No AI summary yet for this case.
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, INDORE BENCH, INDORE
Before: Shri Kul Bharat, Hon’ble & Shri Manish Borad, Hon’ble
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL INDORE BENCH, INDORE Before Shri Kul Bharat, Hon’ble Judicial Member and Shri Manish Borad, Hon’ble Accountant Member ITA Nos. 518 to 520/Ind/2016 A.Ys. 2007-08, 2009-10 & 2010-11
Akshay Shakti Shiksha Avam Samaj Kalyan Samiti, Bhopal PAN – AAAAA-7213N ::: Appellant Vs ACIT 1(1) Bhopal ::: Respondent
Appellant by Shri Hitesh Chimnani Respondent by Shri K.G. Goyal Date of hearing 27.4.2018 Date of pronouncement 11.5.2018
O R D E R PER SHRI MANISH BORAD, AM
These appeals of the assessee relating to the
assessment years 2007-08, 2009-10 and 2010-11 are
directed against different orders of the Commissioner of
Income Tax (Appeals)-II, Bhopal, dated 25.2.2013 which
are arising out of different orders u/ss 271AAA and 1
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 271(1)(c) of Income Tax Act (in short referred as ‘Act’) Act
framed by the ACIT 1(1), Bhopal.
In ITA No. 518/Ind/2016 the assessee has taken the
following grounds :-
“(i) That on the facts and in the circumstances of the case,
in law, the ld. CIT(A) erred in confirming the penalty as
levied by the A.O. u/s 271(1)(c) of the Income tax Act even
when on the facts of the present case the same is not
justified.
(ii) That on the facts and in the circumstances of the
case, and in law, the ld. CIT(A) erred in confirming the
penalty as levied by the A.O. u/s 271(1)(c) of the Income tax
Act of Rs. 4,77,000/- without appreciating the facts of the
case and submission made before him.”
In ITA No. 519/Ind/2016 the assessee has taken the
following grounds :-
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 “(i) That on the facts and in the circumstances of the case,
in law, the ld. CIT(A) erred in confirming the penalty as
levied by the A.O. u/s 271AAA of the Income tax Act even
when on the facts of the present case the same is not
justified.
(ii) That on the facts and in the circumstances of the
case, and in law, the ld. CIT(A) erred in confirming the
penalty as levied by the A.O. u/s 271AAA of the Income tax
Act of Rs. 5,58,840/- without appreciating the facts of the
case and submission made before him.”
In ITA No. 520/Ind/2016 the assessee has taken the
following grounds :-
“(i) That on the facts and in the circumstances of the case,
in law, the ld. CIT(A) erred in confirming the penalty as
levied by the A.O. u/s 271AAA of the Income tax Act even
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 when on the facts of the present case the same is not
justified.
(ii) That on the facts and in the circumstances of the
case, and in law, the ld. CIT(A) erred in confirming the
penalty as levied by the A.O. u/s 271AAA of the Income tax
Act of Rs. 5,79,465/- without appreciating the facts of the
case and submission made before him.”
Briefly stated, the facts, as culled out from
record, are that the assessee is a registered society running
Vivekanand College of Science & Technology. It was
registered on 3rd September, 2005 and engaged in
providing education. The search and seizure operation u/s
132 of the Act was carried out at various premises of the
group/members of the society on 23.7.2009. Various
incriminating documents were seized. Specially in the case
of the assessee documents numbering LPS-1 to 50 were
seized from the office premises located at C110, Nehru 4
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 Nagar, Bhopal. Subsequently on 23rd November, 2009 the
society vide letter dated nil submitted to ITO, Inv. Bhopal
under the signature of President and the Secretary, that
the assessee wants to make voluntary disclosure of Rs.
74,83,000/- relating to various items appearing in the
balance sheet as on 31.3.2008 mentioning as follows :-
Amounts credited in corpus fund account And unsecured loan Rs.33,31,000/- 2. Amount for other omissions and errors Rs.24,52,000/- 3. Amount for other omissions and errors Rs.17,00,000/- Total = Rs.74,83,000/-
The assessee society filed its regular return of
income for the assessment years 2007-08, 2009-10 and
2010-11 on 31.10.2007, 31.3.2011 and 16.9.2001
declaring total income at (-) Rs.5,31,945/-, Rs.2,12,910/-
and Rs. 5,51,140/-, respectively. However, in the return of
income filed subsequent to search the assessee did not
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 declare the surrendered income. In reply to the notices
under section 143(2) read with section 153A of the Act
requiring the assessee to file return of income, the assessee
opted for treating the regular return of income filed as
return of income filed in compliance with notice u/s 153A
of the Act. During the course of assessment proceedings
when the assessee was questioned that why it has not
declared the undisclosed income as accepted in the letter
submitted on 23.11.2009 it was pleaded that the
management of the society completely changed after the
search and that the old membership pattern continued up
till January 11 but thereafter from 19.1.2011 there was a
major change in the management committee, which was
not aware of the alleged disclosure. However, during the
course of assessment proceedings the new committee
members accepted the surrender made by the previous
committee. The Assessing Officer accordingly concluded
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 the assessment after making various additions on account
of the alleged surrender as well as other additions
emanating out of the documents seized in the case of office
bearers, viz. K.K. Sharma, K.P. Dwivedi, Pushpandra
Sharma and Lokendra Sharma. The income was
accordingly assessed at Rs.10,56,684/-, Rs. 58,01,313/-
and Rs. 63,45,792/- for the assessment years 2007-08,
2009-10 and 2010-11, respectively. Against the impugned
additions, the assessee did not prefer any appeal before the
learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) and
accepted to pay due taxes on the assessee income.
Subsequent thereto, penalty proceedings u/s
271(1)(c) of the Act(1)(c) of the Act were initiated for the
assessment year 2007-08 and penalty proceedings u/s
271AAA of the Act were initiated for the assessment years
2009-10 and 2010-11. The assessee submissions during
the penalty proceedings were not sufficient to convince the
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 Assessing Officer and he, accordingly, levied the penalty of
Rs.4,77,000/- u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act(1)(c) of the Act for
the assessment year 2007-08 and penalty u/s 271AAA of
the Act at Rs. 5,58,840/- and Rs. 5,79,465/- for the
assessment years 2009-10 and 2010-11, respectively.
Aggrieved, the assessee went in appeal before the learned
Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) against the
penalties levied u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act(1)(c) and 271AAA of
the Act but failed to succeed. Now the assessee is in
appeal before the Tribunal.
We shall first take up the appeal for the
assessment year 2007-08 wherein the assessee aggrieved
with the levy of penalty u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act(1)(c) of the
Act at Rs. 4,77,000/-.
The learned counsel for the assessee referring to
the written submissions as well as cases relied upon in its
favour submitted that the impugned addition was made on 8
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 account of corpus funds and no incriminating documents
regarding corpus funds were found. The addition was made
solely on the basis of disclosure made by the assessee. It
was also contended that the assessee made due disclosure
through a letter dated 23.11.2009 and the revenue has
only acted solely on the basis of the said letter without
conducting further corroborative inquiries.
On the other hand, the learned DR vehemently
argued supporting the orders of the lower authorities.
We have heard the rival contentions and perused
the record placed before us. The sole issue raised in the
assessment year 2007-08 relates to levy of penalty u/s
271(1)(c) of the Act(1)(c) of the Act. This fact is not disputed
that the addition was made on account of corpus fund
which the assessee accepted of not being able to explain its
source. The surrender was made through a letter two
months after the date of search but there was no such 9
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 mention of the alleged surrender in the return of income
filed by the assessee.
We observe that the learned Commissioner of
Income Tax (Appeals) confirmed the impugned penalty by
dealing extensively with the facts of the case along with
applying the judgment of the Hon'ble Apex Court in the
case of MAK Data P. Ltd. vs. CIT; 358 ITR 593 observing as
follows :-
“4.5(a) I have carefully considered the facts of the case
and the written submissions filed by ld. AR. The facts of
the case and the date-line in brief are as under :-
- The search took placed on 23.07.2009.
- No surrender of undisclosed income was made during
the course of the search.
- After the seizure and analysis of seized documents
by the Investigation Wing, a declaration was made by
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 the then President and Secretary of the society
declaring an undisclosed income of Rs. 74,83,000
through a letter filed before ITO (Investigation) on
23.11.2009. The following items of income as per
Balance sheet as on 31.03.2008 were offered to tax.
However, no specific years for which the undisclosed
income was being disclosed were mentioned in this
letter :
(i) Amount credited in Corpus Fund A/c and unsecured loans Rs.33,31,000
(ii) Amount credited in sundry creditors
. Imratilal/Munnalal Rs.5,25,000
. Sundry Payable Rs. 1,45,000
. Creditors for Raw Material Rs.17,82,000 Rs.24,52,000
(iii) Amount for other errors & omissionsRs.17,00,000 Total Rs.74,83,000
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 Notice u/s 153A was issued on 30.6.2011 calling for
returns of income for A.Y. 2004-05 to 2009-10 to be
filed within 30 days. No returns of income were filed in
response to notice u/s 153A. It was stated vide letter
dt. 25.07.2011 that the returns filed u/s 139 may be
treated as filed in response to notice u/s 153A. The
return for A.Y. 2007-08 had been filed on 31.10.2007
declaring a loss of Rs.5,31,945/-.
Thus, even after the above declaration dated
23.11.2009, the surrendered income was not declared
in the return of income u/s 153A on 25.07.2011.
4.5(b) The main argument of ld. learned AR in appeal
is that the declaration dated 23.11.2009 was made
before the ITO (Investigation) voluntarily and almost 2
years prior to the issuance of the statutory notice u/s
153A.
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 The argument of the appellant is not acceptable as the
additional income has been offered by the assessee
only after search uS 132 which is one of the modes of
investigation. A disclosure made after search cannot be
called a voluntary disclosure. Further, more the
assessee did not file return of income declaring the
income surrendered on 23.11.2009 post-search and
instead filed letter that the original returns already filed
may be treated as returns filed in response to notice
u/s 153A. The regular returns u/s 139(1) were filed as
under :-
A.Y. Date of filing return Returned income (Rs.) 2006-07 02-11-2006 13,736
2007-08 31.10.2007 (5,31,945)
2008-09 01.01.2009 NIL
2009-10 31.03.2011 2,12,910
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 2010-11 16.09.2011 5,51,140
Thus, it is clear that the additional income assessed to
tax is only the result of search and seizure operation
and the assessment proceedings and is not voluntary in
any way. It was not shown in the return of income.
4.5(c) The second argument is that due to the ongoing
infighting, quarrels and complaints amongst the
members of the founder Governing Body and other
members of the Society, a consensus could not be
arrived at during the course of search action on
23.07.2009, which prevented the appellant from
making a statement u/s 132(4). There was a change in
the governing body of the society w.e.f. 10.01.2011 and
the new Managing Committee/Office bearers decided to
voluntarily disclose Rs.74,83,000 before the ITO
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 (Investigation) in order to put an end to litigation
regarding tax matters.
This contention of the appellant is also not tenable. If
the assessee had no intention to conceal income and
evade tax on the same, it could have immediately after
search on 23.07.2009 and subsequent surrender on
23.11.2009 filed revised return of income for A.Y. 2008-
09 or filed return of income for A.Y. 2009-10 u/s 139
declaring additional income. The return for A.Y. 2009-10
was filed much beyond the due date, i.e. on
31.03.2011. Similarly the regular return for A.Y. 2010-
11 was filed only on 16.09.2011. When asked why the
amount of Rs. 74,83,000 claimed to have been
voluntarily surrendered was not disclosed even in the
return u/s 153A, the only explanation given is that due
to change in management, the present Management of
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 the society is unable to say anything about the matter
which pertains to the period of the earlier Management.
It is thus held that the assessee has no explanation for
not showing the surrendered income in its return.
4.5(d) Regarding the quantum addition of
Rs.15,88,629 on account of Corpus Fund, it has been
submitted that the addition has been made only on the
basis of the disclosure made by the appellant itself on
23.11.2009 which has been accepted as such for
purposes of assessment. No factum of concealment and
mensrea has been proved or established in the penalty
order. The Assessing Officer has simply rested its
conclusion on the act of voluntary surrender made by
the assessee in good faith to purchase peace and to
avoid litigation. In such a situation, the ratio of the
decision in the case of CIT vs. Suresh Chandra Mittal as
spelt out by the Hon'ble Supreme Court 251 UTR 9(S.C.) 16
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 comes to the rescue of the assessee and accordingly no
penalty under section 271(1)(c) is attracted in the case.
I have considered the above argument. It is seen that
the issue is duly covered in favour of Revenue by the
decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in MAK Data P.
Ltd. vs. CIT; 358 ITR 593 (SC) wherein the Hon'ble
Supreme Court has held as under :-
“Voluntary disclosure does not release the
assessee from the mischief of penal
proceedings……The Assessing Officer shall not be
carried away by the plea of the assessee such as
“voluntary disclosure”, “buy peace”, “avoid
litigation”, amicable settlement”, to explain away
its conduct. The question is whether the assessee
has offered any explanation for concealment of
particulars of income or furnishing inaccurate
particulars of income. Explanation to section
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 271(1)(c) of the Act(1) raises a presumption of
concealment when a different is notice by the A.O.
between the reported and assessed income…..
Assessee has only stated that he had surrendered
the additional sum with a view to avoid litigation,
buy peace and to channelise the energy and
resources towards productive work and to make
amicable settlement with the income tax
department. ‘1Statute does not recognise those
types of defences under the Explanation 1 to
section 271(1)(c) of the Act(1)©. It is trite law that
the voluntary disclosure does not release the
assessee from the mischief of penal proceedings
under section 271(1)(c) of the Act(1)(c). The law
does not provide that when an assessee makes a
voluntary disclosure of his concealed income, he
has to be absolved from penalty.
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 The surrender of income on this case is not
voluntary in the sense that the offer of surrender
was made in view of detection made by the A.O. in
the search conducted in the sister concern of the
assessee. In that situation, it cannot be said that
the surrender of income was voluntary.”
Upon careful consideration of the explanation offered
by the assessee, it is seen that the assessee has not
provided that it has not furnished inaccurate
particulars of income or concealed particulars of its
income in the return filed by it u/s 153A. As held by
various courts, the foundational fact here depends
upon the return filed by the assessee because that is
the only document where the assessee can furnish the
particulars of income. When such particulars are found
to be inaccurate, the liability u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act
would arise. Penalty u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act is a civil
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 liability and wilful concealment is, therefore, not an
essential ingredient for attracting penalty under this
section. It is evident in the case of the assessee that it
did not disclose its correct and true income in the
return filed by it u/s 153A. In response to the notice
u/s 153A, the assessee only stated that the return
under section 139 may be treated as return filed in
response to notice u/s 153A. This reply was furnished
after the assessee had already filed surrender letter to
ITO (Inv.). The appellant thus failed to disclose all facts
material to the computation of its total income in its
return of income and failed to substantiate its
explanation at the time of search as well as
assessment and penalty proceedings.
4.5(e) In view of the above facts, the penalty levied by the A.O. u/s 271(1)(c) is upheld.”
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 We further note that the search in the case of the assessee
was conducted on 23.7.2009 and this date falls after the
first day of June, 2007 as provided in Explanation 5A to
section 271(1)(c) of the Act(1)(c) of the Act. For better
understanding we reproduce Explanation 5A to section
271(1)(c) of the Act :-
“Explanation 5A.- Where, in the course of a search
initiated under section 132 on or after the Ist day of
June, 2007, the assessee is found to be the owner
of –
(i) Any money, bullion, jewellery or other
valuable article or thing (hereinafter in this
Explanation referred to as assets) and the
assessee claims that such assets have been
acquired by him by utilising (wholly or in
part) his income for any previous year; or
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 (ii) Any income based on any entry in any
books of account or other documents or
transactions and he claims that such entry
in the books of accounts or other documents
or transactions represents his income
(wholly or in part) for any previous year,
which has ended before the date of search
and,-
(a) Where the return of income for such
previous year has been furnished
before the said date but such income
has not been declared therein; or
(b) The due date for filing the return of
income for such previous year has
expired but the assessee has not filed
the return.
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 Then, notwithstanding that such income is
declared by him in any return of income
furnished on or after the date of search, he
shall, for the purpose of imposition of a
penalty under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of
this section, be deemed to have concealed
the particulars of his income or furnished
inaccurate particulars of such income.”
The assessee’s contentions need to be examined
within the four corners as provided in Explanation 5A of
the Act which contemplates that in case the return of
income for such previous year ended before the date of
search, has been furnished before the last date, but such
income has not been declared therein then not-with-
standing that such income is declared by him in any return
of income furnished on or after the date of search then for
the purpose of imposition of penalty u/s 271(1)(c) of the
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 Act(1)(c) of the Act it would be deemed to have concealed
the particulars of his income or furnished inaccurate
particulars of such income.
Examining the facts of the instant case, we find
that the return for the assessment year 2007-08 was filed
on 31.10.2007 declaring loss of Rs. 5,31,945/-. Search was
conducted on 23.7.2009 i.e. after the first day of June,
2007. The assessee accepted the unexplained income on
account of corpus fund relating to its source. The alleged
undisclosed income was not offered to tax in the regular
return of income and was finally admitted for paying tax in
the course of assessment proceedings. In view of these
facts, the assessee is directly hit by the provisions of
Explanation 5A to section 271(1)(c) of the Act(1)(c) of the
Act. Therefore, in our considered view, the learned
Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) has rightly
confirmed the penalty of Rs.4,77,000/- u/s 271(1)(c) of the
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 Act(1)(c) of the Act. No interference is, therefore, called for
in the findings of the learned Commissioner of Income Tax
(Appeals) and accordingly we confirm the same.
In the result, the assessee’s appeal for
assessment year 2007-08 is dismissed.
Now we shall take up the assessee’s appeal for
the assessment years 2009-10 and 2010-11 in which the
assessee is aggrieved with the levy of penalty u/s 271AAA
of the Act of Rs. 5,58,840/- and Rs.5,79,465/- respectively.
The facts of the case remain the same as we have
discussed above while adjudicating the appeal for the
assessment year 2007-08.
Before us, the learned counsel for the assessee
submitted that the additions were made on the ground that
the assessee had made various payments to various
persons and the alleged additions were made on the basis
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 of documents found during the course of search at the
premises of third parties. The learned Commissioner of
Income Tax (Appeals) upheld the penalty on the ground
that the assessee was not able to prove that it has not
concealed the particulars of income or has furnished
inaccurate particulars of income. Further the learned
Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) failed to appreciate
that the assessee has disowned of having made such
payments which have been duly noted by the Assessing
Officer in the assessment order. Further, the learned
counsel for the assessee also submitted that search was
conducted at the premises of K.K. Sharma and it needs to
be ascertained whether the tax has also been levied and
recovered from K.K. Sharma on the same amount and if it
is found correct, it would amount to recovering taxes twice
and, therefore, the levy of penalty on the same count would
be grossly prejudicial to the assessee.
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 17. On the other hand, the learned DR vehemently
argued supporting the orders of the authorities below and
further submitted that the provisions of section 271AAA of
the Act are very clear and the assessee, if fulfils the three
conditions mentioned therein, no such penalty is leviable
which has not so happened in the case of the assessee and,
therefore, the learned Commissioner of Income Tax
(Appeals) has rightly confirmed the penalty.
We have heard the rival contentions and perused
the record placed before us. In these two appeals the
assessee is aggrieved with the levy of penalty u/s 271AAA
of the Act. As far as the contention of the assessee that the
income might have been taxed twice is concerned, we
refrain from dealing with this issue as it relates to quantum
addition for which the assessee has not come up in second
appeal and, therefore, it has attained finality. We are
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016
confined to deal with the issue of penalty u/s 271AAA of
the Act. Section 271AAA of the Act reads as under :-
“Penalty where search has been initiated. 271AAA. (1) The Assessing Officer may, notwithstanding anything contained in any other provisions of this Act, direct that, in a case where search has been initiated under section 132 on or after the 1st day of June, 2007 but before the 1st day of July, 2012, the assessee shall pay by way of penalty, in addition to tax, if any, payable by him, a sum computed at the rate of ten per cent of the undisclosed income of the specified previous year. (2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall apply if the assessee,— (i) in the course of the search, in a statement under sub-section (4) of section 132, admits the undisclosed income and specifies the manner in which such income has been derived; (ii) substantiates the manner in which the undisclosed income was derived; and (iii) pays the tax, together with interest, if any, in respect of the undisclosed income. (3) No penalty under the provisions of clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 271 shall be imposed upon the assessee in respect of the undisclosed income referred to in sub-section (1). (4) The provisions of sections 274 and 275 shall, so far as may be, apply in relation to the penalty referred to in this section. Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,— (a) "undisclosed income" means— (i) any income of the specified previous year represented, either wholly or partly, by any money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable article or thing or any entry in the books of account or other documents or transactions found in the course of a search under section 132, which has— (A) not been recorded on or before the date of search in the books of account or other documents maintained in the normal course relating to such previous year; or (B) otherwise not been disclosed to the Principal Chief Commissioner or Chief Commissioner or Principal Commissioner or Commissioner before the date of search; or (ii) any income of the specified previous year represented, either wholly or partly, by any entry in respect of an expense recorded in the books of account or other documents maintained in the normal course relating to the specified previous year which is found to be false and would not have been found to be so had the search not been conducted;
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 (b) "specified previous year" means the previous year— (i) which has ended before the date of search, but the date of filing the return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139 for such year has not expired before the date of search and the assessee has not furnished the return of income for the previous year before the said date; or (ii) in which search was conducted.”
The above provision is applicable in the case of the
assessee wherein search u/s 132 of the Act has been initiated on or
after Ist day of July, 2012. In the case of the assessee search was
conducted on 23.7.2009. This date falls in the abovereferred date
bracket. The assessee in order to get immunity from paying penalty
@ 10% of the undisclosed income shall have to fulfil three
conditions as mentioned in the above section.
As far as the first condition is concerned as to whether
the assessee has admitted the undisclosed income during the
course of search with specific manner in which it has been derived,
we find that the search was conducted on 23.7.2009. The assessee
did not make any disclosure during the course of search. It was two
months thereafter on 23.11.2209 that the assessee submitted a
letter before the ITO, Investigation, Bhopal. In our view, the
statement given on 23.11.2009 cannot be considered as a
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 statement given during the course of search because it was an
afterthought and given two months after the date of search.
As far as the second condition is concerned, the assessee has
duly substantiated the manner in which the undisclosed income
was taxed.
As far as the third condition is concerned, as to whether the
assessee has paid the taxes together with interest, we find that the
assessee has not offered the undisclosed income voluntarily in the
return of income filed in compliance with the notice u/s 153A of the
Act and it was only during the course of assessment proceedings
that when it was confronted with the seized material as well as the
disclosure made on 23.11.2009 then it accepted to pay taxes.
Therefore, the assessee has not paid the taxes voluntarily on the
income surrendered.
In our view, the assessee has been unable to fulfill two out of
the three conditions provided in section 271AAA of the Act for
getting immunity from paying penalty @ 10% of the undisclosed
amount. We, therefore, find no reason to interfere with the findings
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016 of the learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) and confirm
the penalty imposed u/s 271AAA of the Act.
In the result, the assessee’s appeals for assessment
years 2009-10 and 2010-11 stand dismissed.
Finally, all the appeals of assessee are dismissed.
Order pronounced in open Court on 11.5.2018.
Sd/- as/-
( KUL BHARAT) (MANISH BORAD) JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER �दनांक /Dated : 11 May, 2018 Copy to: The Appellant/Respondent/CIT concerned/CIT(A) concerned/ DR, ITAT, Indore/Guard file. By order Private Secretary/DDO, Indore 1. Date of dictation : .2018 2. Date on which the typed draft is placed before the Dictating Member : .2018 3. Date on which approved draft comes to the Sr.P.S./P.S: 4. Date on which the fair order is placed before the dictating Member for pronouncement: 5. Date on which the fair order comes back to the Sr.P.S./P.S.: 6. Date on which the file goes to the Bench Clerk: 7. Date on which the file goes to the Head Clerk: 31
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016
The date on which the file goes to the Assisstant Registrar for signature of the order. 9. Date of Despatch of the Order:
Akshay Shakti Shiksha ITA Nos.518,519 & 520/Ind/2016