COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, GANDHINAGAR vs. RASIKBHAI RAMJIBHAI RAVAL

PDF · subscribers
TAXAP/743/2018HC GujaratGJHC24038594201802 July 2018Bench: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.R. SHAH,HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.Y. KOGJE4 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that no substantial question of law arises from the ITAT's order. Regarding the first issue, the Court noted that while the assessee initially did not furnish evidence for expenses, they produced relevant material before the CIT(A). The CIT(A) called for a remand report from the Assessing Officer and, being satisfied with the evidence, deleted the disallowance. The Tribunal confirmed this deletion, finding cogent reasons and factual findings that the expenses were proved. Therefore, the Tribunal did not err in deleting the Rs. 86,55,134/- disallowance. Concerning the second issue, the Court observed that both the CIT(A) and the Tribunal found that the nomenclature of 'unsecured loan' was incorrect and it represented 'trade creditors'. It was established that these individuals were trade creditors with whom the assessee had contractual business dealings, including supply of labour. Based on these factual findings, the Court found no reason to interfere with the deletion of Rs. 17,07,145/-. The appeal was dismissed.

What were the facts?

The Revenue (Commissioner of Income Tax, Gandhinagar) filed a Tax Appeal before the High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad, challenging an order dated December 13, 2017, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Ahmedabad 'B' Bench. The ITAT had dismissed the Revenue's appeal, upholding the order of the CIT(A) which had deleted two additions made by the Assessing Officer. The first deletion was Rs. 86,55,134/-, representing a 5% disallowance of expenses claimed in the trading account. The second deletion was Rs. 17,07,145/-, treated as unexplained unsecured loans. The Assessing Officer had made these additions during the assessment proceedings for the assessee, Rasikbhai Ramjibhai Raval.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal had to decide the following questions of law: 1. Whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal has erred in law and on facts in deleting Rs. 86,55,134/-, being a disallowance of 5% of the expenses claimed in the trading account (under Section 37 of the Income Tax Act, implicitly). 2. Whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal has erred in law and on facts in deleting Rs. 17,07,145/-, being unexplained cash credits under Section 68 of the Income Tax Act. Contentions: Assessee: Not recorded in the judgment. Revenue: Argued that the Tribunal erred in deleting the disallowance of 5% of trading expenses and the addition for unexplained unsecured loans. The Revenue contended that the assessee did not furnish necessary evidence during assessment proceedings, particularly regarding payments to contractors/labourers.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 68

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

C/TAXAP/743/2018 JUDGMENT IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD R/TAX APPEAL NO. 743 of 2018

FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE:

HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH and HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.Y. KOGJE ====================================== 1 Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment ? 2 To be referred to the Reporter or not ? 3 Whether their Lordships wish to see the fair copy of the judgment ? 4 Whether this case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution of India or any order made thereunder ? ====================================== COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, GANDHINAGAR Versus RASIKBHAI RAMJIBHAI RAVAL ====================================== Appearance: MRS MAUNA M BHATT(174) for the APPELLANT(s) No. 1 for the RESPONDENT(s) No. 1 ====================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH and HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.Y. KOGJE Date : 02/07/2018 ORAL JUDGMENT (PER : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH) Page 1 of 4

C/TAXAP/743/2018 JUDGMENT [1.0] Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned judgment and order passed by the learned Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Ahmedabad “B” Bench, Ahmedabad (hereinafter referred to as “the learned Tribunal”) dated 13/12/2017 in ITA No.1420/Ahd/2014 by which the learned Tribunal has dismissed the said Appeal preferred by the revenue and has confirmed the order passed by the learned CIT(A) deleting Rs.86,55,134/- being disallowance of 5% of the expenses claimed in trading account and deleting Rs.17,07,145/- being unexplained unsecured loans, revenue has preferred the present Tax Appeal with the following proposed questions of law; (A) Whether on facts and circumstances, the Appellate Tribunal has erred in law and on facts in deleting Rs.86,55,134/- being disallowance of 5% of the expenses claimed in trading account? (B) Whether on facts and circumstances, the Appellate Tribunal has erred in law and on facts in deleting Rs.17,07,145/- being unexplained cash credits u/s 68 of the Act? [2.0] We have heard Mrs. Mauna Bhatt, learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the revenue. Now so far as the disallowance of 5% of the expenses claimed in trading account of Rs.86,55,134/- made by the learned Assessing Officer is concerned, it is true that during the assessment proceedings the assessee did not furnish necessary evidence, more particularly, with respect to the amount paid to the Contractors Page 2 of 4

C/TAXAP/743/2018 JUDGMENT /Labourers. However, before the learned CIT(A) assessee produced relevant evidence /material and the learned CIT(A) called the remand report from the learned Assessing Officer and thereafter having been satisfied with respect to the payment made towards the expenses, learned CIT(A) has deleted Rs.86,55,134/- being disallowance of 5% of the expenses claimed in the trading account and the same has been confirmed by the learned Tribunal. Cogent reasons have been given and there are findings of fact with respect to the expenses claimed by the assessee, which came to be proved by producing evidence before the learned CIT(A) by which the remand report was called, and therefore, it cannot be said that the learned Tribunal has committed any error in deleting the disallowance of Rs.86,55,134/- made by the learned Assessing Officer of 5% of the expenses claimed in the trading account. No substantial question of law arises. [3.0] Similarly, so far as the proposed question no.(B) i.e. deleting Rs.17,07,145/- being unexplained cash credit under Section 68 of the Income Tax Act is concerned, both the learned CIT(A) as well as the learned Tribunal have categorically observed that the nomenclature was wrong and it was shown as unsecured loan instead of trade creditors. On facts, it was found that all the persons were as such trade creditors with whom the assessee had done some contract business, including supply of labourers on contractual payments, and therefore, on the aforesaid finding, the same is not required to be interfered with by this Court. No substantial question of law arises even qua proposed question no.(B). [4.0] In view of the above and for the reasons stated Page 3 of 4

C/TAXAP/743/2018 JUDGMENT hereinabove, present Tax Appeal deserves to be dismissed and is accordingly dismissed. (M.R. SHAH, J.) (A.Y. KOGJE, J.) siji Page 4 of 4

More judgments on Section 68

All 29,931 judgments and leading authorities on Section 68 →

Recent GST High Court judgments

Search GST case law →