SHANKAR REDDY ENUGUDALA,CHITTOOR V. ITO., WARD-1, MADANAPALLE

ITA 1014/HYD/2024

AI Insights

The case involves Shri Shankar Reddy Enugudala, an agriculturist, who appealed against the order of the CIT (A) sustaining the addition made by the Assessing Officer regarding unexplained cash deposits of Rs.3.00 lakhs during the demonetization period. The appellant argued that all his income is derived from agriculture, which is exempt under section 10 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and provided various documents to substantiate his claim. The Assessing Officer had initially accepted most of the credits in the bank account but questioned the source of the Rs.3.00 lakhs deposit. The Tribunal, after considering the submissions and evidence, concluded that the source of the deposit was likely agricultural income, thus not taxable under the Act.

• Counselvise Citation: [2024] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 473252 (ITAT-HYDERABAD)
• Duration Of Justice: 27 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 04-11-2024
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: SMC
• Next Hearing Date: 04-11-2024
• Assessment Year: 2017-2018
• Appeal Filed On: 08-10-2024
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act, 1961
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Assessee Lawyers: S GANESH
• Keywords: Set aside; Earning of tax free income
• Section: 142(1); 69A; 10

Judgement Text

" ITA No 1014 of 2024 Shankar Reddy Enugudala Page 1 of 5 आयकर अपीलȣय अͬधकरण, हैदराबाद पीठ IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL Hyderabad ‘SMC‘ Bench, Hyderabad Before Shri Manjunatha, G. Accountant Member आ.अपी.सं /ITA No. 1014/Hyd/2024 (िनधाŊरण वषŊ/Assessment Year: 2017-18) Shri Shankar Reddy Enugudala Chittoor PAN:ACIPE8837F Vs. Income Tax Officer Ward 1 Madanapalle, (Appellant) (Respondent) िनधाŊįरती Ȫारा/Assessee by: Advocate S Ganesh राज̾ व Ȫारा/Revenue by:: Shri Aravindakshan, DR सुनवाई की तारीख/Date of hearing: 04/11/2024 घोषणा की तारीख/Pronouncement: 04/11/2024 आदेश/ORDER This appeal filed by the assessee is directed against the order dated 06/02/2024 of the learned CIT (A)-Addl/JCIT(A)-3 Mumbai, relating to A.Y.2017-18. 2. It is seen that there is a delay of 185 days in filing of this appeal by the assessee. The assessee has filed a condonation petition along with an affidavit explaining the reasons for such delay which is due to no knowledge of computer. After discussing ITA No 1014 of 2024 Shankar Reddy Enugudala Page 2 of 5 the matter with the learned DR, the delay of 185 days in filing of this appeal is hereby condoned and admitted for adjudication. 3. The brief facts of the case are that the appellant is an agriculturist and derives income from agricultural activities. The appellant does not have any income which is taxable under the Act, and has not filed his return of income for the A.Y 2017-18. As per the information available with the Department i.e. AIMS (Actionable Information Monitoring System) data, during the financial year 2016-17 relevant to A.Y 2017-18, there are several credits in his bank account held with Sapthagiri Grameena Bank. The assessee did not file return of income for the A.Y 2017-18. Therefore, notice u/s 142(1) of the Act, dated 10/03/2018 was issued calling for the return of income. The Assessing Officer called upon the assessee to explain the source for cash deposits of Rs.3.00 lakhs in Specified Bank Notes (SBNs) during the demonetization period. In response, the assessee vide letter dated 19/12/2019 submitted copies of Pattadar Pass Book, copies of agricultural income, certificate from Tehsildar and few copies of bills for the expenses incurred for agricultural operations and also few copies of sales bills of agricultural produce and claimed that he does not have any income which is taxable under the Act, other than agricultural income which is exempt income u/s 10 of the I.T. Act, 1961. The Assessing Officer after considering the relevant submissions of the assessee observed that the assessee could not explain the cash deposits of Rs.3.00 lakhs during the ITA No 1014 of 2024 Shankar Reddy Enugudala Page 3 of 5 demonetization period and thus, made addition u/s 69A r.w.s. 115BBE of the I.T. Act, 1961. 4. On appeal, the learned CIT (A) sustained the addition made towards cash deposits u/s 69A of the I.T. Act, 1961. 5. Aggrieved by the order of the learned CIT (A), the assessee is in appeal before the Tribunal. 6. The learned Counsel for the assessee submitted that the assessee is an agriculturist and derives income from agriculture only. The assessee has filed all evidences including agricultural land holding details and bills for sale of agricultural produce. The Assessing Officer and the learned CIT (A) without appreciating the relevant facts simply made addition towards cash deposit of Rs.3.00 lakhs u/s 69A of the Act. 7. The learned DR, on the other hand, supporting the orders of the learned CIT (A) submitted that the appellant could not explain the source for cash deposits made in SBNs during the demonetization period. Therefore, the learned CIT (A) sustained the addition made by the Assessing Officer and their order should be upheld. 8. I have heard both the parties, perused the material available on record and gone through the orders of the authorities ITA No 1014 of 2024 Shankar Reddy Enugudala Page 4 of 5 below. The appellant is an agriculturist and does not have any income which is taxable under the I.T. Act, 1961. Agricultural income is exempt from tax u/s 10 of the I.T. Act, 1961. Therefore, the additions made by the Assessing Officer towards cash deposit during demonetization period needs to be examined in light of argument of the assessee that except agricultural income, he does not have any income chargeable under the Act. Admittedly, there are various credits found in the Bank Account held with Sapthagiri Grameena Bank which includes Rs.3.00 lakhs cash deposits during the demonetization period. The Assessing Officer accepted all credits in bank account except cash deposit of Rs.3.00 lakhs during the demonetization period. When the Assessing Officer himself has accepted the fact that out of total credits of Rs.31,42,040/-, Rs.28,42,040/- is derived from agricultural operations, then in my considered view, the Assessing Officer is erred in not accepting the explanation of the assessee with regard to the source for cash deposit of Rs.3.00 lakhs during demonetization period. In my considered view, when the appellant does not have any income other than agricultural income, the source for cash deposit is obviously out of agricultural income only which is not taxable under the Act. Therefore, I am of the considered view that the explanation of the assessee with regard to the source for cash deposits is bonafide and acceptable. Thus, I set aside the order of the learned CIT (A) and direct the Assessing Officer to delete the addition made towards cash deposits u/s 69A r.w.s. 115BBE of the I.T. Act, 1961. ITA No 1014 of 2024 Shankar Reddy Enugudala Page 5 of 5 9. In the result, appeal filed by the assessee is allowed. Order pronounced in the Open Court on 4th November, 2024. Sd/- (MANJUNATHA, G.) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER Hyderabad, dated 4th November, 2024. Vinodan/sps Copy to: S.No Addresses 1 Shri Shankar Reddy Enugudala, D.No.10-13, Kambala Palli Village, Beerangi Post, B. Kothakota Mandal, Chittoor 517370 A.P 2 Income Tax Officer Ward-1 Office of Income Tax Officer 2-259, 15-5-9 CTM Road, Society Colony, Madanapalle, A.P. 517325 3 Pr. CIT – Chittoor 4 DR, ITAT Hyderabad Benches 5 Guard File By Order "