ITO WD 2(4), THANE V. SAI SHAKTI ENTERPRISES, MUMBAI

ITA 4266/MUM/2014

• Counselvise Citation: [2017] 126 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 8929 (ITAT-MUMBAI)
• Duration Of Justice: 3 year(s) 4 month(s) 10 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 27-10-2017
• Appeal Filed By: Department
• Order Result: Dismissed
• Bench Allotted: E
• Assessment Year: 2005-2006
• Appeal Filed On: 16-06-2014
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: V JUSTIN
• Assessee Lawyers: V IRAG H SHAH
• Keywords: Business income
• Section: 44AD; 143(3); 194C; 263

Judgement Text

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, BENCH E, MU MBAI BEFORE SHRI R.C. SHARMA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER AND SHRI PAWAN SINGH, JUDICIAL MEMBER ITA NO. 145/MUM/2010 (ASSESSMENT YEAR-2005-06) SAI SHAKTI ENTERPRISES, SHOP NO. 2, BUILDING NO. B/4, SHANTI NAGAR, SECTOR 10, MIRA ROAD, THANE-400604. PAN: AAXFS8506L VS. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX-1, THANE, FIRST FLOOR, VARDHAN BUILDING, MIDC, WAGLE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, THANE-401107 (APPELLANT) (RESPONDENT) ITA NO. 4266/MUM/2014 (ASSESSMENT YEAR-2005-06) INCOME TAX OFFICER, ASHAR I.T. PARK, 6 TH FLOOR, WAGLE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, ROAD NO. 167, THANE (W) VS. SAI SHAKTI ENTERPRISES, SHOP NO. 2, BUILDING NO. B/4, SHANTI NAGAR, SECTOR 10, MIRA ROAD,THANE. PAN: AAXFS8506L (APPELLANT) (RESPONDENT) REVENUE BY : SHRI V. JUSTIN (SR. DR) ASSESSEE BY : SHRI VIRAG H. SHAH (ADVOCATE) DATE OF HEARING : 18.10.2017 DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT : 27.10.2017 ORDER UNDER SECTION 254(1) OF INCOME TAX ACT PER PAWAN SINGH, JUDICIAL MEMBER: 1. THESE TWO APPEAL UNDER SECTION 253 OF THE INCOME-TA X ACT (THE ACT) ARE DIRECTED AGAINST THE ORDER OF LD. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX, THANE, DATED 19 TH MARCH 2009 PASSED UNDER SECTION 263 AND THE ORDER OF LD. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX(APPEALS) II CIT(A)], DA TED 24 TH MARCH 2 ITA NO. 145/M/10 & 4266/M/201-SAI SHAKTI ENTERPRISE S 2014. BOTH THE APPEALS ARE FILED FOR ASSESSMENT YEA R 2005-06. FIRST APPEAL BY ASSESSEE FOR CHALLENGING THE ORDER PASSED BY LEARNED COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX UNDER SECTION 263 DATED 19.03.2009. AND THE SECOND APPEAL BY REVENUE ARISING OUT OF ORDER O F LD. CIT (A) DELETING THE ADDITIONS IN QUANTUM ASSESSMENT ADDED BY ASSES SING OFFICER WHILE GIVING EFFECT TO THE ORDER OF LD. COMMISSIONER OF I NCOME-TAX UNDER SECTION 263 OF THE ACT DATED 19 TH MARCH 2009. AS BOTH THE APPEALS RELATES TO THE SAME ASSESSMENT YEAR, THUS, BOTH WERE HEARD TOGETHER AND ARE DECIDED BY COMMON ORDER. ITA NO 145/M/2010 BY ASSESSEE 2. AT THE OUTSET OF THE HEARING, THE LD. AR FOR THE AS SESSEE SUBMITS THAT HE IS NOT PRESSING THIS APPEAL AND THE APPEAL MAY BE DISM ISSED AS NOT PRESSED. THE LD. DR HAS NO OBJECTION. CONSIDERING THE PRAYER OF LD. AR FOR THE ASSESSEE, THE APPEAL FILED BY ASSESSEE AGAINST THE ORDER OF LD. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX UNDER SECTION 263 DATED 19.03.2009 IS DISMISSED AS NOT PRESSED. ITA NO.4266/M/2014 3. BRIEF FACTS OF THE CASE ARE THAT ASSESSEE IS A BUIL DER AND DEVELOPER, FILED ITS RETURN OF INCOME FOR RELEVANT ASSESSMENT YEAR ON 31 ST OF OCTOBER 2005 DECLARING TOTAL INCOME OF RS. 3,40,630/-. THE ASSESSMENT WAS COMPLETED ON 12 TH FEBRUARY 2007 UNDER SECTION 143(3) OF THE ACT. 3 ITA NO. 145/M/10 & 4266/M/201-SAI SHAKTI ENTERPRISE S SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ASSESSMENT ORDER WAS SET-ASIDE BY LEARNED COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX UNDER SECTION 263 VIDE O RDER DATED 19 TH MARCH 2009 AND DIRECTED THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO F RAME THE ASSESSMENT ORDER DE-NOVO WITH DIRECTION TO ADOPT THE PERCENTAGE COMPLETION METHOD OF ACCOUNTING. THE ASSESSING OFFI CER IN COMPLIANCE OF THE DIRECTION OF LEARNED COMMISSIONER OF INCOME- TAX PASSED THE ASSESSMENT ORDER UNDER SECTION 143 (3) RWS 263 ON 1 4 TH DECEMBER 2009. THE ASSESSING OFFICER WHILE PASSING THE FRESH ASSES SMENT ORDER MADE ADDITION ON ACCOUNT OF ESTIMATED PROFIT AT THE RATE OF 20% FOR RS.12,24,439/- AND DISALLOWED RS. 30,12,625/-UNDER SECTION 40 (A)(IA) HOLDING THAT THE ASSESSEE FAILED TO DEDUCT TAX AT S OURCE ON VARIOUS EXPENSES UNDER CHAPTER XVIIB OF THE ACT. ON APPEAL BEFORE COMMISSIONER (APPEALS) THE ESTIMATED PROFIT WAS SUS TAINED @ 8% AND THE DISALLOWANCE UNDER SECTION 40(A) (IA) WAS DELET ED. THUS, AGGRIEVED BY THE ORDER OF COMMISSIONER (APPEALS) THE REVENUE HAS FILED PRESENT APPEAL BEFORE US RAISING THE FOLLOWING GROUNDS OF APPEAL: 1. THE LD. CIT(A) ERRED BY REDUCING THE NET PROFIT FRO M 20% ADOPTED BY AO TO 8% WITHOUT ANY BASIS AND ALSO IGNORING THE FACT THA T SECTION 44AD IS NEITHER APPLICABLE TO A BUSINESS HAVING TURNOVER EX CEEDING RS. 40 LACS IN GENERAL NOR APPLICABLE TO THE BUSINESS OF A BUILDER AND DEVELOPER INVOLVING TRADING ACTIVITY IN ADDITION TO THE CONSTRUCTION AC TIVITY ( IN THE PRESENT CASE) IN PARTICULAR. 2. THE LD. CIT(A) ERRED IN DELETING THE ADDITION MADE U/S 40(A)(IA) INCORRECTLY HOLDING THAT N FURTHER DISALLOWANCE SHOULD BE MADE WHEN NET PROFIT IS ESTIMATED AFTER REJECTING THE BOOKS WITHOUT APPRECI ATING THE FACT THAT THE APPLICABILITY OF THE SECTION 40(A)(IA) HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH REJECTION/ACCEPTANCE OF BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS. 4 ITA NO. 145/M/10 & 4266/M/201-SAI SHAKTI ENTERPRISE S 3. THE ORDER OF THE CIT(A) MAY BE VACATED AND THAT OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER BE RESTORED. 4. WE HAVE HEARD THE LD. DR FOR THE REVENUE AND LD. AR FOR THE ASSESSEE AND PERUSED THE RECORD. GROUND NO.1 RELATES TO RESTRICT ING THE NET PROFIT FROM 20% TO 8%. THE LD. DR FOR THE REVENUE ARGUED THAT D URING THE RELEVANT PERIOD THE ASSESSEE HAS UNDERTAKEN A PROJECT VIZ SA I SRUTI COMPLEX CONSISTING OF THREE WINGS I.E. A, B & C, CONSISTING AREA OF 21605 SQ. FT., 13225 SQ. FT. AND 13075 SQ. FT RESPECTIVELY. A WI NG IS COMPLETED AND C WING COMPLETED TO 70%. THE ASSESSEE HAS SHOWN GROSS PROFIT @ 9.77% FOR AY 2003-04, 12.52% FOR AY 204-05 AND 8.65% FOR AY 2005-06. THE ASSESSEE WAS NOT SHOWING THE CORRECT GROSS PROFIT T HUS, AO ESTIMATED THE GP @ 20%. THE LD. CIT(A) RESTRICTED THE ESTIMATED I NCOME @ 12%. THE ASSESSEE HAS NOT SHOWN SEPARATE EXPENDITURE FOR ALL WINGS. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE LD. AR OF THE ASSESSEE SUPPORTED THE ORDE R OF LD. CIT(A). THE LD. AR OF THE ASSESSEE WOULD ARGUED THAT THE LD. CIT(A) ON THE BASIS OF GP RATIO OF PREVIOUS OR SUBSEQUENT YEAR RESTRICTED THE PROFIT RATE OF ASSESSEE @ 8% OF TOTAL SALES OF RS. 1,52,71,355/-. THE LD. A R SUBMITS THAT THE DETAILS OF GROSS PROFIT FOR AY 2006-07 TO AY 2009-1 0 IS FILED ON RECORD VIDE PAGE NO. 32 OF PAPER BOOK. 5. WE HAVE CONSIDERED THE RIVAL SUBMISSION OF THE PART IES AND HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ORDERS OF AUTHORITIES BELOW. DURING THE ASSESSMENT PROCEEDING THE AO NOTICED THAT ASSESSEE HAS SHOWN S ALE OF RS. 5 ITA NO. 145/M/10 & 4266/M/201-SAI SHAKTI ENTERPRISE S 1,52,71,355/-, FINISHED STOCK OF RS. 40,95,622/- AN D CLOSING WORKING PROGRESS OF RS. 78,09,413/-. THE ASSESSEE CLAIMED O PENING WIP OF RS.95,93,556/-, PURCHASE OF PLOT OF LAND FOR RS. 35 ,57,998/-, PURCHASE OF RS. 97,94,267/-, LABOUR CHARGES OF RS. 30,44,850/- AND OTHER EXPENSES OF RS. 9,32,411/-. THE ASSESSEE SHOWN GROSS PROFIT OF RS. 9,32,411/- AFTER CLAIMING VARIOUS EXPENSES. THE ASSESSEE DECLARED BO OK PROFIT OF RS. 6,55,205/- BEFORE REMUNERATION AND INTEREST TO THE PARTNERS. AFTER ALLOWING REMUNERATION AND INTEREST OF RS. 3,14,580/ - TO ITS PARTNERS, THE ASSESSEE HAS SHOWN TAXABLE INCOME OF RS. 3,40,625/- . THE ASSESSEE WAS ASKED TO EXPLAIN AS TO WHY PERCENTAGE COMPLETION ME THOD SHOULD NOT BE APPLIED. THE ASSESSEE FILED ITS REPLY AND CONTENDED THAT THEY ARE FOLLOWING PERCENTAGE METHOD OF ACCOUNTING CONSISTENTLY FOR RE COGNIZING REVENUE AND PROFIT. THE ASSESSEE ALSO FURNISHED THE DETAILE D SHOWING THE YEAR-WISE PROFIT & LOSS WITH DETAILED PARTICULARS. THE CONTEN TION OF THE ASSESSEE WAS NOT ACCEPTED BY THE AO HOLDING THAT THE ASSESSEE IS REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE ACCOUNTING METHOD WHICH SHOULD RESULT IN DISCLOSER OF TRUE, FAIR AND CORRECT PICTURE OF THE ACCOUNTS FOR ASCERTAINING TR UE INCOME. THE AO CONCLUDED THAT C WING WAS COMPLETED AND A WING COMPLETED TO 70%. TILL 31.03.2005 THE ASSESSEE WAS SHOWING TOTAL RECE IPT OF RS.1,69,42,513/- FOR A WING OUT OF WHICH RS. 1,52,71,355/- HAS BE EN SHOWN AS A SALE DURING AY 2005-06 AND BALANCE OF RS. 16,71,158/- HA S BEEN SHOWN AS 6 ITA NO. 145/M/10 & 4266/M/201-SAI SHAKTI ENTERPRISE S ADVANCE. FOR C WING ADVANCE OF RS.20,11,364/- IS SHOWN. THUS, THE ASSESSEE IS SHOWING TOTAL ADVANCE OF RS.41,27,522/- , INCLUDING THE ADVANCE OF B WING OF RS.4,45,000/-. THE AO FURTHE R CONCLUDED THAT THE WORK COMMENCED IN AY 2003-04. IN AY 2003-04 THE ASS ESSEE HAS SHOWN GROSS PROFIT (GP) OF RS.9,961/- AND FOR AY 2004-0 5 GROSS PROFIT OF RS.10,65,951/-. FOR AY 2005-06 THE ASSESSEE HAS SHO WN GROSS PROFIT OF RS. 9,32,411/-. THE AO CONCLUDED THAT THE GP RATIO WHICH WAS SHOWN BY ASSESSEE AT 9.77% FOR AY 2003-04, 12.52% FOR AY 200 4-05 AND 8.65% FOR AY 2005-06 IS NOT CONSISTENT. NO BIFURCATION OF EXPENSES FOR A & C WING IS GIVEN, THOUGH A BLOCK IS COMPLETE AND C BLOCK IS 70% COMPLETE AND THE ASSESSEE HAS SHOWNGP RATIO RANDOML Y ON ESTIMATE BASIS. ACCORDINGLY, THE GROSS PROFIT SHOWN BY THE ASSESSEE WAS REJECTED AND AO ESTIMATED PROFIT FOR YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION @ 20% OF TOTAL ADVANCE RECEIVED OF RS.1,07,84,248/-. THE AO WORKED OUT EST IMATED PROFIT TO RS. 21,56,850/- THEREBY MAKING ADDITION OF RS. 12,24,43 9/- (RS. 9,32,411/- DECLARED BY ASSESSEE + RS. 12,24,439/- TOTAL RS. 21 ,56,850/-). BEFORE THE LD. CIT(A) THE ASSESSEE CONTENDED THAT ASSESSEE IS CONSISTENTLY FOLLOWING PERCENTAGE COMPLETION METHOD OF ACCOUNTING AND NOT THE PROJECT COMPLETION METHOD. THE ASSESSEE OFFERED PROFIT ON Y EAR TO YEAR BASIS BY DETERMINING PROFIT EVEN IN RESPECT OF PROJECT WHICH ARE NOT COMPLETE. THE ASSESSEE FURNISHED YEAR-WISE CHART SHOWING YEAR-WIS E ADVANCES RECEIVED, 7 ITA NO. 145/M/10 & 4266/M/201-SAI SHAKTI ENTERPRISE S GP AND NP RATIO. THERE IS NO DEVIATION IN THE ACCOU NTING METHOD WHICH IS CONSISTENTLY FOLLOWED BY ASSESSEE FROM AY 2003-04. THE ASSESSEE FURTHER CONTENDED THAT REVENUE FOR THE INCOMPLETE PROJECT I S ALSO RECOGNIZED IN IMMEDIATELY SUCCEEDING AY 2006-07. THE LD. CIT(A) O N THE BASIS OF DETAILS OF SALE, FINISHED STOCK AND WORK-IN-PROGRES S FROM AY 2003-04 OBSERVED THAT ASSESSEE HAS SHOWN NET PROFIT OF RS. 8,160/- FOR AY 2003- 04 DESPITE NO SALE. IN AY 2004-05 THERE WAS NO SALE , THE ASSESSEE HAS SHOWN NET PROFIT OF RS. 4,90,651/-. THE LD. CIT(A) OBSERVED THAT ASSESSEE WAS FOLLOWING PERCENTAGE COMPLETION METHOD. THE ASS ESSEE HAS SHOWN NET PROFIT OF RS. 6,55,204/- ON SALE OF RS. 1,52,71 ,355/- IN ADDITION TO THE CLOSING FINISHED STOCK OF RS. 40,95,622/- AND WORK- IN-PROGRESS OF RS. 78,09,413/-. THE NET PROFIT OF THE RECEIPT FROM CUS TOMER IS 6.08%. THE LD. CIT(A) FURTHER CONSIDERED THE NET PROFIT FOR SUBSEQ UENT YEAR PARTICULARLY FOR AY 2008-09 AND 2009-10 WHICH IS SHOWN AT 15.91% AND 11.53% RESPECTIVELY. ON THE BASIS GROSS PROFIT & NET PROFI T RATIO, THE LD. CIT(A) RESTRICTED THE ADDITION @ 8% OF TOTAL SALE OF RS. 1 ,52,71,355/-. THE LD. CIT(A) FURTHER CONCLUDED THAT NET PROFIT WILL BE PR OFIT BEFORE PAYMENT OF INTEREST AND REMUNERATION TO THE PARTNERS. WE HAVE SEEN THAT THE LD. CIT(A) PASSED THE ORDER AFTER CONSIDERING THE ALL M ATERIAL AVAILABLE ON RECORD. THE LD. DR FOR THE REVENUE FAILED TO CONVIN CE US AS TO WHY NET PROFIT @ 8% OF TOTAL SALE IS NOT REASONABLE ONE. TH E ASSESSEE HAS OFFERED 8 ITA NO. 145/M/10 & 4266/M/201-SAI SHAKTI ENTERPRISE S THE NET PROFIT FOR SUBSEQUENT AY @ 15.91% FOR AY 20 08-09 AND 11.53% FOR AY 2009-10. IN OUR VIEW, THE LD. CIT(A) ARRIVED ON A FAIR CONCLUSION. THUS, THE DECISION OF LD. CIT(A) IS QUITE REASONED AND DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY INTERFERENCE AT OUR END. HENCE, THIS GROUND OF APPEAL RAISED BY REVENUE IS DISMISSED. 6. GROUND NO. 2 RELATES TO DELETION OF ADDITION UNDER SECTION 40(A)(IA). THE LD. DR FOR REVENUE ARGUED THAT DURING THE RELEVANT AY THE ASSESSEE HAS CLAIMED LABOUR CHARGES, BROKERAGE AND ADVERTISEMENT CHARGES. HOWEVER, THE ASSESSEE HAS NOT DEDUCTED TAX AT SOURCE. THE AO RIGHTLY MADE THE DISALLOWANCE UNDER SECTION 40(A)(IA). ON THE OTHER HAND, THE LD. AR OF THE ASSESSEE SUPPORTED THE ORDER OF LD. CIT(A), IT WAS ARGUED THAT THE ASSESSEE WAS NOT LIABLE TO DEDUCT TAX AT SOURCE. IN SUPPORT OF HIS SUBMISSION, THE LD. AR OF THE ASSESSEE RELIED UPON THE DECISION OF TEJA CONSTRUCTION VS. ACIT (2010) 39 SOT (HYD), ITO VS. SAHADEV PRADHAN ( 2013) 33 TAXMANN.COM 563 (CUTTACK), CIT VS. SIKANDAKHAN N. T UNVER (2013) 33 TAXMANN.COM 133 (GUJ. HC). WE HAVE CONSIDERED THE R IVAL SUBMISSION OF THE PARTIES AND HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ORDERS OF AUT HORITIES BELOW. DURING THE ASSESSMENT, THE AO NOTICED THAT ASSESSEE HAD PA ID LABOUR CHARGES OF RS. 28,61,000/-, ADVERTISEMENT CHARGES OF RS. 81,70 0/- AND BROKERAGE CHARGES OF RS. 69,925/- WITHOUT DEDUCTION OF TAX AS PER SECTION 194C OF THE ACT. THE AO DISALLOWED THE ENTIRE EXPENSES HOLD ING THAT ASSESSEE HAS 9 ITA NO. 145/M/10 & 4266/M/201-SAI SHAKTI ENTERPRISE S NOT DEDUCTED TAX AT SOURCE BEFORE MAKING PAYMENT TO THE CONTRACTOR. THE LD. CIT(A) WHILE CONSIDERING THE CONTENTION OF THE ASSESSEE OBSERVED THAT THAT SAID AMOUNTS WERE NOT OUTSTANDING ON 31.03.200 5. THE LD. CIT(A) OBSERVED THAT AS PER THE DIRECTION OF LD. CIT-I, TH ANE UNDER SECTION 263, THE NET PROFIT WAS REQUIRED TO BE ESTIMATED AND ONC E THE NET PROFIT IS APPLIED AFTER REJECTING THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT, NO FU RTHER DISALLOWANCE CAN BE MADE OUT OF THE EXPENSES. THE LD. CIT(A) TOOK TH IS VIEW ON THE BASIS OF DECISION IN CASE OF TEJA CONSTRUCTION (SUPRA) & SAHADEV PRADHAN (SUPRA). THE LD. CIT(A) ALSO RELIED ON THE DECISION OF CIT VS. DEVI PRASAD VISHWANATH PRASAD, 72 ITR 194 WHEREIN IT WAS HELD T HAT WHEN THE BUSINESS INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE HAD BEEN ESTIMATED AND DETERMINED, IN SUCH CASES, THE AO IS PRECLUDED FROM ADDING ANY UNE XPLAINED CASH CREDIT. THE LD. CIT(A) FURTHER CONCLUDED THAT NO AMOUNT WHI CH WAS SUBJECTED TO DISALLOWANCE UNDER SECTION 40(A)(IA) WAS OUTSTANDIN G AS ON 31.03.2005, THUS, THE SAME WAS NOT DISALLOWABLE IN VIEW OF THE DECISION OF HONBLE ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT IN CIT VS. VECTOR SHIPPING SER VICES PVT. LTD. (2013) 38 TAXMANN.COM 77. THE LD. DR FOR THE REVENU E HAS NOT BROUGHT ANY CONTRARY DECISION FOR OUR CONSIDERATION FOR TAK ING CONTRARY VIEW TO THE DECISION OF LD. CIT(A). WE HAVE SEEN THAT THE LD. C IT(A) PASSED THE ORDER AFTER CONSIDERING THE FACT OF THE CASE AND THE LAW RELATED TO DISALLOWANCE UNDER SECTION 40(A)(IA) THAT WHEN THE INCOME OF AS SESSEE IS ASSESSED ON 10 ITA NO. 145/M/10 & 4266/M/201-SAI SHAKTI ENTERPRISE S ESTIMATION BASIS, THE ASSESSING OFFICER IS PRECLUDE D FROM MAKING ADDITION ON ACCOUNT OF EXPENSES. THUS, WE DO NOT FIND ANY ME RIT IN THE GROUND OF APPEAL RAISED BY REVENUE. HENCE, THIS GROUND OF APP EAL IS ALSO DISMISSED. 7. GROUND NO.3 IS GENERAL AND NEEDS NO ADJUDICATION. 8. IN THE RESULT, APPEAL OF THE REVENUE IS DISMISSED. ORDER PRONOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT ON 27 TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2017. SD/- SD/- (R.C. SHARMA) (PAWAN SINGH) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER MUMBAI; DATED 27/10/2017 S.K.PS COPY OF THE ORDER FORWARDED TO : BY ORDER, (ASSTT.REGI STRAR) ITAT, MUMB AI 1. THE APPELLANT 2. THE RESPONDENT. 3. THE CIT(A), MUMBAI. 4. CIT 5. DR, ITAT, MUMBAI 6. GUARD FILE. //TRUE COP