Facts
The assessee filed an appeal against an appellate order that confirmed an addition of Rs. 14,23,000/- to their income, which was related to unexplained cash deposits. The assessee had failed to provide necessary details and documents to substantiate the source of these deposits.
Held
The Tribunal noted that the assessee was given multiple opportunities to furnish details but failed to do so. However, in the interest of justice, the Tribunal set aside the CIT(A)'s order and restored the matter to the Assessing Officer for a fresh assessment, with a direction to provide the assessee with a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
Key Issues
Whether the CIT(A) erred in dismissing the appeal ex-parte without affording a reasonable opportunity of being heard, and whether the addition of unexplained cash deposits was made without proper inquiry.
Sections Cited
143(3), 263
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “SMC” BENCH, AHMEDABAD
O R D E R PER DR. B.R.R. KUMAR, VICE-PRESIDENT:- Delay Condoned This appeal is filed by the Assessee against the appellate order dated 07.12.2019 passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) Anand/National Faceless Appeal Centre, Delhi, relating to the Assessment Year 2017-18.
The assessee has raised the following grounds of appeals:
The Ld. CIT (Appeals), National Faceless Appeal Centre (NFAC) has erred in law and in facts in dismissing the appeal ex-parte without affording reasonable opportunity of being heard. The appeal of the Smt. Najmunnisha A Patel Vs. ITO Asst. Year : 2017-19 - 2– appellant may kindly be restored to the file of the Ld. CIT (Appeals), NFAC, and may please be directed to afford reasonable opportunity of being heard.
2. The Ld. CIT(A), NFAC has erred in law and in facts in confirming the action of the Ld. A.O. in the addition of an amount of Rs. 14,23,000/- holding that the deposit made in the bank account represents the unexplained / undisclosed income of the appellant. The Ld. CIT(A), NFAC should have directed the Ld. AO to make proper inquiry before confirming the addition of Rs. 14,23,000/- which is made without making proper inquiry about the source of cash deposited in bank account.
Your appellant craves liberty to add, alter, amend, substitute or withdraw any of the ground(s) of appeal hereinabove contended.
3. On perusal of the record, we find that the assessee was granted various opportunities of hearing to furnish details, clarifications, and explanations to substantiate the source of cash deposits. However, despite several notices issued by the Ld. CIT(A), the assessee failed to submit any submissions or supporting documents. Consequently, the Ld. CIT(A) upheld the action of the Assessing Officer and dismissed the appeal. We also find that the assessee even failed to submit any details/supporting evidence to prove the source of the cash deposit before the Assessing Officer. The Ld. Counsel for the assessee prayed that, given an opportunity, all the details/clarification/explanation would be provided to the revenue authorities. Hence, in the interest of justice, we set aside the order of the Ld. CIT(A) and restore the matter back to the file of the Assessing Officer for de novo assessment, after affording due opportunity of being heard to the assessee.The assessee shall submit all the relevant bank statement/submission/document before the Smt. Najmunnisha A Patel Vs. ITO Asst. Year : 2017-19 - 3– Assessing Officer and comply with the notices issued by the revenue authorities without seeking any unnecessary adjournments.
In the result, the appeal of the assessee is allowed for statistical purposes.
The order is pronounced in the open Court on 14.08.2025.
Sd/- Sd/- (SIDDHARTHA NAUTIYAL) (DR. B.R.R. KUMAR) JUDICIAL MEMBER VICE-PRESIDENT (True Copy) Ahmedabad; Dated 14.08.2025 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