SRI H. N. RAVINDRA,HASSAN vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD - 2, HASSAN

The grounds raised

by the assessee are as under:- The orders of the authorities below in so far as they are against 1. the appellant are opposed to law, equity, weight of evidence, probabilities, facts and circumstances of the case. The learned CIT[A] is not justified in sustaining the addition of 2. Rs.11,58,407/- made in respect of VAT payable shown as a liability in the Balance Sheet invoking the provisions of section 43B of the Act, under the facts and in the circumstances of the appellant's case. The learned CIT[A] failed to appreciate the fact that the VAT 3. payable added back to the total income was not debited as an expenditure in the Profit & Loss account and consequently, there could not be any disallowance of the expenses in terms of section Page 2 of 5 43B of the Act under the facts and in the circumstances of the appellant's case. The learned CIT[A] ought not to have upheld the disallowance 4. made u/s. 43B of the Act that was made in course of the limited scrutiny assessment by travelling outside the scope of the limited scrutiny proceedings without obtaining the permission of the Commissioner of Income tax and consequently the addition so made deserves to be deleted. Without prejudice to the right to seek waiver with the Hon'ble 5. CCIT/DG, the appellant denies himself liable to be charged to interest u/s.234-A and 234B of the Act, which under the facts and in the circumstances of the appellant's case and the levy deserves to be cancelled. For the above and other grounds that may be urged at the time of 6. hearing of the appeal, your appellant humbly prays that the appeal may be allowed and Justice rendered and the appellant may be awarded costs in prosecuting the appeal and also order for the refund of the institution fees as part of the costs.

In the course of hearing before the Tribunal, it was submitted by the learned AR of the assessee that learned CIT(A) should not have upheld the disallowance made under section 43B of the IT Act, 1961 because the scrutiny done by the AO was in course of limited scrutiny assessment and the AO has travelled outside the scope of limited scrutiny assessment without obtaining the permission of the learned CIT and consequently, the additions so made deserves to be deleted. In support of this contention, reliance was placed by him on the Tribunal order rendered in the case of M/s. Srinidhi Mines Vs. ITO in dated 25.04.2019. He submitted a copy of this Tribunal order and drew my attention to para Nos.7 and 8 of this Tribunal order. He also submitted that in para No.8 of the Assessment Order, the AO has stated that the assessee, during the course of assessment proceedings submitted a letter dated 22.12.2017 in which the assessee voluntarily offered an amount of Rs.11,58,407/- which was VAT liability not discharged during Assessment Year 2015-16. He submitted that even if the assessee has offered this amount in the Page 3 of 5 course of assessment proceedings voluntarily, addition cannot be made by the AO in a limited scrutiny case by travelling outside the scope of limited scrutiny which is noted by the AO in para No.2 of Assessment Order and without obtaining the approval of concerned CIT. Learned DR of the Revenue supported the orders of authorities below

I have considered the rival submissions. First of all, I produce para No.2 of the Assessment Order in which the AO has noted the reasons for selecting the case of the assessee for limited scrutiny. This para reads as under: 2. Present case was selected for limited scrutiny with respect to the following reasons- Whether the cash deposit has been made from disclosed sources 1. Whether cash in hand shown in the return of Income is correct 2. (Cash deposit for demonetization period (9th November to 30th December) reported as per SFT reporting.

From the above para reproduced from the Assessment Order, it comes out that the only point on which the assessee’s case was selected for limited scrutiny was regarding cash deposit in bank and cash in hand shown in the return of income and hence, the disallowance under section 43B of the IT Act, 1961 for non-payment of VAT is not within the scope of limited scrutiny. Under these facts, now I examine the applicability of the Tribunal order cited by the learned AR of the assessee. I reproduce para Nos.7 and 8 of this Tribunal order. These paras are as under:

As per para 7 of this Tribunal order, this finding is given by the Tribunal in that case that in the limited scrutiny case, the other issues are not supposed to be examined unless there is an approval from CIT/Pr. CIT and after the approval only, it can be wide open to examine issues other than issues raised for the limited scrutiny purpose. As per the assessment order, this is not the case of the AO that he has obtained the approval from the concerned CIT/Pr. CIT. It is also seen that disallowance under section 43B was not the issue for which the assessee’s case was selected for limited scrutiny. Under these facts, in my considered opinion, even if some other issue comes to the notice of the AO, he cannot make any other addition / disallowance without obtaining prior approval from concerned CIT/Pr. CIT. I also feel that in the absence of such approval from the CIT/PCIT, even the voluntary offer of the assessee also cannot give the AO jurisdiction to make any other addition although such offer by the assessee can be a basis for the AO to seek approval of CIT/PCIT . On this aspect, argument was made before the learned CIT(A) also but in para 5 of his order, he has not decided this aspect. He has simply stated in this para

In the result, the assessee’s appeal is allowed.