SWISS GLASS COAT vs. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court held that no substantial question of law arose for consideration. The Tribunal had found, based on seized paper (page 111 of Annexure-A/5) during a search under section 133A, that there was an excess figure of stock. The assessee's claim that this was merely rough working for accounting staff and that actual stock was higher was not accepted by the Tribunal. The Tribunal observed that the seized paper provided a fair working of finished goods, semi-finished goods, debtors, and creditors, indicating financial results that the assessee could not reconcile with its final accounts. The Court found that the Tribunal's conclusion about the stock discrepancy was a concurrent finding of fact, supported by material before it, and that the Tribunal had duly examined the CIT(A)'s order and reached its own findings. Citing M. Janardhana Rao Vs. Joint Commissioner of Income-tax, the Court stated that there is no scope for interference by the High Court under section 260A with a finding of fact. Therefore, the appeal was dismissed.
What were the facts?
The assessee, Swiss Glass Co., filed an appeal before the High Court of Gujarat against an order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT). The appeal challenged the ITAT's confirmation of an addition of Rs. 1,21,97,610/- made by the Assessing Officer (AO) on account of excess stock. This addition was for the Assessment Year 2004-05 and stemmed from information gathered during a search under section 132 of the Income Tax Act on January 19, 2006. The AO's addition increased the assessee's total income to Rs. 2,32,91,800/- from the returned income of Rs. 1,12,60,100/-. The Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals) upheld the AO's addition, and the ITAT subsequently confirmed it.
What were the issues?
1. Whether, in the facts and circumstances, the ITAT was legally correct in confirming the addition of Rs. 1,12,97,610/- (note: the judgment states Rs. 1,21,97,610/- in facts and Rs. 1,12,97,610/- in the question) made by the AO on account of excess stock, a question of law turning on the interpretation of relevant provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961. 2. Whether the ITAT's decision was perverse, considering: (a) that all details were filed before the Tribunal and ought to have been examined; (b) that extracts of the CIT(A)'s findings were reproduced while deciding the appeal; and (c) that the detailed paper book ought to have been considered but was not. Assessee's Contentions: The assessee argued that the ITAT's decision was perverse because it failed to consider all the details filed, reproduced findings of the CIT(A) without independent analysis, and did not examine the detailed paper book. The assessee also contended that the seized paper (page 111 of Annexure-A/5) was merely rough working for accounting staff and that the actual stock as per books, including raw material, was higher than what was mentioned in the seized paper. Revenue's Contentions: The judgment does not record specific contentions made by the revenue.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
ORAL JUDGMENT (Per : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.V. ANJARIA)
TAXAP/523/2011 2/4 JUDGMENT In the present appeal by the assessee company preferred under section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is directed against the order dated 29.01.2010 by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Ahmedabad Bench ‘C’ in IT(SS) A No.61-62/2009, in so far as it relates to Appeal No.62/2009, on the aspect of addition of Rs.1,21,97,610/- on account of excess stock. Said addition made by the Assessing Officer was upheld by the Appellate Commissioner and the Tribunal confirmed the same in the impugned judgment.
The following questions as formulated by the appellant in the memorandum of appeal are proposed as the substantial questions of law. “(i) Whether in the facts and under the circumstances of the case the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was right in law in confirming the addition of Rs.1,12,97,610/- made by the AO on account of excess stock? (ii) Whether, in the facts and under the circumstances of the case the decision of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was not perverse inasmuch as: (a) all the details were filed before the Tribunal and the same ought to have been looked into and decided the appeal; (b) while deciding the appeal extracts of the finding of CIT(A) have been reproduced; (c) detailed paper book ought to have been looked into which has not been done.”
We heard learned Sr. Counsel Mr. S.N.Soparkar assisted by learned advocate Mr. Bhoomi Thakore, and considered the submissions. We also gone through the impugned order as well as the orders of the authorities below with reference to which the proceedings of appeal before the Appellate Tribunal arose.
The relevant facts in brief are that while dealing with the income-tax
TAXAP/523/2011 3/4 JUDGMENT return of the appellant-assessee for the Assessment Year 2004-05, the Assessing Officer made addition of Rs.1,21,97,610/- in respect of stock of finished goods and semi-finished goods, which was pursuant to information collected in a search under section 132 of the Act carried out on 19.01.2006. By adding that amount of Rs.1,21,97,610/- as excess stock, the total income of the assessee was determined at Rs.2,32,91,800/- as against the returned income of Rs.1,12,60,100/-. The assessee filed appeal before the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals)-IV, Ahmedabad, who did not accept the explanation of the assessee for the discrepancy in figures of stock, and held that the addition made by the Assessing Officer was proper in view of the discrepancies found.
1 The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal also dismissed the appeal of the assessee holding the addition to be justified and confirmed the same by observing as under. “We have also perused the case records including the assessment order, the order of CIT(A) and the assessee's paper book consisting pages 1-35 and 1-
We find from page-111 of Annexure-A/5 that there is excess figure of stock shown and the assessee's claim is that this is only rough working for the purposes of Accounting Staff for the preparation of CMA data for three years. It was also the plea of the assessee that the raw material is considered, the stock as per book is more than that is mentioned in page- 111 of Annexure-A/5. We find no force in the plea of the assessee that this is only rough working as the paper was seized during the course of survey u/s.133A of the Act from the business premises of the assessee. Looking at the seized paper-111, we find that a fair working of finished goods, semi- finished goods and debtors & creditors is provided, which proves that these are financial results and the assessee could not reconcile these with the final account of the assessee. Accordingly, we confirm the order of CIT(A)”
Therefore, it is found on facts by the Tribunal that the assessee had TAXAP/523/2011 4/4 JUDGMENT failed to explain and reconcile the discrepancies which were noticed by the Assessing Officer in the stock figures as above. The conclusion reached by the two authorities and upheld by the Tribunal about discrepancy in the stock is a concurrent finding of fact. Such finding is recorded by the authorities and confirmed by the Tribunal on the basis of material before it. The Tribunal has duly examined the order of the CIT(A) on the issue and on relevant considerations, has reached its own findings.
Accordingly, no question of law, much less a substantial question can be said to be arising. It is observed and held in M.Janardhana Rao Vs. Joint Commissioner of Income-tax [AIR 2005 SC 1309] that there is no scope for interference by the High Court in appeal under section 260A of the Act with a finding recorded when such finding could be treated to be a finding of fact.
In above facts and circumstances, no question of law much less any substantial question of law arises for consideration in this appeal. When no question of law arises, the appeal cannot be entertained. This Tax Appeal is accordingly dismissed. (V.M. SAHAI, J.) (N.V. ANJARIA, J.) (SN DEVU PPS)
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