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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, CUTTACK BENCH, CUTTACK
Before: S/SHRI N.S SAINI & PAVAN KUMAR GADALE
IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, CUTTACK BENCH, CUTTACK
BEFORE S/SHRI N.S SAINI, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER AND PAVAN KUMAR GADALE, JUDICIAL MEMBER
ITA No.255/CTK/2017 Assessment Year : 2012-2013
Adhikar , Plot No.- Vs. Income Tax Officer, Ward- 113/2524, Khandagiri Vihar, 2(1), Bhubaneswar Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar. PAN/GIR No. AAATA 3160 D (Appellant) .. ( Respondent)
Assessee by : Shri S.C.Bhadra, AR Revenue by : Shri Subhendu Datta, DR
Date of Hearing : 05/09/ 2018 Date of Pronouncement : 27 /09/ 2018
O R D E R Per N.S.Saini, AM The appeal filed by the assessee is directed against the
order of the CIT(A)-3, Bhubaneswar dated 29.3.2017 for the
assessment year 2012-2013.
The sole issue involved in this appeal is that the CIT(A)
erred in confirming the disallowance of depreciation of
10,39,569/- and addition of Rs.7,96,911/- being transfer to
general fund, Rs.72,29,426/- advances and Rs.35,56,860/-
liabilities.
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The facts of the case are that the Assessing Officer
disallowed depreciation of Rs.10,39,569/- to the assessee on the
ground that in the computation, the assessee has claimed both
purchase of fixed assets and depreciation as utilisation of income.
On appeal, the CIT(A) confirmed the action of the Assessing
Officer on the ground that the assessee has claimed cost of assets
as capital expenditure in earlier years and, therefore, depreciation
is not allowable during the year under appeal as it will amount to
double deduction to the assessee.
We find that the issue is now settled by the Hon’ble
Supreme Court in the case of Rajasthan and Gujrati Charitable
and Foundation Poona, reported in 402 ITR 441 (SC), wherein, it
has been held that in the case of CIT vs. Institute of Banking
Personnel and Selection (IBPS), 131 Taxman 386 (Bom), it was
held that section 11 makes provisions in respect of computation of
income of the the trust from property held for charitable or
religious purposes and it also provides for application and
accumulation of income. On the other hand, section 28 of the
Income-tax Act deals with chargeability of income from profits and
gains of business and section 29 provides that income from profits
and gains of business shall be computed in accordance with
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section 30 to section 43C. That, section 32(1) of the Act provides
for depreciation in respect of building, plant and machinery owned
by the assessee and used for business purposes. It further
provides for deduction subject to section 34. In that matter also, a
similar argument, as in the present case, was advanced on behalf
of the Revenue, namely, that depreciation can be allowed as
deduction only under section 32 of the Income-tax Act and not
under general principles. The court rejected this argument. It was
held that normal depreciation can be considered as a legitimate
deduction in computing the real income of the assessee on general
principles or under section 11(1)(a) of the Income-tax Act. The
court rejected the argument on behalf of the Revenue that section
32 of the Income-tax Act was the only section granting benefit of
deduction on account of depreciation. It was held that income of a
charitable trust derived from building, plant and machinery and
furniture was liable to be computed in a normal commercial
manner although the trust may not be carrying on any business
and the assets in respect whereof depreciation is claimed may not
be business assets. In all such cases, section 32 of the Income-tax
Act providing for depreciation for computation of income derived
from business or profession is not applicable. However, the
income of the trust is required to be computed under section 11
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on commercial principles after providing for allowance for normal
depreciation and deduction thereof from gross income of the trust.
In view of the aforesaid judgment of the Hon’ble Bombay High
Court, the Hon’ble Supreme Court answered the question No.1 in
the affirmative in favour of the assessee and against the revenue.
Respectfully following the above quoted decision of Hon’ble
Supreme Court, we set aside the orders of lower authorities and
direct the Assessing Officer to allow depreciation of
Rs.10,39,569/- to the assessee.
As regards the transfer to general fund of Rs.7,96,911/-,
we find that the Assessing Officer has disallowed the same on the
ground that the amounts were not utilized during the year for the
objects of the charitable trust, which was confirmed in appeal by
the CIT(A).
The Assessing Officer held that such transfer has been
included as part of expenses claimed under development fund of
Rs.57,61,323/-, which fact has not been disputed by the assessee.
He held that such transfer to general fund cannot be treated as
expenditure and, accordingly, added the same while computing
the income of the assessee.
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On appeal, the CIT(A) confirmed the action of the Assessing
Officer.
Similarly, the Assessing Officer observed that the assessee
has claimed advance of Rs.72,29,426/-. The Assessing Officer
observed that the advance included Rs.20,58,314/- towards
community diary project, Rs.17,33,943/- towards purchase of
fixed asset, Rs.2,08,500/- towards rent advance, Rs.2,50,606/-
towards staff advance and Rs.3,73,022/- towards staff vehicle
loans. The Assessing Officer observed that various expenses are
additionally claimed through schedule to the financial statement
from where the surplus or loss from various funds and project are
taken to income and expenditure account. He observed that these
aspects have not been disputed by the assessee. Therefore, he
held that the expenses which have been additionally claimed in
the shape of advance through schedule was disallowed.
On appeal, the CIT(A) confirmed the action of the Assessing
Officer.
Further, the Assessing Officer observed that the assessee
has shown liabilities of Rs.35,56,860/- towards expenses in the
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balance sheet. He observed that the assessee contended that
balance sheet item cannot be treated as disallowance. The
Assessing Officer rejected the contention of the assessee as not
tenable on the ground that if any expenditure remains outstanding
in the books of account, it only reflects that the cash flow on
account of that expenditure has not happened.
On appeal, the CIT(A) confirmed the action of the Assessing
Officer.
Before us, ld A.R. could not controvert the findings of the
Assessing Officer and the CIT(A) by bringing any relevant and
cogent material on record. In absence of the same, we find no
good reason to interfere with the orders of lower authorities.
Hence, the order of the CIT(A) is confirmed with regard to the
addition of Rs.7,96,911/- transfer to general fund, Rs.72,29,426/-
towards advance and Rs.35,56,860/- towards liabilities.
In the result, appeal of the assessee is partly allowed.
Order pronounced on 27/09/2018. Sd/- sd/- (Pavan Kumar Gadale) (N.S Saini) JUDICIALMEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER Cuttack; Dated 27 /09/2018 B.K.Parida, SPS
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Copy of the Order forwarded to : 1. The Revenue: ITO, Ward 2(1), Bhubaneswar.
The Assessee: Adhikar, Bhubaneswar. 3. The CIT(A)-3, Bhubaneswar 4. Pr.CIT-3, Bhubaneswar 5. DR, ITAT, Cuttack 6. Guard file. //True Copy// By order
Sr. Pvt. Secretary, ITAT, Cuttack
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