KINGSWAY SERVICE STATION,DELHI vs. ACIT, CIRCLE- 35(1), NEW DELHI

The present appeals have been filed by the assessee against the orders of ld. CIT(A)-12, New Delhi dated 10.08.2017 and 15.09.2017.

Since, the issues involved in both the appeals are identical which were heard together.

In following grounds have been raised by the assessee:

Brief facts of the case are that the assessee is engaged in the business of Petrol Pump of Indian Oil Corporation and filed return of income on 27.09.2013 declaring total income at Rs.15,47,950/-.

During the assessment proceedings, the AO found that the assessee had given interest free advances to various parties as under:

The AO disallowed interest paid of Rs.7,90,894/- on the grounds that the assessee failed to charge interest from the loan party whereas interest paid has been debited to P&L account.

Before us, it was submitted that the assessee has own funds in the form of capital to the tune of Rs.1,34,04,800/- which is more than the interest free loan given of Rs.97,85,900/-, thus, undisputedly proving that sufficient interest free funds were available with the assessee which leads to the presumption that the investment were made out of own fund but not from interest bearing funds. Hence, no disallowances on account of interest called for. & 6918/Del/2017 4 Kingsway Service Station Unreported Sales:

The Assessing Officer made the addition of Rs. 1,37,00,132/- on account of unreported sales. The AO held that from the audited books of account, it is deciphered that the handing loss of Unleaded Petrol as shown in closing stock was 2,81,892.38 liters which comes to be 6.3% of the total value sold by the assessee. The AO held that according to the Essential Commodities Act, the upper limit of allowable handling loss is 0.75% only. Therefore, the AO disallowed the differential quantity on account of unreported sales. The Ld. CIT(A) confirmed the same on the ground that the assessee has not brought any new facts on record to justify the higher handling loss.

During the course of hearing before us, the ld. AR reiterated the argument taken up before the AO as well as Ld. CIT(A). The assessee filed a chart showing details of stock. From perusal of the chart it is found that there are two types of sales in ULP, i.e., normal sales and premix sales. The quantity sold in normal sale is 44,69,534.68 ltrs. and quantity sold in premix sales is 2,49,685.98 ltrs and the handling loss is just 32206.31 ltrs. The same fact is also evident from the trading account itself wherein premix sales of 2,49,685.98 ltrs (Rs. 1,50,59,240.37 + Rs. 3,63,373.90) is included in the total sales of Rs. 41,80,46,015.62. A chart showing quantity wise trading account is also submitted.

It was argued that the handling loss of the assessee during the year was just 0.68% [32206.31/(4469534.68 + 249685.98)*100], i.e., within the prescribed upper limit of & 6918/Del/2017 5 Kingsway Service Station 0.75% and the amount appearing in tax audit report is just a clerical mistake which is admitted by the auditor himself. Hence, in the interest of justice, we deem it proper to remand the matter to the file of AO to reconcile the closing stock with that of the opening stock of the next year and allow the handling losses on re-computation and reconciliation after affording an opportunity to the assessee.

The appeal of the assessee on this ground is allowed for statistical purposes.

In the result, both the appeals of the assessee are allowed for statistical purpose. Order Pronounced in the Open Court on 25/08/2021.