COMMISSIONER OF INCOME vs. R.S. SURIYA

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TCA/968/2015HC Madras08 April 2021Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice M.DURAISWAMY5 pages
AI SummaryWithdrawn

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court, in its judgment delivered by M. Duraiswamy, J., noted the submissions of the learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant/Revenue. The Revenue stated that the appeal was not being pursued due to a low tax effect, as per CBDT Circular No.17/2019, which raised the monetary limit for appeals to the High Court to Rs.1 crore. The tax effect in this case was below this limit. Consequently, the High Court dismissed the appeal as withdrawn on account of the low tax effect. The substantial questions of law were left open. Liberty was granted to the Revenue to seek restoration of the appeal if the tax effect was found to be above the threshold limit, to be heard and decided on merits. No costs were awarded.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax, Central II, Chennai, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai, dated 08.04.2015. The appeal pertained to Assessment Year 2010-11 and concerned an order passed by the ITAT in ITA No.1242/Mds/2013. The appeal was admitted on substantial questions of law. Subsequently, the Revenue sought to withdraw the appeal, citing the low tax effect in accordance with CBDT Circular No.17/2019, which increased the monetary limit for appeals to Rs.1 crore. The tax effect in this case was stated to be below this threshold.

What were the issues?

1. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal was right in holding that the amount received as advance as per the agreements entered into by the assessee with different film producers, promising to render professional services were not taxable as income, even though the assessee was following the cash system of accounting? (Question of law turning on the taxability of advance receipts under the cash system of accounting). 2. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal is correct in deleting the addition of Rs.34,30,000/- made under Section 69 of Income Tax Act, without any material evidence and unsatisfactory explanation by the assessee in respect of such investment? (Question of mixed law and fact turning on the validity of deletion of addition under Section 69). Assessee's contentions: Not recorded in the judgment. Revenue's contentions: The Revenue argued that the advance receipts were taxable as income despite the cash system of accounting and that the deletion of the addition under Section 69 was incorrect due to insufficient explanation by the assessee. However, the Revenue later sought to withdraw the appeal due to low tax effect.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 69

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

T.C.A.No.968 of 2015 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 08.04.2021 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.DURAISWAMY AND THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE R. HEMALATHA T.C.A.No.968 of 2015 Commissioner of Income Tax, Central II, No.108, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai – 600 034. ... Appellant Vs. Mr.R.S.Suriya 15/17, Krishna Street, T.Nagar, Chennai – 600 017. ... Respondent Appeal preferred under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras, “B” Bench, dated 08.04.2015 in I.TA.No.1242/Mds/2013, Assessment Year 2010-11. For Appellant : Mr.T.R.Senthil Kumar Senior Standing Counsel For Respondent : Mr.R.Sivaraman Page 1/5 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.968 of 2015 JUDGMENT (Judgment was delivered by M.DURAISWAMY, J.) We have heard Mr.T.R.Senthil Kumar, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant/Revenue and Mr.R.Sivaraman, learned counsel for the respondent/assessee. 2.The appeal, filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short, the Act) is directed against the order dated 08.04.2015 made in I.TA.No.1242/Mds/2013 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai, “B” Bench (for brevity, the Tribunal) for the Assessment Year 2010-11. 3.The appeal was admitted on 24.11.2015 on the following substantial questions of law: “1.Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal was right in holding that the amount received as advance as per the agreements entered into by the assessee with different film producers, promising to render professional services were not taxable as income, even Page 2/5 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.968 of 2015 though the assessee was following cash system of accounting? 2.Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal is correct in deleting the addition of Rs.34,30,000/- made under Section 69 of Income Tax Act, without any material evidence and unsatisfactory explanation by the assessee in respect of such investment?” 4.The learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant submits that the above appeal is not pursued by the Revenue on account of the Low Tax Effect in terms of Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.08.2019 issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes. By the said Circular, the monetary limit for filing or pursuing an appeal before the High Court has been increased to Rs.1 crore. It is further submitted that the tax effect in this case is less than the threshold limit. 5.In the light of the said submissions, the above Tax Case Appeal is dismissed as withdrawn on account of the Low Tax Effect. The substantial questions of law framed are left open. In the event the tax effect in this case is above the threshold limit fixed in the said Page 3/5 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.968 of 2015 Circular, liberty is granted to the Revenue to make a mention to this Court to restore the appeal to be heard and decided on merits. No costs. [M.D., J.] [R.H., J.] 08.04.2021 (2/2) mkn

Index : Yes/No Internet : Yes

To 1.The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai, “B” Bench 2.The Commissioner of Income Tax, Central II, No.108, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai – 600 034. Page 4/5 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.968 of 2015 M.DURAISWAMY, J. and R. HEMALATHA, J. mkn T.C.A.No.968 of 2015 08.04.2021 (2/2) Page 5/5 http://www.judis.nic.in

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