting their confirmation letters stating that they are only signatories in the document and no way concerned with the land disposed off by 7 the assessee.Though these facts are placed before the Ld. AO during the assessment proceedings, the Ld.AO did not consider them and came to an arbitrary conclusion that since there are 4 co-owners to the impugned land sold as per the sale deed including the assessee, only 1/4 t h of the assessee’s share of sale consideration / cash is available with the assessee for depositing into the bank account. Accordingly, the ld.AO disallowed 3/4 th of the sale consideration and considered the proportionate cash deposit by the assessee as unexplained cash before, during and after demonetization period. Further, the Ld. AR also submitted that since the value of the land proposed to be purchased by the assessee is around Rs. 40 lakhs to Rs. 50 lakhs, the assessee required some additional funds to purchase the land, apart from the sale consideration received towards sale of agricultural land. Therefore, keeping the mother’s situation in mind, the assessee’s son Mr. R. Kanaka Rao gifted Rs. 15 lakhs in cash of Rs. 5 lakhs each on three occasions. The assessee also accumulated her past saving and the receipts / proceeds from the sale of agricultural activity and pooled up the total money to purchase the proposed agricultural wet land. Since the deliberations were going on pending purchase of the land, the assessee was holding the pooled up cash, as explained above but in the meanwhile on 8 8/11/2016 demonetization was announced and therefore the assessee has deposited an amount aggregating to Rs. 41,50,000/- on various dates [Rs. 7/11/2016-Rs. 10,00,000/-; 10/11/2016- Rs. 30,00,000/- and on 23/02/2017-Rs. 1,50,000/-]. The Ld. AR further submitted that out of the above deposits, the assessee deposited Rs. 10,00,000/- to her son’s account through bank transfer and Rs. 30,00,000/- was also deposited by way of transfer. Even though these facts were explained to the Ld. AO, he did not consider the same and brought the amount of Rs. 41,50,000/- along with cash credit of Rs. 4,63,635/- to tax and made addition U/s. 69A of the Act. The Ld. AR further submitted that on appeal to the First Appellate Authority, the Ld. CIT(A)- NFAC did not consider the above facts and granted a part relief to the assessee. Before me Ld. AR pleaded that with regard to the sale of the agricultural land, gift received by the assessee and the receipts from the agricultural activity, the documentary evidence were produced before the Bench by way of paper book containing 29 pages. He further pleaded that the deposits are fully explained by the assessee, the additions made by the Ld. Revenue Authorities may be deleted and the assessee may be granted relief. 9 6. On the other hand, the Ld. DR vehemently argued in support of the orders of the Ld. Revenue Authorities and supported the decision taken by them. 7. I have heard both the sides and perused the material available on record and the orders of the Ld. Revenue Authorities. From the record available before me, it is apparent that the assessee made cash deposits aggregating to Rs. 46,13,635/- during the period from 7/11/2016 to 29/12/2016.With respect to these cash deposits, it was explained by the assessee’s Ld. AR that the source for the said cash deposits is as under: (i) With respect to Rs. 15 lakhs the Ld.AR submitted that this amount was received by the assessee as a gift on three occasions from the assessee’s son Mr. R. Kanaka Rao on various dates ie., 25/09/2017; 10/10/2016 and 29/10/2016 (Rs. 5 lakhs on each date). (ii) On 26/10/2016 the assessee entered into an agreement ofsale of immovable property valued at Rs. 25,71,000/- out of which the assessee has received Rs. 22 lakhs on 26/10/2016 and the balance amount of Rs. 3,71,000/- on 31/10/2016 as sale consideration. 10 (iii) On 28/12/216 and 29/12/2016 the assessee deposited Rs. 4 laksh and Rs. 60,000/- as the same are the receipts from agricultural activities and past savings. 8. Explaining the cash deposit of Rs. 10,00,000/- on 7/11/2016, the Ld. AR brought my attention to the bank statements filed in the paper book(Pages 9 to 10)and demonstrated that the assessee had deposited Rs. 10,00,000/- [Rs. 5,00,000 + Rs. 5,00,000] on 07/11/2016 and the source for the same is out of the gift received from the assessee’s son as explained above. This deposit was made by the assessee since the assessee’s proposal to purchase agricultural wet land did not materialize and therefore the assessee returned the gift amount of Rs. 10,00,000/- received from his son.Before me, it is the pleading of the Ld. AR that the assessee has received the gift of Rs. 10,00,000/- from his son but on the same day the assessee deposited the same amount and transferred the sum of Rs. 10,00,000/- to her son’s account before demonetization period, and therefore this sum of Rs. 10 lakhs should not be added as an income of the assessee. On perusal of the bank statement and the relevant documents placed before me, I am of the opinion that the argument of the assessee holds merit on this issue and in my view the deposit of Rs. 10 lakhs is properly explained by 11 the assessee with evidence. Therefore, I hereby delete the addition of Rs. 10 lakhs made by the Ld. Revenue Authorities as unexplained cash deposit made by the assessee before the demonetization period. It is ordered accordingly. 9. With respect to cash deposit of Rs. 30,00,000/- the Ld. AR submitted that Rs. 30,00,000/- was deposited by the assessee on 10/11/2016. The source for the same is out of the sale proceeds of agricultural land for Rs. 25,71,000/- by executing a registered sale deed coupled with agreement of sale. He further submitted that in the assessment, the Ld. AO made addition of Rs. 30 lakhs as unexplained cash deposits during the demonetization period. On appeal, the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC observed that since there are 4 co-owners of the impugned land sold by the assessee as per the sale deed,1/4 th of the sale consideration of the agricultural land shall only be the available cash to deposit into the bank account. Therefore, the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC granted relief to the extent of Rs. 6,27,500/- [mentioned as Rs5,50,000/- in the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC order]. On this aspect, the contention of the assessee is that the assessee herself is the absolute owner of the immovable property while the other three individuals are assessee’s sister, assessee’s son &daughter only signatories to the document. He also 12 explained that while executing the sale deed, the purchaser requested the assessee to get the signatures of the above three individuals as the agricultural land was inherited property from the parents of the assessee. Therefore, it was submitted that the said three individuals viz., assessee’s sister, assessee’s son & daughter are no way concerned with the land and due to the request made by the purchaser they have also signed on the document as sellers of the property. To this effect, they have also furnished the confirmation letters before the Ld. AO and the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC and even before the Tribunal. Apart from that, the assessee also filed Revenue records showing the land holdings i.e., Pattadar Pass Book, Adangal and IB Record wherein it was clearly mentioned that the assessee is the sole owner of the property. Therefore, considering the above facts and circumstances of the case as well as the evidence produced before Tribunal, I have no hesitation to come to a conclusion that the assessee is the sole owner of the property and therefore the entire sale consideration of Rs. 25,71,000/- should be treated as the source of the assessee. Thus, the assessee’s cash deposit of Rs. 25,71,000/- into the bank account ie., Rs. 22,00,000/- on 26/10/2016 and Rs. 3,71,000/- on 31/10/2016is treated as explained and the balance of Rs.4,29,000 [Rs. 30,00,000 – Rs. 13 25,71,000 = Rs.4,29,000] is treated as unexplained and I hereby confirm the action of the Ld. Revenue Authorities to this extent. It is ordered accordingly. 10. So far as the deposits of Rs. 4,00,000/- on 28/12/2016 and Rs. 60,000/- on 29/12/2016 are concerned, the contention of the assessee is that the assessee sold the agricultural proceeds on the date of sale of agricultural land and thereby the assessee received an amount of Rs. 4,60,000/- which includes personal saving also. To this extent the assessee has not produced any convincing and satisfactory documentary evidence before the Bench. However, the assessee being a woman agriculturist and having agricultural holdings, in the absence of any evidence, I deem it reasonable to allow Rs. 2,00,000/- as the assessee’s source for her deposit and the balance of Rs. 2,60,000/- [Rs. 4,60,000 – Rs. 2,00,000] is hereby confirmed. 11. So far as Rs. 1,50,000/- deposited on 23/02/2017 is concerned the assessee contended before me that this amount is accumulated from her savings in the past years. During the proceedings before the Ld. Revenue Authorities, the assessee has not produced either documentary evidence or proper explanation on this issue. However, the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC was of the view that 14 since the assessee is an old aged women agriculturist, the assessee must be having some cash for her medical expenses and therefore taking a lenient view, the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC considered Rs. 1,00,000/- as the assessee’s Stridhan/Pin money and confirmed the amount of Rs. 50,000/- as unexplained cash deposit.In this situation, considering the facts and circumstances of the case relatable to this issue, I am of the view that the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC has rightly adjudicated this issue and therefore there is no infirmity in the order of the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC. Accordingly, the sustenance of addition of Rs. 50,000/- is hereby confirmed. 12. In the result, appeal of the assessee is partly allowed. Pronounced in the open Court on 17 th July, 2023. Sd/- (दुåवूǽआर.एलरेɬडी) (DUVVURU RL REDDY) ÛयाǓयकसदèय/JUDICIAL MEMBER Dated : 17 th July, 2023 OKK - SPS आदेशकȧĤǓतͧलͪपअĒेͪषत/Copy of the order forwarded to:- 1. Ǔनधा[ǐरती/ The Assessee–Mrs. Ruth Mamidi, 3-45 Ananthapalli, Ramalayam Veedhi, Nallajerla Mandal, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh – 534111. 15 2. राजèव/The Revenue – Income Tax Officer, Officer of the Income Tax Department, Ward-1, Aayakar Bhawan, D.No. 2-1-56/1, Opp. Punjab National Bank, K.N. Road, Tadepalligudem, Andhra Pradesh – 534101. 3. The Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, 4. आयकरआयुÈत (अपील)/ The Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), 5. ͪवभागीयĤǓतǓनͬध, आयकरअपीलȣयअͬधकरण, ͪवशाखापटणम/ DR,ITAT, Visakhapatnam 6. गाड[फ़ाईल / Guard file आदेशानुसार / BY ORDER Sr. Private Secretary ITAT, Visakhapatnam