Facts
The assessee, a cooperative society, failed to file its return of income for the assessment year 2016-17. Based on information of high-value cash deposits, assessment was completed ex parte under section 144 r.w.s. 147, treating the entire deposit amount as unexplained income. The assessee's earlier appeal was dismissed due to defects in the memo of appeal.
Held
The Tribunal noted that the assessee has filed a return of income and has also filed an application under section 119(2)(b) before the CBDT for condonation of delay, which is pending. Since no valid return has been accepted and the condonation application is pending, the appeal is considered premature.
Key Issues
Whether the appeal is maintainable when a petition for condonation of delay in filing the return is pending before the CBDT and no valid return has been accepted.
Sections Cited
147, 148, 142(1), 144, 69A, 119(2)(b), 80P(2)(a)(i)
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Before: SHRI INTURI RAMA RAO & SHRI SONJOY SARMA
IN THE INCOMETAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL COCHIN BENCH
BEFORE SHRI INTURI RAMA RAO, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER AND SHRI SONJOY SARMA, JUDICIAL MEMBER I.T.A. No.909/COCH/2024 Assessment Year: 2016-17 Thrissur District NRI Service Co-operative Society…….…......…..….……….Appellant N P Tower, Poothole, Kerala – 680004. [PAN:AAEAT6988M] vs. ITO, NATIONAL FACELESS ASSESSMENT CENTRE.......……...…..…..Respondent Appearances by: Shri Sathish John Kanichai, CA, appeared on behalf of the assessee. Smt. Veni Raj, CIT-DR, appeared on behalf of the Revenue. Date of concluding the hearing: June10, 2025 Date of pronouncing the order: August 13, 2025 ORDER Per Sonjoy Sarma, Judicial Member: This appeal by the assessee is directed against the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), National Faceless Appeal Centre (NFAC), Delhi, dated 04/11/2024.
Brief facts of the case are that the assessee, a cooperative society, did not file its return of income for the assessment year under consideration. Based on information received by the Department, it was noted that the assessee had deposited a sum of Rs.37548740 during the financial year 2015-16, including time deposits of 89 lakhs. Consequently, proceedings under section 147 of the Act were initiated to bring to tax the alleged undisclosed income. Notice under section 148 was issued and served upon the assessee. However, due to non- compliance with the notices issued under sections 148 and 142(1), the assessment was completed under section 144 r.w.s. 147, whereby the
I.T.A. No.909/COCH/2024 Thrissur District NRI Service Co-operative Society entire amount of Rs.37548740 was treated as unexplained cash deposits under section 69A of the Act and added to the assessee's total income.
Dissatisfied with the above order assessee went in appeal where the appeal of the assessee was dismissed due to defects in the memo of appeal filed by the assessee.
Aggrieved by the above assessee is in appeal before us on multiple grounds. However, during the course of hearing, the Ld. AR fairly submitted that the assessee had failed to file the return of income for the assessment year in question and has since filed a petition before the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) under section 119(2)(b) of the Act, seeking condonation of delay for filing the return and requesting that the return be accepted. It was further submitted that the assessee has now filed the return of income claiming exemption under section 80P(2)(a)(i) of the Act, and the matter is currently pending before the CBDT. Therefore consideration the above facts allow the appeal of the assessee.
On the other hand the Ld. DR opposed the request made by the AR and submitted that since no valid return has yet been accepted under the law, and the condonation application is still pending before the CBDT, the appeal deserves to be dismissed at this stage.
We have considered the submissions and materials on record. We find that the assessee, a cooperative society, did not file its return of income within the time allowed under the provisions of the Act. Subsequently, the assessment was completed ex parte under section 144 r.w.s. 147 of the Act, based on information of high-value cash deposits, without granting the benefit of any deductions under Chapter VI-A, including section 80P(2)(a)(i). It is brought to our notice that the assessee has now filed a return of income and simultaneously filed an application before the CBDT under section 119(2)(b) of the Act seeking condonation
I.T.A. No.909/COCH/2024 Thrissur District NRI Service Co-operative Society of delay in filing the said return, which is currently pending for disposal. In view of the pending application before the CBDT and considering the fact that no valid return has yet been accepted, we are of the view that the appeal is premature at this stage. Therefore, we decline to adjudicate the matter on merits and accordingly dismiss the appeal as premature.
In the result, the appeal filed by the assessee is dismissed as premature.
the 13th August, 2025.
Sd/- Sd/- [Inturi Rama Rao] [Sonjoy Sarma] लेखा सद�य/Accountant Member �या�यक सद�य/Judicial Member Dated: 13.08.2025 RS Copy of the order forwarded to: 1. Appellant - 2.Respondent -` 3. CIT(A)- 4. CIT- , 5. CIT(DR),
//True copy// By order Assistant Registrar/Sr. PS, Cochin Benches