Satililli Srinivasa Rao V. The Income Tax Officer, Ward \\u2013 2, Srikakulam

ITTA/795/2017

AI Insights

In this case, Satililli Srinivasa Rao, an Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) dealer, appealed against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Visakhapatnam, which had estimated his profit at 5% on the purchase of stock for sale during the assessment year 2011-12. The Assessing Officer initially estimated the profit at 20%, which was later reduced to 10% by the Commissioner (Appeals) and further to 5% by the Tribunal, based on precedents and the assessee's own request. The Tribunal also treated unsecured loans as income from other sources due to lack of evidence from the assessee. The High Court dismissed the appeal, agreeing with the Tribunal's findings.

• Counselvise Citation: [2017] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 804657 (HC-VISAKHAPATNAM)
• Appeal Type: Others
• Pronouncement Date: 20-12-2017
• Assessment Year: misc
• Other Referred Cases: T.Appalaswamy, Amaravathi Wine Shop
• Result in Favour of: Revenue
• Court: HIGH COURT
• Department Lawyers: K REDDY
• Assessee Lawyers: P SHARMA
• Keywords: Income from other sources; Income Tax; Profit estimation; Unsecured loans

Judgement Text

"THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY AND THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE M.S.K.JAISWAL I.T.T.A. No.795 of 2017 20.12.2017 Between: Satililli Srinivasa Rao ..Appellant And The Income Tax Officer, Ward – 2, Srikakulam ..Respondent Counsel for the appellant: Mr.P.Rama Sharana Sharma Counsel for the respondent: Mr.K.Raji Reddy, standing counsel for the Income Tax Department The Court made the following: CVNR,J & MSKJ,J I.T.T.A.No.795 of 2017 20.12.2017 2 JUDGMENT: (Per the Hon’ble Sri Justice C.V.Nagarjuna Reddy) In this assessee’s appeal against order, dated 26.07.2017, in I.T.A.No.41/Vizag/2015, on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Visakhapatnam Bench, Visakhapatnam, the following substantial questions of law have been raised. “a) Whether the Tribunal is justified in fixing the profit percentage randomly without any scientific methodology, that too basing on the media reports, when it makes the difference of lakhs of rupees to the assessee? b) Whether the authorities can rely on the books of accounts when the same has been rejected by the same authorities and cost the assessee on the basis of the accounts only? c) Whether the Tribunal is justified in showing the unsecured loans as income from other sources? d) Whether the ITO is justified in selecting the account of the appellant for enquiry without any justification, and in applying the reports of media to the case of the appellant and taxing him accordingly?” 2. We have heard Mr.P.Rama Sharana Sharma, learned counsel for the appellant-assessee, and perused the record. 3. After rejecting the books maintained by the assessee, an I.M.F.L. (Indian Made Foreign Liquor) dealer, the Assessing Officer (A.O.) estimated the profit at 20% on purchase of stock put for sale during the assessment year 2011-12. On appeal by the assessee, the Commissioner (Appeals) reduced the profit to 10%. On a further appeal filed by the CVNR,J & MSKJ,J I.T.T.A.No.795 of 2017 20.12.2017 3 assessee, the Tribunal has further reduced the profit to 5%. In paragraph 4.2 of the order of the first appellate authority, it is stated as under. “4.2 During the appeal hearing the assessee reiterated the submission made before the assessing officer and also relied on the decision of Honourable ITAT, Visakhapatnam Bench in the case of T.Appalaswamy wherein it was held that the estimate of profit at 5% of the purchases net of other deductions would be justified. The assessee also relied on the decision of the Honourable ITAT B Bench, Hyderabad in the case of Amaravathi Wine Shop wherein it was held that the estimation of profit at 5% of the purchase or stock put for sale during the year would be reasonable. Relying on these decisions, the authorized representative contended that the assessing officer may be directed to estimate income at 5% of the stock put up for sale.” 4. In tune with the request of the assessee, the Tribunal has reduced the profit from 10% as assessed by the first appellate authority to 5%. Further, in arriving at this estimate, the Tribunal has relied upon its order, dated 02.06.2016, in I.T.A.No.96/Vizag/2016, wherein it was held that estimation of profit at 5% on purchase is reasonable. On considering the orders of both the appellate fora, we are of the opinion that the assessee cannot have any grievance regarding the estimation of profit at 5% as he himself made such a request before the first appellate authority. CVNR,J & MSKJ,J I.T.T.A.No.795 of 2017 20.12.2017 4 5. As regards the purported unsecured loans treated as the income from other sources, admittedly, the assessee failed to produce any material, such as the statements of the creditors, in the absence of which, both the appellate fora are justified in treating the said money as income from other sources. The above findings answer substantial questions of law framed in (a) to (c) against the assessee and substantial question of law framed in (d) becomes irrelevant. 6. For the aforementioned reasons, the appeal is dismissed. 7. As a sequel to dismissal of the appeal, I.T.T.A.M.P.No.793 of 2017 filed by the appellant for interim relief shall stand dismissed as infructuous. __________________________ C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY, J ________________ M.S.K.JAISWAL, J 20th December, 2017 GHN "