JASBIR SINGH,GANDHI NAGAR vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER, VIKAS BHAWAN NEW DELHI
In favour of the assessee: the assessee's appeal was allowed. From the AI summary of this appeal.
What did the Tribunal hold?
The Tribunal held that the penalty orders were unsustainable as the lower authorities failed to consider the assessee's submissions that records were maintained and an audit report was submitted. Therefore, the penalties were deleted.
What were the facts?
The assessee, a proprietor of a mobile phone trading firm, failed to comply with reassessment notices and was penalized for not maintaining books of account and not auditing accounts. The CIT(A) upheld these penalties.
What were the issues?
Whether penalties under Section 271A and 271B were rightly imposed when the assessee claimed to have maintained records and submitted an audit report.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, DELHI ‘C’ BENCH,
Before: SHRI SATBEER SINGH GODARA, & SHRI NAVEEN CHANDRA
PER NAVEEN CHANDRA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER:-
These two appeals by the assessee are preferred against the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-NFAC, Delhi dated 12.07.2024 under section 250 of the Income Tax Act (hereinafter referred to as "the Act") arising out of the penalty order dated 28.06.2019 passed
ITA Nos. 5187 & 5188/DEL/2024 [A.Y. 2011-12] Jasbir Singh vs. ITO by the Assessing Officer, ITO, Ward – 57(4), Delhi (hereinafter referred as “the AO”) under section 271A and 271B of the Act pertaining to Assessment Year 2011-12, respectively.
Since the above captioned appeals were heard together and the facts in issues are identical, both the appeals are being disposed of by this common order for the sake of convenience and brevity.
Briefly stated the facts of the case as culled out that the assessee is the proprietor of the firm under the name & style as Sukhmani Enterprises dealing business of trading of sale/purchase of Keypad mobile phones. Assessee filed its return of Income declaring income of Rs.1,59,845/- on 16.10.2018 for A.Y 2011-12 which was assessed under section 148 of the Act on 31.12.2018.
During the reassessment proceedings the assessee did not comply with various notices. The assessee was thus issued notice under section 271A read with section 274 of the Act dated 30.01.2019 for failure to maintain books of account. Again, due to non-compliance on part of assessee, AO passed order u/s 271A of the Act on 28.06.2019, wherein penalty of Rs. 25,000/- was imposed. Aggrieved by the order of AO assessee was before the CIT(A). The CIT(A) has dismissed the appeal and Page 2 of 5
ITA Nos. 5187 & 5188/DEL/2024 [A.Y. 2011-12] Jasbir Singh vs. ITO upheld the penalty order imposing penalty of Rs.25,000/- u/s 271A of the Act. 5. Similarly, the AO levied a penalty u/s 271B for non-audit of accounts in absence of any explanation from the assessee. Thus the main issues are with regard to the penalty u/s 271A of the Act in ITA No.5187/Del/2024 and penalty u/s 271B in ITA No.5188/Del/2024. 6. We find that the penalty order u/s 271A has not considered the submission of the assessee that he has maintained all the records up to date for the relevant year. In such factual matrix, we therefore, consider the penalty order is unsustainable in law and the same is deleted. Appeal is allowed.
Penalty order u/s 271B of the Act levying penalty of Rs.1,50,000/- is also deleted as the lower authorities has not considered the factual position that the assessee had submitted the detailed annual audit report of the relevant year to the Assessing Officer. The penalty is accordingly deleted and the appeal is allowed.
In the result, both the appeals in ITA Nos. 5187 & 5188/DEL/2024 are allowed.
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ITA Nos. 5187 & 5188/DEL/2024 [A.Y. 2011-12] Jasbir Singh vs. ITO The order is pronounced in the open court on 21.04.2026.
Sd/- Sd/- [SATBEER SINGH GODARA] [NAVEEN CHANDRA] JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER Dated: 24th April, 2026. Priti Yadav, Sr.PS* Copy forwarded to: 1. Assessee 2. Respondent 3. CIT 4. CIT(A) 5. DR Asst. Registrar, ITAT, New Delhi
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More judgments on Section 271A
- Kamaljeet Singh, Rupnagar, Punjab vs ACIT Circle 1(1) Chandigarh, ChandigarhITA 426/CHANDI/2026[2017-18]Status: Disposed6 Oct 2026AY 2017-18
- Thakorbhai Jagdishbhai Patel, Panchmahals… vs Income Tax Officer, Godhra, PanchmahalsITA 1248/AHD/2026[2020-21]Status: Disposed30 Sept 2026AY 2020-21
- Swajan Foundation, Lucknow vs Income Tax Officer (Exemption), LucknowITA 790/LKW/2026[2019-20]Status: Disposed25 Sept 2026AY 2019-20
- Swajan Foundation, Lucknow vs Income Tax Officer (Exemption), LucknowITA 790/LKW/2026[2019-20]Status: Disposed25 Sept 2026AY 2019-20
- Ram Lal Narwani, Jaipur vs ITO Ward. 6(1), JaipurITA 32/JPR/2026[2011-12]Status: Disposed22 Sept 2026AY 2011-12
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