MAHENDRABHAI M AJMERA,AHMEDABAD vs. THE ASST. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, CIRCLE 6(1), AHMEDABAD

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ITA 2254/AHD/2017Status: DisposedITAT Ahmedabad24 April 2019AY 2014-154 pages
AI SummaryPartly Allowed

What did the Tribunal hold?

The Tribunal held that the commission paid to the assessee's son for services rendered in procuring and managing large orders could not be ignored. However, the ad-hoc disallowance of Rs. 1,50,000/- by the AO was confirmed due to the assessee's failure to provide a rationale for commission variations.

What were the facts?

The assessee paid commission to various parties, including Rs. 4,99,113/- to his son. The Assessing Officer (AO) disallowed Rs. 1,50,000/- on an ad-hoc basis. The CIT(A) enhanced the disallowance to Rs. 4,99,113/-, disallowing the entire commission paid to the son.

What were the issues?

Whether the commission paid to the assessee's son was for services actually rendered and if the ad-hoc disallowance by the AO was justified.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 40A(2)(b)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, AHMEDABAD – BENCH ‘B’

Before: SHRI RAJPAL YADAV & SHRI AMARJIT SINGH

For Appellant: Shri Parin Shah, AR
Hearing: 09/04/2019Pronounced: 24/04/2019

आयकर अपील�य अ�धकरण, अहमदाबाद �यायपीठ - अहमदाबाद । IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL AHMEDABAD – BENCH ‘B’

BEFORE SHRI RAJPAL YADAV, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND SHRI AMARJIT SINGH, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER आयकर अपील सं./ ITA No.2254/Ahd/2017 �नधा�रण वष�/Asstt. Year: 2014-15 Mehendrabhai M. Ajmera Vs. ACIT, Cir.6(1) Prop. of Rushabh Industries Ahmedabad. Plot No.137/20, GIDC Estate Road No.29 Next To Meera Metal Odhav, Ahmedabad 382 415. PAN : ABHPA 9937 E

अपीलाथ�/ (Appellant) �त् यथ�/ (Respondent)

Assessee by : Shri Parin Shah, AR Revenue by : Shri Jayant Jhaveri, Sr.DR सुनवाई क� तार�ख/Date of Hearing : 09/04/2019 घोषणा क� तार�ख /Date of Pronouncement: 24/04/2019 आदेश/O R D E R PER RAJPAL YADAV, JUDICIAL MEMBER:

Assessee is in appeal before the Tribunal against order of ld.CIT(A)-6, Ahmedabad dated 24.8.2017 passed for the Asstt.Year 2014-15.

2.

The assessee has taken five grounds of appeal. Its grievance revolves around a single issue, whereby it has pleaded that the ld.CIT(A) has erred in confirming the disallowance out of commission paid by the assessee.

ITA No.2254/Ahd/2017 2 3. Brief facts of the case are that the assessee has filed its return of income on 5.9.2014 declaring total income at Rs.31,40,036/-. The case of the assessee was selected for scrutiny assessment and notice under section 143(2) of the Act was issued and served upon the assessee. On scrutiny of the accounts, it revealed to the AO that the assessee has paid commission to the following parties: SN Name Total Commission Detail of service Rate of paid (Rs.) Rendered Commission 1 8084 Batliboi Ltd. Selling Agent 10 % 2 18362 3% Selling Agent Deepak Trikha 3 203000 5% Selling Agent Sachin R. Patel 4 200000 5% Selling Agent Shailendra Sahay 5 499113 5% Shalin M Selling Agent Ajmera 9,44,145 Total Amount .

4.

Out of the total commission paid, the ld.AO disallowed Rs.1,50,000/- on an adhoc basis. On appeal, the ld.CIT(A) gave notice for enhancement of income. The ld.CIT(A) has observed that commission of Rs.4,99,113/-was given to son of the assessee, which deserves to be disallowed under section 40A(2)(b) of the Act as well as on account of non-providing of any services. After hearing the assessee, the ld.CIT(A) disallowed total sum of Rs.4,99,113/- which included a sum of Rs.1.50 lakhs already disallowed by the AO. In other words, the ld.CIT(A) enhanced the disallowance by a sum of Rs.3,45,113/-

ITA No.2254/Ahd/2017 3 5. With the assistance of the ld.representatives, we have gone through the record. In response to the show cause for enhancement of income, the assessee has contended that his son, Shalin M. Ajmera is Electrical Engineer aged about 24-25 years. He has helped the assessee to take care of sales made to three concerns, viz. Arise India, R.S. Enterprise, Gaya and Shalin Pump Agency, Patna. Total orders worth Rs.99.82 crores were procured from these concerns. The ld.CIT(A) did not accept the contentions of the assessee on the ground that these are the old customers of the assessee. Hence, Shri Shalin M. Ajmera has not provided any specific service to the assessee. To our mind, the ld.CIT(A) failed to appreciate the nature of assessee’s business, and also business realities. If in the firm, assessee’s son, who is Electric Engineer, joined business by providing his services, then those service cannot be ignored simply for the reasons that he has taken care of old customers. It is pertinent to note that total orders worth of Rs.99.82 crores pertaining to three parties were required to be processed. Somebody must have to devote energy for taking care of this order and implementation of these orders. Goods must have been dispatched to them. Simply because they are old customers that does not mean that orders will be processed automatically, and no personal care would be required. There are so many factors even for catering old customers also viz. delivery of goods, receipt of payments, complaints about the goods, all these things are necessary part of day-to-day business. Thus, the ld.CIT(A) has erred in enhancing the income by making disallowance out of commission paid to the son. However, as far as disallowance of Rs.1,50,000/- is concerned that was disallowed on an estimate basis out of total commission paid by the assessee.

ITA No.2254/Ahd/2017 4 The range of the payment is being made from 3% to 5% and 10% to the parties. The assessee failed to give any rationale about this variation and exact nature of services rendered by the persons who have been given higher rate of commission. When the assessee failed to give these details, then the AO made disallowance on adhoc basis. Considering his orders, we confirm the disallowance to the extent of Rs.1,50,000/-. However, the enhanced amount disallowed by the CIT(A) is deleted. In other words, the disallowance of commission expenses at Rs.1,50,000/- lakhs is confirmed, and further disallowance made by the ld.CIT(A) at Rs.3,49,113/- is concerned, it is deleted.

6.

In the result, appeal of the assessee is partly allowed. Order pronounced in the Court on 24th April, 2019.

Sd/- Sd/- (AMARJIT SINGH) (RAJPAL YADAV) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER

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