UNIQUE WAYS MANAGEMENT SERVICE PVT. LTD.,BHOPAL vs. ACIT-4(1), BHOPAL
What did the Tribunal hold?
The Tribunal held that there was no concealment or furnishing of inaccurate particulars of income as the expenses were debited to the Profit & Loss account. The disallowance under Section 14A was on an estimated basis, and no bonafide intention to conceal was evident.
What were the facts?
The assessee claimed exempt income and incurred expenses. The initial assessment accepted the returned income, but a subsequent reassessment under Section 147 disallowed a portion of finance charges under Section 14A. Penalty proceedings were initiated based on this disallowance.
What were the issues?
Whether penalty under Section 271(1)(c) is leviable when disallowance under Section 14A is made on an estimated basis and there is no evidence of concealment or inaccurate particulars of income.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, INDORE BENCH, INDORE
Before: SHRI KUL BHARAT & SHRI MANISH BORAD
order u/s 271(1)(c) of the Income Tax Act 1961(In short the ‘Act’) dated 21.03.2016 framed by ACIT-4(1), Bhopal.
Assessee has raised following grounds of appeal;
“That Ld. CIT(A) erred in confirming penalty of Rs.103870/- u/s 271(1)(c ) of the Act. 3. When the case was called no one on behalf of the assessee attended the hearing. It was decided to hear the appeal with the assistance of Ld. DR and available records. On perusal of the order of Ld. CIT(A) we find that the assessee did not appear before him also. During the course of penalty proceedings assessee did not appear. The sole grievance of the assessee is levy of penalty u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act at Rs. 1,03,870/-
Ld. Departmental Representative vehemently argued supporting orders of both the lower authorities.
We have heard Ld. DR and perused the records placed before us. We observe that the assessee filed Income Tax Return on 13.11.2006 for Assessment year 2006-07 declaring total income of Rs.3,89,297/- and also claimed exempt income of Rs.71,33,689/- .
Case selected for scrutiny and assessment completed u/s 143(3) of ITANo.900/Ind/2018 Unique Ways Management Service Private Limiated the Act on 28.11.2008 accepting the returned income. It shows that complete details were examined in the first round of assessment proceedings and there was no observation against the assessee that the assessee has concealed particulars of income or furnished inaccurate particulars of income. Subsequently notice u/s 148 of the Act was issued and the assessment u/s 147 of the Act was completed on 19.3.2012 assessing total income at Rs,6,94,894/-.
The net disallowance was Rs. 3,05,597/- which too was on account of estimated expenses not disallowed by the assessee for earning the exempt income at Rs.71,33,689/-. The Ld. A.O made proportionate disallowance of Rs.3,05,597/- u/s 14A in respect of finance charge debited in the Profit & Loss account. On this disallowance u/s 14A of the Act penalty proceedings were initiated which finally reached to the level of levy of penalty at Rs.1,03,807/-
Assessee has shown all the expenses in the Profit & Loss account and there is no dispute about the particulars provided in the books of accounts nor the Ld. A.O has rejected the book results since no such finding is appearing in the penalty order as well as appellate order. There is no mandatory rule that for earning ITANo.900/Ind/2018 Unique Ways Management Service Private Limiated exempt income assessee has to incur any expenditure. It is only when the Ld. A.O is satisfied about the type and amount of expenses which have been incurred specifically for earning the exempt income and has been debited to Profit & Loss account for claiming expense against the revenue liable to be taxed. In the instant case the disallowance u/s 14A is on estimated basis made proportionately out of the finance charges. There is no case of concealment of particulars of income or furnishing of inaccurate particulars of income since the amount has been duly debited as expenses in Profit & Loss account. Since no bonafide intention or mensura on the part of the assessee is appearing on the face of the record placed before us, we are of the considered view that Ld. A.O was not justified in levying the penalty u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act at Rs.1,03,870/-. Therefore in the given facts and circumstances of the case we set aside the finding of Ld. CIT(A) and delete the penalty of Rs.1,03,870/- levied u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act.
ITANo.900/Ind/2018 Unique Ways Management Service Private Limiated
In the result appeal of the assessee is allowed.
The order pronounced in the open Court on 18.03.2020.
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