AMAR SINGH,GURGAON vs. ACIT INTERNATIONAL TAXATION, GURGAON

Ground No.1 is general in nature, hence, does not require adjudication.

In ground No.2, assessee has challenged addition of Rs.60,000 representing cash deposited in an account held with Punjab National Bank.

Briefly, the facts are, assessee is a non-resident individual deriving income from salary, being employed with Merchant Navy.

For the assessment year under dispute, assessee had filed his return of income on 26.07.2017, declaring income of Rs.18,07,019. In course of assessment proceedings, the Assessing Officer noticed that assessee had deposited cash amounting to Rs.4,00,000 in an account with Punjab National Bank. Therefore, he called upon the assessee to furnish the source of such cash deposits. In response to the query raised, assessee submitted that an amount of Rs.3,40,000 was received from sale of a car and the balance amount of Rs.60,000 was received from his wife, out of her past savings. The Assessing Officer, while accepting assessee’s submission regarding amount received from sale of car, rejected his submission regarding receipt of Rs.60,000 from his wife. Accordingly, he added back the amount of Rs.60,000 under Section 69A of the Income-Tax Act, 1961. Though, assessee contested the aforesaid addition before learned Commissioner (Appeals), however, he was unsuccessful.

Before us, learned counsel for the assessee reiterated the stand taken before the departmental authorities. Whereas, learned Departmental Representative relied upon the observations of the Assessing Officer and learned Commissioner (Appeals).

Having considered rival submissions, we find, assessee’s wife is an Income-Tax assessee and files her return of income regularly.

Considering the status of the assessee and his wife, the explanation of assessee that an amount of Rs.60,000 was received from his wife out of her past savings is believable. Accordingly, we hold that the addition of Rs.60,000 under Section 69A of the Act is unjustified. Accordingly, we delete the addition.

In ground no. 3, assessee has challenged the addition of cash deposited in the bank account during the demonetization period.

In course of assessment proceedings, the assessing officer noticed that during the demonetization period, assessee had deposited cash of Rs.2,48,000 in his account maintained with Canara Bank.

Before us, learned counsel appearing for the assessee submitted that as per CBDT Instruction No.3/2017 dated 21.02.2017, in case of an individual having no business income, no verification is required to be made, if the total cash deposits during the demonetization period is up to Rs.2.50 lacs.

Learned Departmental Representative relied upon the observations of the assessing officer and learned Commissioner (Appeals).

Having considered rival submissions and perused the material on record, it is observed, CBDT vide Instruction No. 3/2017 dated 21.2.2017 has issued standard operating procedure to be followed by the assessing officer in verification of cash transaction relating to demonetization. In the Annexure to the said instruction, the following guideline has been issued, qua, cash deposit made by an individual having no business income:

In the facts of the present appeal, undisputedly, assessee is a salaried person having no business income. Further, the cash deposited during the demonetization period, does not exceed the threshold limit of Rs.2.50 lacs in terms with the CBDT Instruction noted above. The CBDT instruction being beneficial to assessee, has to be applied.

In view of the aforesaid, we delete the addition of Rs.2,23,000 made under Section 69A of the Act

Ground nos. 4 and 5 being general in nature, do not require adjudication.

In the result, appeal is allowed. Order pronounced in the open court on 20thSeptember, 2022.