STRIDES PHARMA SCIENCE LIMITED,MUMBAI vs. DCIT-15(3)(2), MUMBAI

This appeal by the assessee is preferred against the order dated 06/06/2024 by NFAC, Delhi pertaining to AY 2012-13.

The grievance of the assessee reads as under:- “1. Re-opening of assessment under Section 147 of the Act 1.1 The learned Assessing Officer ('AO') erred in invoking reassessment proceedings under section 147 of the Act even after failing to fulfill conditions as specified for invoking such proceedings under section 147, 148 and 151 of the Act. 1.2. The learned AO erred in not taking cognizance of the fact that reassessment proceedings is bad in law as no fresh information/ material is available on record. 1.3. The learned AO erred in law and in facts by revising a considered view taken by the learned AO during original assessment i.e., change in opinion does not confer jurisdiction on the learned AO to reopen the completed assessment under section 147 of the Act. Further, the reassessment could not be a review of an earlier assessment order. 2. Re-computation of book profits under Section 115JB of the Act - INR 60,11,503 [Page 4 to 9 of the Assessment Order issued under section 147 r.w.s 144 of the Act] 2.1. The Hon'ble CIT(A) and the learned AO grossly erred in re-computing the book profit under Section 115JB of the Act by making addition of an amount of INR 60,11,503 towards difference arising on account of valuation of closing stock.

Representatives of both the sides were heard at length. Case records carefully perused and the relevant documentary evidence brought on record, duly considered in light of Rule 18(6) of the ITAT Rules, 1963.

Briefly stated the facts of the case are that the original assessment order was framed u/s 143(3) r.w.s. 92CA(3) of the Act vide order dated 21/03/2016. The completed assessment was reopened and the reasons for reopening the assessment is extracted in the body of the assessment order which reads as under:- “The reason for initiating the reopening proceedings is reproduced as under: In the instant case, on verification of the record of the assessee case was following discrepancy/ failure have been found: (i) It is found from the record that the difference in valuation of closing stock amounting to Rs.1,36,36,069/- was added back to the total income under the normal provisions but could not added to book profit u/s 115JB of the I.T. Act as the valuation of the closing stock one for cost purposes and another for financials is in non- compliance of the provisions of the Companies Act, which consequently has bearing on the computation of book profits u/s 115JB of the I.T. Act. the assessee company. Further, due to this discrepancy, there would be the effect of reducing the amount of MAT credit u/s 115JAA of the AY 2012-13 to be carried forward to subsequent AYs. 3. This office has also examined the evidence and fact of the case independently and it is found that the difference in valuation of closing stock amounting to Rs. 1,36,36,069/- was added back to the total income under the normal provisions but could not added to book profit u/s 115JB of the I.T.Act, the sum of Rs. 99,48,700/- as exchange loss which have not been debited in the profit & loss account but claimed as deduction in the statement of income and reduction of the sum of Rs. 6,29,87,464/- towards amount withdrawn from reserves or provision no longer required from the net profits to arrive at the correct amount of book profits and claimed excess set off of losses to the tune of Rs. 1,11,15,583/- are nothing but the failure on the part of the assessee to disclose fully and truly all the material facts necessary for its assessment. Therefore, I have the reason to believe that the income chargeable to tax under the provisions, amounting to Rs.9,76,87,816/-(1,36,36,069+99,48,700+ 6,29,87,464 + 1,11,15,583) has escaped assessment for A.Y.2012-13 which comes to the notice to the undersigned subsequently in the course of the proceedings coming within the meaning of the section 147 of the I.T.Act, 1961. 4. In this case a return of income for A. Y. 2012-13 was filed for the year under consideration and regular assessment u/s.143(3) was made on 21.03.2016. Since, four years from the end of the relevant assessment year has expired in this case, the requirements to initiate proceedings u/s.147 of the Act are reason to believe that income for the year under consideration has escaped assessment because the 4 difference in valuation of closing stock amounting to Rs. 1,36,36,069/- was added back to the total income under the normal provisions but could not added to book profit u/s 115JB of the I.T.Act, the sum of Rs, 99,48,700/- as exchange loss which have not been debited in the profit & loss account but claimed as deduction in the statement of income and reduction of the sum of Rs. 6,29,87,464/- towards amount withdrawn (ii) On verification of record it is seen from the statement of income that sums of Rs. 99,48,700/- have been claimed as deduction towards exchange loss which has not debited to profit & Loss. Since the method of accounting employed by assessee company is mercantile system of accounting any sum to qualify as liability/expenditure incurred should necessarily be accounted in the profit & loss account and the Balance Sheet. Therefore, the sum of Rs. 99,48,700/- which have not been debited in the profit & loss account should not be qualify for deduction which the assessee company claimed as deduction in the statement of income. (iii) From verification of records it is found that the break-up of liabilities no longer required written back. From the details, it is seen that the amounts written back related to items such as commission payable not claimed by agents, commission to non WTD provided reversed, creditors not claimed written back, discount allowed by HSBC against loan settlement, ex-gratia for employee not payable, retention money not payable, volume. discount received from supplier, advance paid by customer no longer liable to pay back, liquidation damages no longer payable. Here, it is evident that the write back of the amount claimed as a reduction from the net profits represents only the ascertained liabilities, which have not been taken into consideration for the computation of book profits of the earlier years. Therefore, the reduction of the above sum of Rs. 6,29,87,464/- towards amount withdrawn from reserves or provision no longer required from the net profits to arrive at the book profits of Rs: 32,58,76,411/- is not in order and therefore, the tax u/s 115JB had to be levied on the correct amount of book profits. (iv) From verification of record it is seen that the brought forward losses set off against the current income related to the AYs 2009-10 to 2011-12. Records for AYs 2009-10: to 2011-12 have been verified. On perusal of Scrutiny record for AY 2011- 12 it is seen that the brought forward losses to be carried farward (aggregating to Rs: 26,12,93,064) was Rs, 15,44,31,097( relating to AY 2009-10) and Rs. 10,68,61,967 (relating to AY 2011-12). Therefore, there was excess set off of losses of Rs.1,11,15,583/- was made by from reserves or provision no longer required from the net profits to arrive at the correct amount of book profits and claimed excess set off of losses to the tune of Rs.I,11,15,583/-are nothing but the failure on the part of the assessee to disclose fully and truly all the material facts necessary for its assessment for the assessment year under consideration. It is pertinent to mention here that reasons to believe that income has escaped assessment for the year under consideration have been recorded in above paragraphs.”

No return was filed pursuant to the notice u/s 148 of the Act. The AO proceeded ex-parte u/s 144 of the Act. The re-assessment order was framed u/s 147 r.w.s. 144 of the Act vide order dated nil as under:-

We find that the issue relating to the valuation of closing stock was considered in the original assessment order dated 21/03/2016 wherein difference in valuation of closing stock amounting to Rs. 1,36,36,069/- was added to the income of the assessee. The same was also the subject matter of the first appellate proceedings wherein, the ld. CIT(A) directed to restrict the addition to Rs. 60,11,503/- and the same was considered by the AO while computing the book profit u/s 115JB of the Act. 6.1. In its reply dated 17/02/2016, filed during the original assessment proceedings, the assessee has furnished details of exchange loss claimed at Rs.99,48,700/-. The set off of brought forward loss were also considered while computing the total income of the assessee in the original assessment proceedings, which is as under:-