BHARAT C. PAREKH, MUMBAI V. ITO 12(2)(1), MUMBAI

ITA 943/MUM/2019

• Counselvise Citation: [2020] 111 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 0314 (ITAT-MUMBAI)
• Duration Of Justice: 1 year(s) 3 month(s) 28 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 17-06-2020
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: SMC
• Assessment Year: 2008-2009
• Appeal Filed On: 19-02-2019
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: AVANEESH TIWARI
• Keywords: Salary income; Audit objection; Earning of tax free income; Tangible material; Difference of opinion; Change of opinion; Rule 8D
• Section: 143(3); 142(1); 14A; 143(2); 139(1); 147; 148; 2

Judgement Text

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL SMC III BENCH, MUMBAI BEFORE SHRI SAKTIJIT DEY , JUDICIAL MEMBER I TA NO. 943 /MUM. /2019 ( ASSESSMENT YEAR : 2008 09 ) BHARAT CHIMANLAL PAREKH FLAT NO.1801 1802 BOULEVARD 3 THE ADDRESS LBS MARG, GHATKOPER (EAST) MUMBAI 400 086 PAN AABPP6452C . APPELLANT V/S INCOME TAX OFFICER WARD 12(2)(1), MUMBAI . RESPONDENT ASSESSEE BY : SHRI DEEPAK JAIN REVENUE BY : S HRI AVANEESH TIWARI DATE OF HEARING 11 . 0 6 .20 20 DATE OF ORDER 17.06.2020 O R D E R TH E CAPTIONED APPEAL HAS BEEN FILED BY THE ASSESSEE CHALLENGING THE ORDER DATED 6 TH DECEMBER 2018 , PASSED BY THE LEARNED COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS) 55 , MUMBAI, PERTAINING TO THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 20 08 09 . 2. THE ASSESSEE HAS RAISED IN TOTAL FIVE GROUNDS. GROUND NO.5, BEING GENERAL IN NATURE DOES NOT REQUIRE SEPARATE ADJUDICATION. 3. IN GROUNDS NO.1 AND 2, THE ASSESSEE HAS RAISED A LEGAL ISSUE REGARDING THE VALIDITY OF THE ASSESSMENT ORDER PASSED UNDER SECTION 2 BHARAT CHIMANLAL PAREKH 143(3) R/W SECTION 147 OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, 1961 (FOR SHORT 'THE ACT' ). WHEREAS, IN GROUNDS NO.3 AND 4, THE ASSESSEE HAS CHALLENGED THE MERITS OF DISALLOWANCE MADE UNDER SECTION 14 R/W RU LE 8D. 4. BRIEF FACTS ARE, THE ASSESSEE IS AN INDIVIDUAL DERIVING INCOME FROM SALARY, HOUSE PROPERTY, CAPITAL GAIN AND INCOME FROM OTHER SOURCES. FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR UNDER DISPUTE, THE ASSESSEE FILED HIS RETURN OF INCOME ON 29 TH JULY 2008, DECLARING TOTAL INCOME OF ` 8,47,950. THE ASSESSMENT IN CASE OF THE ASSESSEE WAS COMPLETED UNDER SECTION 143(3) OF THE ACT VIDE ORDER DATED 30 TH NOVEMBER 2012, ACCEPTING THE INCOME DECLARED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ASSESSMENT WAS RE OPENED UNDER SECTION 147 OF THE ACT ON THE REASONING THAT THOUGH THE ASSESSEE HAD EARNED EXEMPT INCOME BY WAY OF DIVIDEND FROM COMPANIES AND MUTUAL FUN D AMOUNTING TO ` 16,89,060, HE HAS NOT DISALLOWED ANY EXPENDITURE UNDER SECTION 14A R/W RULE 8D. ACCORDINGLY, THE ASSESSING OFFICER ISSUED NOTICE UNDER SECTION 148 OF THE ACT ON 11 TH DECEMBER 2014, REQUIRING THE ASSESSEE TO FILE THE RETURN OF INCOME. IN RE SPONSE TO THE SAID NOTICE, THE ASSESSEE VIDE LETTER DATED 20 TH MARCH 2014, REQUESTED THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO T REAT THE ORIGINAL RETURN OF INCOME FILED EARLIER AS RETURN OF INCOME FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECTION 148 OF THE ACT. FURTHER, THE ASSESSEE ALSO REQUES TED FOR SUPPLY OF THE REASON RECORDED FOR RE OPENING OF ASSESSMENT AND THEREAFTER RAISED OBJECTIONS AGAINST THE RE OPEN ING . ULTIMATELY, THE ASSESSING OFFICER COMPLETED THE ASSESSMENT 3 BHARAT CHIMANLAL PAREKH U/ S 143(3) R/W SECTION 147 OF THE ACT DISALLOWING THE AMOUNT OF ` 1,20,515, UNDER SECTION 14A R/W RULE 8D COMPRISING OF DISALLOWANCE OF INTEREST EXPENDITURE UNDER SECTION 8D(2)(II) FOR AN AMOUNT OF ` 53,716. AGAINST THE ASSESSMENT ORDER SO PASSED, THE ASSESSEE FILED APPEAL BEFORE LEARNED COMMISSIONER (APPEALS) CHALLENGI NG BOTH THE VALIDITY OF RE OPENING UNDER SECTION 147 OF THE ACT AS WELL AS MERITS OF THE DISALLOWANCE MADE UNDER SECTION 14A R/W RULE 8D. HOWEVER, LEARNED COMMISSIONER (APPEALS) DID NOT FIND MERIT IN THE GROUNDS RAISED BY THE ASSESSEE AND DISMISSED THE APP EAL. 5. THE LEARNED AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE SUBMITTED , THE ASSESSEE HAS FILED ALL RELEVANT AND NECESSARY DETAILS TRULY AND CORRECTLY ALONG WITH HIS RETURN OF INCOME AS WELL AS IN THE COURSE OF ORIGINAL ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS. HE SUBMITTED , DURING THE ORIGI NAL ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS, THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAD MADE DETAILED ENQUIRY WITH REGARD TO VARIOUS ISSUES BY ISSUING NOTICE S UNDER SECTION 142(1) AND 143(3) OF THE ACT. HE SUBMITTED , IN RESPONSE TO THE QUERY RAISED BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER THE ASSESSEE HAD FURNISHED ALL THE DETAILS INCLUDING THE EXEMPT INCOME EARNED DURING THE YEAR. HE SUBMITTED , SINCE THERE IS NO FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE ASSESSEE TO TRULY AND CORRECTLY DISCLOSE ALL MATERIAL FACT RELATING TO HIS ASSESSMENT, THE RE OPENING OF ASSESSMENT AF TER EXPIRY OF FOUR YEARS FROM THE END OF THE RELEVANT ASSESSMENT YEAR IS INVALID. FURTHER, HE SUBMITTED , THE 4 BHARAT CHIMANLAL PAREKH REASONS RECORDED WOULD REVEAL THAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAD NO TANGIBLE MATERIAL AVAILABLE WITH HIM WHILE RE OPENING THE ASSESSMENT. HE SUBMITTED , MERELY ON A CHANGE OF OPINION , THAT TOO , ON THE BASIS OF AUDIT OBJECTION, THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS MECHANICALLY RE OPENED THE ASSESSMENT UNDER SECTION 147 OF THE ACT WHICH IS INVALID. AS REGARDS THE MERITS OF THE DISALLOWANCE, HE SUBMITTED, THE ASSESSEE HAS NOT CLAIMED ANY EXPENDITURE AS SUCH. HE SUBMITTED, ONLY EXPENDITURE INCURRED WAS TOWARDS INTEREST WHICH HAS BEEN SET OFF AGAINST THE INTEREST INCOME OFFERED AS INCOME FROM OTHER SOURCES. FURTHER, HE SUBMITTED, ASSESSEE ALSO HAD SUFFICIENT INTEREST FREE FUND AVAILABLE WITH HIM. 6. THE LEARNED DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE SUBMITTED , IN COURSE OF THE ORIGINAL ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS, THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS NOT ENQUIRED INTO THE APPLICABILITY OF SECTION 14A R/W RULE 8D TO THE EXPENDITURE RELATABLE TO THE EXE MPT INCOME EARNED DURING THE YEAR.THEREFORE, THE RE OPENING OF ASSESSMENT UNDER SECTION 147 OF THE ACT IS JUSTIFIED. AS REGARDS THE MERITS, HE RELIED UPON THE OBSERVATIONS OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER AND LEARNED COMMISSIONER (APPEALS). 7. I HAVE CONSIDERED RIVA L SUBMISSIONS AND PERUSED THE MATERIAL ON RECORD AS WELL AS RELEVANT DOCUMENTS PLACED IN THE PAPER BOOK WHICH 5 BHARAT CHIMANLAL PAREKH WERE SPECIFICALLY BROUGHT TO MY NOTICE BY THE LEARNED AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE. UNDISPUTEDLY, THE ASSESSEE HAS VOLUNTARILY FILED HIS RETURN OF IN COME WITHIN THE TIME PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION 139(1) OF THE ACT AND THE ASSESSMENT WAS COMPLETED UNDER SECTION 143(3) OF THE ACT . ON A PERUSAL OF THE DOCUMENTS PLACED IN THE PAPER BOOK, IT IS VERY MUCH EVIDENT , IN COURSE OF ORIGINAL ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS THE ASSESSING OFFICER FROM TIME TO TIME HAS CALLED FOR VARIOUS DETAILS FROM THE ASSESSEE BY ISSUING STATUTORY NOTICE S UNDER SECTION 142(1) AND 143(2) OF THE ACT AND THE ASSESSEE HAS DULY COMPL IED WITH THEM. THE AFORESAID FACTS CLEARLY INDICATE THAT THE ASS ESSING OFFICER WHILE COMPLETING THE ASSESSMENT UNDER SECTION 143(3) OF THE ACT HAS APPLIED HIS MIND NOT ONLY TO THE RETURN OF INCOME ALONG WITH COMPUTATION OF TOTAL INCOME FILED BY THE ASSESSEE , WHEREIN , VARIOUS SOURCE S OF INCOME INCLUDING THE EXEMPT INCOM E EARNED DURING THE YEAR HAVE BEEN DULY DISCLOSED, BUT HAS ALSO MADE ENQUIRIES WITH REGARD TO THE SOURCE OF INTEREST INCOME AND EXPENDITURE. UNDISPUTEDLY, THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS RE OPENED THE ASSESSMENT UNDER SECTION 147 AFTER EXPIRY OF FOUR YEARS FROM THE END OF THE IMPUGNED ASSESSMENT YEAR. THEREFORE, THE PROVISO TO SECTION 147 OF THE ACT WOULD APPLY. AS PER THE SAID PROVISO, ONLY IN A CASE WHERE THERE IS FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE ASSESSEE TO DISCLOSE FULLY AND TRULY ALL MATERIAL FACTS, THE ASSESSING OFFICER RETAINS THE POWER TO RE OPEN THE ASSESSMENT UNDER SECTION 147 OF THE ACT , I N 6 BHARAT CHIMANLAL PAREKH CASE, THE ORIGINAL ASSESSMENT HAS BEEN COMPLETED UNDER SECTION 143(3) OF THE ACT. IN THE PRESENT CASE, THE REASONS RECORDED FOR RE OPENING THE ASSESSMENT WHICH HAS BEEN REPRODUCED IN PARA 2 OF THE ASSESSMENT ORDER CLEARLY REVEALS THAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS NOT ALLEGED ANY FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE ASSESSEE TO TRULY AND CORRECTLY DISCLOSE ALL MATERIAL FACTS RELATING TO HIS ASSESSMENT .R ATHER , THE REASONS RECORDED CLEARLY REVEAL THAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER SIMPLY ON PERUSAL OF MATERIALS ALREADY AVAILABLE ON REC ORD I.E., THE BALANCE SHEET AND OTHER MATERIAL HAS FORMED A BELIEF THAT DUE TO NON DISALLOWANCE OF EXPENDITURE UNDER SECTION 14A R/W RULE 8D, THERE IS ESCAPEMENT OF INCOME. IN MY VIEW, THE AFORESAID FACTS CLEARLY ESTABLISHED THAT BASIC CONDITIONS OF THE PR OVISO TO SECTION 147 OF THE ACT HA VE NOT BEEN FULFILLED . THAT BEING THE CASE, THE RE OPENING OF ASSESSMENT UNDER SECTION 147 OF THE ACT IN THE PRESENT CASE IS INVALID. THEREFORE , THE ASSESSMENT ORDER PASSED UNDER SECTION 143(3) R/W SECTION 147 OF THE ACT D ESERVES TO BE QUASHED. ACCORDINGLY, I DO SO. 8. IN VIEW OF MY DECISION RENDERED IN GROUNDS NO.1 AND 2, AS AFORESAID, THE OTHER GROUNDS RAISED ON MERITS OF THE DISALLOWANCE HAVING BECOME INFRUCTUOUS DO NOT REQUIRE ADJUDICATION. 7 BHARAT CHIMANLAL PAREKH 9. IN THE RESULT, APPEAL IS ALLOWED AS INDICATED ABOVE. ORDER PRONOUNCED THROUGH CIRCULATION IN NOTICE BOARD UNDER RULE 34(4) OF THE INCOME TAX (APPELLATE TRIBUNAL) RULES, 1962 . SD/ - SAKTIJIT DEY JUDICIAL MEMBER MUMBAI, DATED: 17.06.2020 COPY OF THE ORDER FORWARDED TO : (1) THE ASSESSEE; (2) THE REVENUE; (3) THE C I T(A); (4) THE C I T, MUMBAI CITY CONCERNED; (5) THE DR, ITAT, MUMBAI; (6) GUARD FILE . TRUE COPY BY ORDER PRADEEP J. CHOWDHURY SR. PRIVATE SECRETARY ASSISTANT REGISTRAR ITAT, MUMBAI