Sri Kodandaramaswamy Primary Agricultural Co-Operative Society Limited, Nellore V. ITO., Ward-2, Nellore

ITA 673/Hyd/2022

AI Insights

The case involves Sri Kodandaramaswamy Primary Agricultural Co-operative Society Limited, which appealed against the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-National Faceless Appeal Centre, Delhi. The dispute centered on the disallowance of a deduction under Section 80P of the Income Tax Act, 1961, amounting to Rs. 17,83,232, due to the late filing of the income tax return for the assessment year 2018-19. The Assessing Officer initially made this adjustment under Section 143(1)(a)(v) of the Act. The Tribunal considered the amendments to Section 143(1)(a)(v), which came into effect on April 1, 2021, and found that no prima facie adjustment could be made at the stage of Section 143(1) for the deductions under Chapter VIA of the Act. The Tribunal also noted the principles of natural justice were not followed as the assessee was not given an opportunity to explain their case before the deduction was denied.

• Counselvise Citation: [2023] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 133405 (ITAT-HYDERABAD)
• Duration Of Justice: 1 month(s) 4 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 08-01-2023
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: SMC
• Next Hearing Date: 08-01-2023
• Assessment Year: 2018-2019
• Appeal Filed On: 04-12-2022
• Other Referred Cases: Chirakkal Service Co-Operative Bank Ltd. Vs. CIT, ASR Engg. & Projects Ltd., Shri Nava Ujala Seva Sahakari Mandali Ltd. Vs. DCIT/ACIT(CPC)
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act, 1961
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Assessee Lawyers: VMV SUBBA RAO
• Keywords: Principle of natural justice
• Section: 143(3); 143(1); 80P; 139(1); 139(4)

Judgement Text

आयकर अपीलीय अधिकरण, हैदराबाद पीठ में IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL HYDERABAD BENCHES “SMC”, HYDERABAD BEFORE SHRI K.NARASIMHA CHARY, JUDICIAL MEMBER आ.अपी.सं / ITA No. 673/Hyd/2022 (निर्धारण वर्ा / Assessment Year: 2018-19) Sri Kodandaramaswamy Primary Agricultural Co-operative Society Limited, Nellore [PAN No. AAHAS4574M] Vs. Income Tax Officer, Ward-2, Nellore अपीलधर्थी / Appellant प्रत्‍यर्थी / Respondent निर्धाररती‍द्वधरध / Assessee by: Shri VMV Subba Rao, AR रधजस्‍व‍द्वधरध / Revenue by: Ms. R. Helen Ruby Jesindha, DR स ु िवधई‍की‍तधरीख/Date of hearing: 09/01/2023 घोर्णध की‍तधरीख/Pronouncement on: 09/01/2023 आदेश / ORDER Aggrieved by the order dated 14/10/2022 passed by the learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-National Faceless Appeal Centre (NFAC), Delhi (“Ld. CIT(A)”), in the case of Sri Kodandaramaswamy Primary Agricultural Co-operative Society Limited (“the assessee”) for the assessment year 2018-19, assessee preferred this appeal. 2. Relevant facts for disposal of this appeal are that the due date for filing the return of income by the assessee under section 139(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short “the Act”) for the assessment year 2018- 19 was 30/09/2018, whereas the assessee filed its return of income on ITA No. 673/Hyd/2022 Page 2 of 5 31/03/2019 on the last date to file it under section 139(4) of the Act. By way of order under section 143(1) of the Act, learned Assessing Officer- CPC made an adjustment under section 143(1)(a)(v) by not allowing the deduction under section 80P of the Act to the tune of Rs. 17,83,232/-. 3. Assessee preferred appeal before the learned CIT(A) and argued that the amendment to Section 143(1)(a)(v) came into force with effect from 01/04/2021 and, therefore, no prima facie adjustment could be made under that section, without seeking the explanation of the assessee on any point not covered by such provision. He also argued that the claim under section 80P of the Act does not fall under section 143(1)(a)(ii) of the Act also inasmuch as the explanation referring to the incorrect claim is not covering this particular contingency. 4. Learned CIT(A), however, did not agree with the assessee but went on the premise that under the provisions of Section 80AC(ii) of the Act, any claim falling under the heading ‘C. – Deductions in respect of certain incomes’ after the first date of April, 2018 is not to be allowed if the return of income was not furnished within the time to file the same under section 139(1) of the Act. Consequently, learned CIT(A) dismissed the appeal. 5. Aggrieved by such an order of the learned CIT(A), assessee preferred this appeal arguing on the same lines as were advanced before the learned CIT(A). Learned AR placed reliance on the decisions in the cases of Hon'ble Kerala High Court in the case of Chirakkal Service Co- Operative Bank Ltd., Vs. CIT (2016) 68 taxmann.com 298(Kerala) and ASR Engg. & Projects Ltd., (2019) 111 taxmann.com 49 (Hyderabad – Trib.) in support of their contentions. Learned AR further submitted that what is not to be adjusted under section 143(1)(a)(ii) or (v) of the Act cannot be done in limine without affording an opportunity to the assessee to explain their case, because, consideration of Section 80AC clause (ii) does come not at the stage of 143(1)(a)(ii) and (v) of the Act, but it is only after issuing notice seeking explanation of the assessee. His grievance is that principles ITA No. 673/Hyd/2022 Page 3 of 5 of natural justice are violated in this case. Learned AR also placed reliance on the decision of Rajkot Bench of the Tribunal in the case of Shri Nava Ujala Seva Sahakari Mandali Ltd. Vs. DCIT/ACIT(CPC) [2022] (11) TMI 128. 6. Per contra, learned DR vehemently opposed the claim of assessee, stating that let alone under section 143(1) of the Act, the assessee has no good case even under section 143(3) assessment and, therefore, merely because the amendment to Section 143(1)(a)(v) of the Act has come into force with effect from 01/04/2021, the violation of provisions under section 80AC clause (ii) of the Act cannot be permitted and on that score, learned CIT(A) is right in his approach. The sum and substance of the learned DR is that even without amendment to Section 143(1)(a)(v) of the Act, the provisions under section 80AC clause (ii) of the Act are enough for the authorities to consider the claim of the assessee under section 80P of the Act. 7. I have gone through the record in the light of the submissions made on either side. It is a fact that amendment to section 143(1)(a)(v) of the Act, covering the deductions in respect of any of the provisions under chapter VIA of the Act has come into force with effect from 01/04/2021 and, therefore, there cannot be any prima facie adjustment there under at the stage of 143(1) of the Act itself. Further, the Co-ordinate Bench in the case of Shri Nava Ujala Seva Sahakari Mandali Ltd. (supra), referred to the aspect of 143(1)(a)(ii) of the Act also and gave a finding that late filing of return does not come under the heading ‘incorrect claim’, under section 143(1)(a)(ii) of the Act. It is, therefore, clear that the disallowance of deduction under section 80P of the Act does not come up for consideration at the stage of 143(1) of the Act and it could be a relevant fact at the time of 143(3) of the Act. 8. Insofar as the grievance of assessee that the principles of natural justice are not extended to the assessee inasmuch as without seeking and considering any explanation of the assessee, the deduction under section ITA No. 673/Hyd/2022 Page 4 of 5 80P is denied to the assessee at the stage of 143(1) of the Act itself is concerned, his prayer is that ends of justice would be met, if the matter is restored to the file of learned Assessing Officer for verification of such a claim, after giving an opportunity to the assessee. 9. The very same course is adopted by the Co-ordinate Bench in the case of Shri Nava Ujala Seva Sahakari Mandali Ltd. (supra), wherein the Bench thought it fit to restore the issue for fresh adjudication on merits to the learned CIT(A). However, I am of the considered opinion that since the learned Assessing Officer did not consider the merits of this issue, I deem it just and proper to restore it to the file of learned Assessing Officer instead of learned CIT(A). With this view of the matter, I set aside the orders of the authorities below and restore the issue to the file of learned Assessing Officer for considering the allowability of section 80P of the Act on merits. I make it clear that I did not pronounce any finding in respect of applicability or otherwise of Section 80AC clause (ii) of the Act. 10. In the result, appeal of the assessee is treated as allowed for statistical purposes. Order pronounced in the open court on this the 9 th day of January, 2023. Sd/- (K. NARASIMHA CHARY) JUDICIAL MEMBER Hyderabad, Dated: 09/01/2023 TNMM ITA No. 673/Hyd/2022 Page 5 of 5 Copy forwarded to: 1. Sri Kodandaramaswamy Primary Agricultural Co-Operative Society Limited, Kodurupadu Village, Nellore Rural Mandal, Nellore. 2. Income Tax Officer, Ward-2, Nellore. 3. NFAC-Delhi. 4. DR, ITAT, Hyderabad. 5. GUARD FILE TRUE COPY ASSISTANT REGISTRAR ITAT, HYDERABAD