SHASHI AJIT SHAH,HYDERABAD vs. ACIT, CIRCLE-15(1), HYDERABAD

This appeal filed by the assessee is directed against the order dated 25.3.2021 of the learned Pr.CIT-4, Hyderabad, relating to A.Y.2016-17.

There is a delay of 617 days in filing of this appeal by the assessee for which the assessee has filed a condonation application alongwith an affidavit explaining the reasons for such delay which is due to the prevailing COVID period and subsequently the death of the mother of the Chartered Accountant. Further, the assessee also filed medical certificate of the concerned Chartered Accountant who underwent angioplasty after the death of his mother. After considering the contents of the ITA 86 of 2023 Shashi Ajit Shah condonation petition filed along with the affidavit and after hearing the learned DR, the delay in filing of this appeal by the assessee is condoned and the appeal is admitted for adjudication.

Facts of the case, in brief, are that the assessee is an individual and engaged in the business of construction. He filed his return of income on 17.10.2016 for the impugned A.Y 2016-17 declaring total income of Rs.3,48,99,980/-. Subsequently the case was selected for scrutiny under CASS under limited category to verify whether the contract receipts/fees have been correctly offered for tax. Statutory notices u/s 143(2) & 142(1) were issued to the assessee in response to which the assessee appeared before the Assessing Officer and filed certain details.

Subsequently, the learned PCIT examined the record and noticed that the order is erroneous in so far as it is prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue for the following reasons:

Aggrieved with such order of the learned PCIT the assessee is in appeal before the Tribunal by raising the following grounds: “(1) The order of the learned Principal Commissioner of Income Tax (Pr CIT] in holding that the order passed U/s. 143(3) on 18/12/2018 is erroneous and prejudicial to the interests of the Revenue which is wholly unsustainable both on facts and in law. (2) The Ld. Pr. CIT on a wrong foundation of reasoning arising out of the non-appreciation of facts came to an erroneous conclusion that the order passed by the Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Circle-15(1), Hyderabad [AO] u/s. 143(3) on 18/12/2018 is erroneous and prejudicial to the interests of the Revenue. (3) The Pr. CIT failed to note during the assessment u/s. 143(3) the Ld. ACIT, Circle-15(1), Hyderabad had raised specific queries in relation to reconciliation of the contract receipts as reflected in 26AS and the financial records of the appellant and the appellant had given suitable replies to the Assessing Officer on the subject and thereafter due application of mind the Learned ACIT, Circle- 15(1), Hyderabad found that the difference amount only was to the extent of Rs.13,42,583/- which was added while completing the assessment u/s. 143(3) on 18/12/2018 and therefore the Ld. Pr. CIT erred in holding that the order passed U/s. 143(3) on 18/12/2018 is erroneous and prejudicial to the interests of the Revenue. (4) The Ld. Pr. CIT erred in quantifying the difference amount in contract receipts at Rs.60,78,670/- as against the quantum to Rs. 13,42,583/- determined by the Ld. ACIT, Circle 15(1), Hyderabad and therefore the order passed by the Ld. Pr. CIT in holding that the order passed U/s. 143(3) was erroneous and prejudicial to the interests of the Revenue which is totally contrary to the facts and evidence on record. (5) The Ld. Pr. CIT failed to note that the entire case of the appellant was selected for scrutiny under CASS under limited category to verify whether the contract receipts have been correctly offered for tax and thus the question of treating the order passed u/s. 143(3) as erroneous and prejudicial to the interests of the Revenue for a limited purpose but erred in coming to the conclusion that the order passed u/s. 143(3) was erroneous and prejudicial to the interest the Revenue. (6) Any other ground or grounds that may be raised at the time of hearing of the appeal. “

The learned Counsel for the assessee referring to the reply given by the assessee to the Assessing Officer vide letter dated

The learned Counsel for the assessee referred to the following decisions: a) Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Pr.CIT vs. Cartier Leaflin (P) Ltd reported in (2023) 146 Taxmann.com 281 (S.C)

The learned DR, on the other hand, heavily relied on the order of the learned PCIT. She submitted that the Assessing Officer has not thoroughly examined the difference of contract receipts as reflected in Form 26AS and the figures in the P&L account which is to the tune of Rs.60,78,670/-. The Assessing Officer has made addition to the extent of Rs,.13,42,583/- only as per the reconciliation statement given by the assessee and has completely ignored the huge difference of Rs.60,78,670/-. Further, the Assessing Officer has not at all verified the unsecured loan of Rs. 56,50,000/- and investment of Rs.7,00,000/- made during the year. According to the learned DR, although the case was selected for limited scrutiny, however, when there is huge unsecured loan of Rs.56,50,000/- and investment of Rs.7.00 lakhs made during the year, the Assessing Officer should have converted the limited scrutiny to complete scrutiny by taking necessary approval from the appropriate authority. In any case she submitted that when the difference between the contract receipt as per Form 26AS and the P&L Account is at Rs.60,78,670/-, the Assessing Officer should not have closed his eyes by simply accepting the reconciliation of the difference to the tune of Rs,.13,42,583/-. Thus, the order has become erroneous as well as prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue and therefore, the learned PCIT is fully justified in invoking the provisions of section 263 of the I.T. Act. She accordingly submitted that the grounds raised by the assessee should be dismissed.

We have heard the rival arguments made by both the sides, perused the orders of the AO and the learned PCIT and the paper book filed on behalf of the assessee. We have also considered the various decisions cited before us by both sides. We find the assessee in the instant case has filed his return of income on 17.10.2016 declaring total income of Rs.3,48,99,980.-. The case was selected for limited scrutiny under CASS to verify as to whether the contract receipts/fees have been correctly offered to tax. We find during the course of assessement proceedings, the Assessing Officer asked the assessee to explain the difference in receipts, since the income offered in the ITR was less than the amount shown in Form 26AS. We find the assessee replied that there is a difference of Rs.13,42,583/- which the Assessing Officer accepted and made addition of the same to the total income of the assessee. We find the learned PCIT examined the record and noted that the difference of contract receipts as shown in Form 26AS and as reflected in P&L Account is Rs.60,78,670/- and not Rs.13,42,583/-. Further, the Assessing Officer has not examined thoroughly the unsecured loan to the extent of Rs.56,50,000/- and investment made during the year to the tune of Rs.7.00 lakhs. He therefore, issued a show cause notice asking the assessee to explain as to why the provisions of section 263 should not be invoked since the order passed by the Assessing Officer has become erroneous as well as prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue. We find in absence of any reply filed by the assessee, the learned PCIT held the order to be erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue for which he set aside the order with a direction to the Assessing Officer to re-do the assessment de novo after considering the reconciliation of the difference in contract receipts as per P&L account and as per Form 26AS.

It is the submission of the learned Counsel for the assessee that since the Assessing Officer during the course of assessement proceedings has specifically asked for the reconciliation of the difference which the assessee vide letter dated 15.12.2018 has explained, therefore, there is due application of mind by the Assessing Officer and therefore, the order is neither erroneous nor prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue and therefore, the learned PCIT is not justified in invoking the provisions of section 263 of the I.T. Act. It is the submission of the learned DR that when the Assessing Officer has not applied his mind properly and has not at all considered the difference of Rs.60,78,670/- as per Form 26AS and income returned in the P&L account the order has become erroneous as well as prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue and therefore, the PCIT is fully justified in invoking the provisions of section 263 of the I.T. Act.

We do not find any infirmity in the order of the learned PCIT in setting aside the order with a direction to the Assessing Officer to redo the assessment de novo by calling for explanation from the assessee regarding the difference in the contract receipt as per Form 26AS and the income as declared in the P&L Account. It is an admitted fact that the difference in the contract receipt as per Form 26AS and the figures in P&L account is to the tune of Rs.60,78,670/- whereas the Assessing Officer in the order passed u/s 143(3) dated 18.12.2018 has accepted the contention of the assessee that the difference is only to the tune of Rs.13,42,580/-. Even in the assessment order passed u/s 143(3) r.w.s 263 dated 20.03.2022, we find the Assessing Officer has computed the difference in contract receipt at Rs.60,78,670/-. Thus, the order passed by the Assessing Officer u/s 143(3) on Page 8 of 10

In the result, appeal filed by the assessee is dismissed.