The Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Circle-2(1), Vijayawada V. Smt. Dhulipudi Saroja Ramesh, Vijayawada

ITA 603/VIZ/2019

• Counselvise Citation: [2021] 109 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 4705 (ITAT-VISAKHAPATNAM)
• Duration Of Justice: 1 year(s) 3 month(s) 27 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 12-02-2021
• Appeal Filed By: Department
• Order Result: Dismissed
• Bench Allotted: DB
• Assessment Year: 2014-2015
• Appeal Filed On: 15-10-2019
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: T S N MURTHY
• Keywords: Business income
• Section: 143(3); 13; 37

Judgement Text

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL VISAKHAPATNAM BENCH, VISAKHAPATNAM BEFORE SHRI N.K. CHOUDHRY, HONBLE JUDICIAL MEMBER & SHRI D.S. SUNDER SINGH, HON'BLE ACCOUNTANT MEMBER I.T.A. NO. 603 /VIZ/2019 (ASST. YEAR : 2014 - 1 5 ) ACIT, CIRCLE - 2(1), VIJAYAWADA. VS. SMT. DHULIPUDI SAROJA RAMESH , D.NO. 59 - 7 - 18/4, ACHARYA RANGA STREET, GAYATRINAGAR, VIJAYAWADA. (APPELLANT) PAN NO. AFVPD 0846 D (RESPONDENT) ASSESSEE BY : SHRI C.SUBRAHMANYAM , FC A DEPARTMENT BY : SHRI T.S.N. MURTHY , CIT DR DATE OF HEARING : 0 1 / 02 /2021 . DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT : 12 / 0 2 /2021 . O R D E R PER N.K. CHOUDHRY , JUDICIAL MEMBER THIS APPEAL HAS BEEN PREFERRED BY THE REVENUE DEPARTMENT AGAINST THE ORDER DATED 17/07/2019 IMPUGNED HEREIN PASSED BY THE LD. CIT(A), VIJAYAWADA U/SEC. 250(6) OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, 1961 (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS 'ACT') FOR THE A.Y. 2014 - 15 . 2. BRIEF FACTS OF THE CASE ARE THAT THE ASSESSEE BEING PROPRIETOR OF M/S. L AASYA GARMENTS, ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF CU TTING AND STITCHING OF UNIFORMS HAD FILED HER 2 ITA NO. 603/VIZ/2019 ( SMT. DHULIPUDI SAROJA RAMESH ) RETURN OF INCOME BY ADMITTING TOTAL INCOME OF RS. 13,30,280/ - FOR THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION ON 30/11/2014. THE AO WHILE COMPLETING THE ASSESSMENT U/SEC. 143(3) O F THE ACT DETERMINED THE TOTAL TAXABLE INCOME AT RS. 3,27,36,875/ - AND MADE CERTAIN ADDITIONS WHICH INCLUDES AD HOC DISALLOWANCE TO THE TUNE OF RS. 2,36,88,075/ - I.E. @25% OF VARIOUS HEADS OF EXPENDITURE AND DISALLOWANCE OF INTEREST PAID ON GOLD LOAN U/SEC. 37 (1) OF THE A CT TO THE TUNE OF RS.3,84,184/ - , WHICH ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION IN THE INSTANT APPEAL. 3. THE ASSESSEE CHALLENGED THE ADDITIONS/DISALLOWANCES INTER - ALIA MENTIONED ABOVE BEFORE THE LD. CIT(A) . THE LD.CIT(A) VIDE IMPUGNED ORDER DELETED THE A D HOC DISALLOWANCE OF EXPENDITURE AND DIRECTED THE AO TO DETERMINE THE BUSINESS INCOME @ 8% OF THE TURNOVER. FURTHER THE LD. CIT(A) DIRECTED THE AO TO DELETE THE DISALLOWANCE OF INTEREST ON GOLD LOAN TO THE TUNE OF RS.3,84,184/ - MADE IN THE ASSESSMENT ORDER. 4. THE REVENUE DEPARTMENT PREFERRED THE INSTANT APPEAL AND SUBMITTED THAT THE IMPUGNED ORDER IS NOT ONLY ERRONEOUS AND AGAINST THE LAW BUT ALSO IMPROPER AND SUFFERS FROM PERVE RSITY. ON THE CONTRARY THE LD. A R REFUTED THE CLAIM OF THE DEPARTMENT AND SUPPORTED THE IMPUGNED ORDER. 5. HEARD THE PARTIES AND PERUSED THE MATERIAL AVAILABLE ON RECORD. IN THE INSTANT CASE, TWO ISSUES ARE INVOLVED, THEREFORE , WE WILL DEAL WITH THE ISSUES SEPARATELY. 3 ITA NO. 603/VIZ/2019 ( SMT. DHULIPUDI SAROJA RAMESH ) 6 . FIRST ISSUE RELATE S TO THE DELETION OF ADHOC DISALLOWANCE @25% MADE BY THE AO AND DIRECTION TO THE AO TO DETERMINE THE BUSINESS INCOME @8 % OF THE TURNOVER BY THE LD. CIT(A). THE AO WHILE FRAMING THE ASSESSMENT ISSUED STATUTORY NOTICES AND ASKED THE ASSESSEE TO FURNISH COPIES OF THE BALANCE SHEET, PROFIT & LOSS ACCOUNT, COMPUTATION, 3CB & 3CD REPORT S , 26AS STATEMENT AND BOOKS OF ACCOUNT ETC. THOUGH, THE ASSESSEE HAS SUBMITTED ALL THE DOCUMENTS ASKED FOR BY THE AO, HOWEVER, FAILED TO PRODUCE THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AND EXPRESSED HER INABILITY TO PRODUCE THE SAME AND ALSO FAILED TO PRODUCE THE BANK ACCOUNT FOR VERIFICATION. THE ASSESSEE ALSO EXPRESSED HER INABILITY TO PRODUCE T HE B ILLS/VOUCHERS BEFORE THE AO, T HEREFORE, ON THE BASIS OF THE MATERIAL AVAILABLE ON RECORD, THE AO COMPLETED THE ASSESSMENT AND DISALLOWED 25% OF THE EXPENSES CLAIMED AND CONSEQUENTLY MADE THE ADDITION OF RS. 2,36,88,075/ - . THE SAID ADDITION CAME INTO CONSI DERATION BEFORE THE LD.CIT(A), WHO VIDE IMPUGNED ORDER , DIRECTED THE AO TO DELETE THE DISALLOWANCE AND TO DETERMINE THE BUSINESS INCOME @8 % OF THE TURNOVER. THE CONCLUDING PART OF THE IMPUGNED IS REPRODUCED HEREIN FOR THE SAKE OF CONVENIENCE AND READY REFERENCE : - 12. IT IS SEEN THAT THE FACTS OF THE CASE OF THE INSTANT ASSESSMENT YEAR ARE SIMILAR TO THE FACTS OF THE CASE FOR A.Y. 2012 - 13 FOR WHICH THE HON'BLE TRIBUNAL UPHELD THE APPELLAT E ORDER OF THE CIT(A) DIRECTING THE AO TO ESTIMATE THE INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE AT 8% OF THE TURNOVER . HENCE, RESPECTFULLY FOLLOWING THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE TRIBUNAL IN THE ASSESSEES OWN CASE FOR A.Y. 2012 - 13 , THE AD HOC 4 ITA NO. 603/VIZ/2019 ( SMT. DHULIPUDI SAROJA RAMESH ) DISALLOWANCE OF THE EXPENDITURE TO THE EXTENT OF RS.2,36,88,075/ - MADE IN THE ASSESSMENT ORDER IS DIRECTED TO BE DELETED AND THE BUSINESS INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE IS DIRECTED TO BE DETERMINED AT 8% OF THE TURNOVER OF RS.9,50,66,470/ - . THESE GROUNDS OF APPEAL ARE THEREFORE ALLOWED. 6. WE HAVE PERUSED THE DECISION OF THE LD. CIT(A) ON THE INSTANT ISSUE AND ARE OF THE CONSIDERED VIEW THAT AS THE LD. CIT(A) WHILE FOLLOWING THE DECISION OF THE HIS PREDECESSOR AND C O - ORDINATE B ENCH OF TRIBUNAL IN THE ASSESSEES OWN CASE FOR THE RELEVANT A.Y. 2012 - 13 , DIRECTED THE AO TO DELETE THE ADHOC DISALLOWANCE STATED ABOVE AND TO DETERMINE THE BUSINESS INCOME @ 8% OF THE TURNOVER. EVEN T HERE IS NOTHING ON RECORD CONTRARY TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE LD. CIT(A), HENCE, NO CASE IS MADE OUT FOR INTERFERENCE BY THIS COURT ON THIS ISSUE . 7 . S ECOND ISSUE RELATES TO THE DELETION OF DISALLOWANCE OF INTEREST PAID ON GOLD LOAN. THE AO DISALLOWED THE INTEREST PAID ON GOLD LOAN TO THE TUNE OF RS. 3,84,184/ - WHICH WAS DEBITED TO THE PROFIT & LOSS ACCOUNT . THE LD. CIT(A) BY FOLL O W I NG THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE A.P. HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF INDWELL CONSTRUCTIONS VS. CIT [(1998) 232 ITR 776] HELD THAT NO SEPARATE DISALLOWANCE OF THE GOLD LOAN INTEREST DEBITED TO THE P & L A/C. CAN BE MADE ONCE THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT OF THE ASSESSEE HAVE BEEN REJECTED AND BUSINESS INCOME HAS BEEN DIRECTED TO BE ESTIMATED AT 8% OF THE TURNOVER, HENCE THE AP IS DIRECTED TO DELETE THE DISALLOWANCE OF GOLD LOAN INTEREST OF RS.3,84,184/ - MADE IN THE ASSESSMENT ORDER. 8 . THE REVENUE/DEPARTMENT SPECIFICALLY RAISED AN OBJECTION THAT BOTH THE AUTHORITIES BELOW FAILED TO REJECT THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AND THEREFORE SEPARATE GOLD LOAN INTEREST DEBITED TO THE PROFIT & LOSS ACCOUNT BY THE AO WAS JUSTIFIABLE AND ESTIMATION OF 5 ITA NO. 603/VIZ/2019 ( SMT. DHULIPUDI SAROJA RAMESH ) BUSINES S INCOME @8% DOES NOT COME INTO PICTURE FOR THE AFORESAID REASON. 9 . THE LD.AR OF THE ASSESSEE REFUTED THE CLAIM OF THE REVENUE D EPARTMENT. 10 . WE HAVE GIVEN OU R THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION TO THE CLAIM OF THE REVENUE DEPARTMENT AND ANALYSE D THE FACTS O F THE INSTANT CASE AGAIN . IT IS UNDISPUTED FACT THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS FAILED TO PRODUCE THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AND THEREFORE IN THE ABSENCE OF SAME , THE AO MADE THE DISALLOWANCE OF EXPENDITURE TO THE TUNE OF 25% AND THE LD. CIT(A) ALSO IN ABSENCE OF BOOKS OF ACCOUNT DIRECTED TO DETERMINE THE BUSINESS INCOME TO THE TUNE OF 8% OF THE TURNOVER . MAY BE THE AUTHORITIES BELOW HAVE FAILED TO REJECT THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT SPECIFICALLY DUE TO ITS UNAVAILABILITY OR NON PRODUCTION BY THE ASSESSEE BUT IT IS A FACT THAT THE INCOME HAS BEEN ESTIMATED ON THE TURNOVER WHILE NOT RELYING UPON THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AND THEREFORE IN OUR CONSIDERED OPINION IF ANY ESTIMATION IS MADE IN THE ABSENCE OF BOOKS OF ACCOUNT, THEN IT IMPLIEDLY GOES TO SHOW THAT BOOKS OF ACCOUNT HAVE NOT BEEN RELIED UPON AND DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED AS REJECTED. THE LD. CIT(A) WHILE COMING TO THE CONCLUSION FOR DELETION OF THE DISALLOWANCE UNDER CONSIDERATION RESPECTFULLY RELIED UPON AND FOLLOWED THE DECISION RENDERED BY THE JURISDICTIONAL HIGH COURT IN THE CASE INDWELL CONSTRUCTIONS VS CIT {1998} 232 ITR 776 WHEREIN IT WAS HELD THAT WHERE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT HAVE BEEN R EJECTED AND INCOME IS ESTIMATED, THEN NO SEPARATE DISALLOWANCE IS WARRANTED. WE ALSO COULD NOT FIND OUT ANY MATERIAL ON RECORD, CONTRARY TO THE CONCLUSION DRAWN BY THE LD. CIT(A) HENCE O N THE AFORESAID CONSIDERATIONS , THE ISSUE IN HAND DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY 6 ITA NO. 603/VIZ/2019 ( SMT. DHULIPUDI SAROJA RAMESH ) INTERFERENCE , C ONSEQUENTLY, THE GROUND RELATED TO DELETION OF INTEREST ON GOLD LOAN IS REJECTED. IN OVER ALL CONSIDERATION, THE OR DER OF THE LD. CIT(A) IS UPHELD . 11 . IN THE RESULT, APPEAL FILED BY THE REVENUE DEPARTMENT STANDS DISMISSED. ORDER PRONOUNCED IN OPEN COURT ON TH IS 12 TH DAY OF FEB . , 2021 . SD/ - SD/ - (D.S. SUNDER SINGH) ( N.K. CHOUDHRY ) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER DATED : 12 TH FEBRUARY , 20 2 1 . VR/ - COPY TO: 1. THE ASSESSEE - SMT. DHULIPUDI SAROJA RAMESH, D.NO. 59 - 7 - 18/4, ACHARYA RANGA STREET, GAYATRINAGAR, VIJAYAWADA. 2. THE REVENUE ACIT, CIRCLE - 2(1), VIJAYAWADA. 3. THE PR. CIT , VIJAYAWADA. 4. THE CIT(A) , VIJAYAWADA . 5. THE D.R . , VISAKHAPATNAM. 6. GUARD FILE. BY ORDER (VUKKEM RAMBABU) SR. PRIVATE SECRETARY, ITAT, VISAKHAPATNAM.