KBG Engineers, New Delhi V. DCIT Circle-62(1), New Delhi

ITA 7870/DEL/2019

AI Insights

The case involves appeals by M/s KBG Engineers against the orders of the CIT(A) which confirmed additions made by the Assessing Officer under section 69C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for unexplained expenditure. The Tribunal examined the grounds related to the addition of Rs. 14,65,968, which was claimed to be payments made to M/s Shiv Shakti Timber & Plywood Company for material purchases. The Tribunal found that the payments were legitimate trade transactions and not unexplained expenditures, thus allowing the appeals and directing the deletion of both the addition and the associated penalty.

• Counselvise Citation: [2023] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 121987 (ITAT-DELHI)
• Duration Of Justice: 3 year(s) 6 month(s) 8 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 04-04-2023
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: C
• Next Hearing Date: 07-02-2023
• Assessment Year: 2010-2011
• Appeal Filed On: 26-09-2019
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Keywords: Unexplained expenditure
• Section: 69C

Judgement Text

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL DELHI BENCH: C: NEW DELHI BEFORE SHRI CHANDRA MOHAN GARG, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND SHRI B.R.R. KUMAR, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER ITA Nos.7870 & 7871/Del/2019 Assessment Year: 2010-11 M/s KBG Engineers, 201-2014, 2 nd Floor, SSG Majesty Mall Road No. 43, Guru Har Krishan Marg, North West Delhi 110034 PAN AAAFK 4417 H vs. The DCIT, Circle- 62(1), New Delhi 110002 (Appellant) (Respondent) For Assessee : Shri Sandeep Sapra, Advocate For Revenue : Shri Anuj Garg, Sr. DR Date of Hearing : 08.02.2023 Date of Pronouncement : 05.04.2023 ORDER PER CHANDRA MOHAN GARG, J.M. These appeals filed by the assessee are directed against the orders dated 30.07.2019 & 31.07.2019 of the Ld. CIT(A), New Delhi relating to Assessment Year 2010-11. 2. The learned counsel of the assessee submitted that the assessee does not want to press legal ground no. 1 hence the same ITA Nos.7870 & 7871/Del/2019 Page 2 of 6 is dismissed as not pressed. Remaining effective ground no. 2 and 3 for adjudication read as follows:- 2. That the Ld. CIT(A) erred on facts and in law in confirmed the addition of rs. 14,65,968/- on account of unexplained expenditure u/s. 69C of I.T Act particularly when section 69C was not applicable. 3. That no adverse inference could be drawn against the assessee even if no compliance was made by the M/s Shiv Shakti Timber & Plywood Company in response to summons u/s. 131 of the I.T. Act. 3. Apropos ground no. 2 and 3, the learned counsel of the assessee submitted that the assessee has invoked wrong provision of section 69C of the Act for making addition in the hands of the assessee on account of payments of M/s Shiv Shakti Timber & Plywood Company which was made towards purchase of material from the said firm. The learned counsel submitted that the assessee consistently submitted before the authorities below that there was a running trade account between the assessee and M/s Shiv Shakti Timber & Plywood Company wherein opening balance of Rs. 25,15,968/- was brought forward as on 01.04.2009 as opening credit balance and assessee paid entire amount through five cheques as on 20.10.2009 the closing balance was zero. The ITA Nos.7870 & 7871/Del/2019 Page 3 of 6 learned counsel submitted that the Assessing Officer has accepted payment of three cheques but disputed the payment of other two cheques dated 17.08.2009 and 4.10.2009 total amounting to Rs. 14,65,968/- without any basis therefore the addition may kindly be deleted. The learned counsel also submitted that during assessment proceedings the assessee along with reply dated 08.09.2017 submitted copy of account in the books of accounts of assessee of M/s Shiv Shakti Timber & Plywood Company for A.Y. 2009-10 and 2010-11 which clearly proves that it was a trading transaction between the assessee and said firm and assessee also submitted copies of the relevant bank statements to prove that the payments have been made through vide account payee cheques therefore the factum of genuineness of transaction and payment towards purchase of material to a existent entity cannot be doubted and no addition is called for in this regard. The learned counsel submitted that the addition made by the AO may kindly be deleted. 4. Replying to the above the learned Senior DR strongly supported the orders of the authorities below. ITA Nos.7870 & 7871/Del/2019 Page 4 of 6 5. On careful consideration of the rival submissions first of all from the copy of the reply of assessee submitted before the AO available at pages 25 to 38 of assessee paper book clearly reveals that the assessee consistently explaining that the impugned amount is nothing but payment towards purchase of material and the same is a payment towards trade liability. From the copy of the documents available at pages 39 to 50 of assessee paper book clearly reveals that the assessee submitted copy of account with said firm in the books of assessee for A.Y. 2009-10 along with purchase bill which were also filed before the AO and CIT(A). From the copy of the ledger account of M/s Shiv Shakti Timber & Plywood Company available at page 61 of assessee paper book clearly reveals that there was a opening brought forward credit balance of Rs. 25,15,968/- which was paid by the assessee through five cheques and the balance as on 20.10.2009 was nil leaving the zero balance. It is pertinent to mention that the Assessing Officer did not dispute the payment of three cheques but disputed and doubted the payments of two cheques dated 17.08.2009 and 04.10.2009 ITA Nos.7870 & 7871/Del/2019 Page 5 of 6 amounting to Rs. 9,65,968/- and Rs. 5 lakhs respectively without any basis. 6. We are not in agreement with the conclusion drawn by the assessee that the funds transfer to M/s Shiv Shakti Timber & Plywood Company is an unexplained expenditure taxable u/s. 69C of the Act. Per contra, we clearly note that the payment of two cheques is nothing but payment of trade liabilities of assessee arose due to purchase of material from M/s Shiv Shakti Timber & Plywood Company and such payment to banking channel cannot be alleged as unexplained and doubtful. Therefore ground no. 2 and 3 of assessee is allowed and AO is directed to delete the addition. 7. In the result the appeal of the assessee is partly allowed. ITA No. 7871/Del/2019 for A.Y. 2010-11 8. Since by the earlier part of this order we have deleted the entire addition made by the AO amounting to Rs. 14,65,968/- therefore the penalty levied by the Assessing Officer and uphold by the Ld. CIT(A) on the very sole issue cannot be held as sustainable. Keeping in view deletion of quantum addition we hold that the ITA Nos.7870 & 7871/Del/2019 Page 6 of 6 penalty levied by the AO and uphold by the Ld. CIT(A) u/s. 271(1) (c) of the Act is not sustainable hence we direct the AO to delete the same. 9. In the result both the appeals of assessee are allowed. Order pronounced in the open court on 05.04.2023. Sd/- Sd/- (B.R.R. KUMAR) (CHANDRA MOHAN GARG) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER Dated: 05 th April, 2023. NV/- Copy forwarded to : 1. Appellant 2. Respondent 3. CIT 4. CIT(A) 5. DR // By Order // Asstt. Registrar, ITAT, New Delhi