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Facts
The assessee filed an appeal against the order confirming a penalty levied under Section 270A of the Income Tax Act. The assessee's quantum appeal for the Assessment Year 2021-22 was previously set aside and remanded for de-novo assessment. The Assessing Officer had also issued an Appeal Effect Order stating the Revised Total Income as Nil.
Held
The Tribunal held that since the quantum appeal was set aside for de-novo assessment, the penalty under Section 270A cannot survive. Consequently, the penalty order was set aside and deleted, with a direction to consider penalty proceedings at the time of passing the fresh assessment order.
Key Issues
Whether a penalty under Section 270A can survive when the underlying quantum assessment has been set aside for de-novo assessment.
Sections Cited
270A, 144B, 14
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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “B” BENCH, AHMEDABAD
Before: DR. B.R.R. KUMAR, VICE-SHRI TR SENTHIL KUMAR
PER DR. B.R.R. KUMAR, VICE-PRESIDENT:-
This appeal is filed by the Assessee against the appellate order dated 15.10.2025 passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), Ahmedabad relevant to the Assessment Year 2021-22.
The assessee has raised the following grounds of appeal:
[1] The Ld. CIT(A), NFAC, Delhi was grievously erred in confirming the Penalty of Rs. 4,41,97,032/-u/s. 270A of the I.T. Act, 1961, levied by the Ld. A.O. which is quite illegal and bad in law. The appellant submits that pertaining to AY 2021-2022 against the assessment order passed u/s. 14 r.w.s. 144B, the appellant has preferred an appeal before the Ld. CIT(A) vide order dated 29.07.2024 has dismissed the Asst. Year : 2021-22 - 2– appeal and against the dismissal of the appeal the appellant has prepared a further appeal before Hon. ITAT, Ahmedabad and the Hon. ITAT, Ahmedabad vide their order dated 20th Feb. 2025 has allowed the appeal for statistical purposes. The appellant further submits that against the above Tribunal Order the Ld. A.O. ITO 1(8), Bhavnagar has given the Appeal Effect Order on dated 19th May 2025 by mentioning that the Revised Total Income as Nil. Under the circumstances, the imposition of penalty u/s. 270A should not occurred. [2] The appellant therefore requests your goodself to kindly delete the above mentioned additions made by the Ld. A.O. looking to the merits of the case. [3] The appellant craves leave to add, amend, alter, edit, delete, modify or change all or any of the grounds of appeal at the time of or before the hearing the appeal.
At the outset, we noticed that quantum appeals of the assessee (consolidated order) bearing to 1723/Ahd/2024 for A.Ys 2020-21 to 2021-22 dated 20.02.2025 have already been restored to file of Assessing Officer for assessment denovo. The relevant extract of the order is reproduced as below:
“…3. At the outset the Ld.AR for the assessee submitted that during the appellate proceedings the assessee has made submission along with the relevant documents & information and also mentioned the reasons for the condonation of delay in filing the appeals. The Ld.CIT(A) has dismissed the appeals of the assessee as not admitted. We also find that assessee has not complied even before the Assessing Officer, hence in the interest of justice the matter is remanded to Assessing Officer for conducting assessment de-novo. The assessee shall comply to the notices issued by the Assessing Officer failing which the Assessing Officer would be at liberty to initiate penalty proceeding as per the provisions of the Act…”
Since the quantum appeal of the assessee bearing for A.Y 2021-22 has been set aside to the file of Asst. Year : 2021-22 - 3– the Assessing Officer for framing the assessment de novo, the penalty levied under section 270A of the Act cannot survive at this stage. Accordingly, the penalty order is set aside and the penalty levied under section 270A of the Act is hereby deleted, with a direction to the Assessing Officer to consider initiation of penalty proceedings at the time of passing the fresh assessment order in accordance with law.
In the result, the appeal of the assessee is allowed for statistical purposes.
The order is pronounced in the open Court on 11.03.2026
Sd/- Sd/- (TR SENTHIL KUMAR) (DR. B.R.R. KUMAR) JUDICIAL MEMBER VICE-PRESIDENT (True Copy) Ahmedabad; Dated 11.03.2026 MV आदेश की �ितिलिप अ�ेिषत/Copy of the Order forwarded to : 1. अपीलाथ� / The Appellant 2. ��थ� / The Respondent. 3. संबंिधत आयकर आयु� / Concerned CIT 4. आयकर आयु�(अपील) / The CIT(A)- 5. िवभागीय �ितिनिध, आयकर अपीलीय अिधकरण, अहमदाबाद / DR, ITAT, Ahmedabad 6. गाड� फाईल / Guard file. आदेशानुसार/ BY ORDER, True Copy