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Facts
The assessee's assessment for AY 2017-18 was completed under Section 143(3), leading to an addition of Rs. 56,12,000/- for unexplained cash deposits in her bank account. The assessee claimed the deposits were from gifts, loans, and verifiable sources like salary and Fixed Deposit maturity, but the AO and CIT(A) rejected her explanations and dismissed the appeal.
Held
The Tribunal held that the lower authorities should have considered the assessee's withdrawals from her Savings Bank account as available for subsequent deposits. The matter was remanded to the Assessing Officer for a fresh assessment after providing the assessee a reasonable opportunity to be heard and to consider all contentions raised.
Key Issues
Whether the addition of Rs. 56,12,000/- as unexplained cash deposits in the assessee's bank account was justified, and whether the lower authorities erred in not properly considering the assessee's explanations regarding the sources of these deposits, including bank withdrawals.
Sections Cited
143(3)
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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, COCHIN BENCH
Before: SHRI INTURI RAMA RAO, AM
O R D E R Per: Inturi Rama Rao, AM This appeal filed by the assessee is directed against the order of the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), National Faceless Appeal Centre, Delhi (in short “CIT(A)”), dated 30/08/2024 for Assessment Year (AY) 2017- 18.
Briefly the facts of the case are that the appellant is an individual. The Return of Income for the AY 2017-18 was filed on 31/03/2018 declaring a total income of Rs. 2,17,800/-. Against the said return of income, the assessment was completed by the Income Tax Officer, Ward-3, Tirur (hereinafter referred to as “AO”) vide order dated 27/12/2019 passed U/s. 143(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (in short “the Act”) at a total income of Rs. 58,29,800/-. While doing so, the AO made addition of cash deposits made in the bank account of Rs. 56,12,000/- as unexplained money of the assessee rejecting the contention of the appellant that the cash deposits were made out of the gifts received from the relatives and co-workers and the details of which are extracted at para 7 of the Assessment Order.
Being aggrieved by the above assessment order, an appeal was filed before the CIT(A), who vide the impugned order dismissed the appeal for the failure of the assessee to offer any explanation with regard to the sources of the cash deposits and also failed to substantiate the explanation that loans were taken from various relatives and co-workers.
Being aggrieved, the appellant is in appeal before us in the present appeal.
The Learned Counsel for the assessee (in short “AR”) submits that the lower authorities ought to have treated the salary income of Rs. 1,26,500/- as available for deposits and the maturity proceeds of Fixed Deposit to the extent of Rs. 3,15,000/- and the amount withdrawn from the Savings Accounts maintained with Kerala Gramin Bank of Rs. 38,11,000/-. It is further submitted that the loan received from Sister and Mother of the assessee is out of the sale proceeds of the immovable property which should have been accepted.
On the other hand, the Ld. Sr. DR supporting the order of the CIT(A) submits that no interference is called for.
We heard the rival submissions and perused the material available on record. The only issue that arises for our consideration is whether the addition of Rs. 56,12,000/ being cash deposits made in the bank account towards unexplained money of the assessee can be sustained. Before the AO as well as the CIT(A), the appellant took a stand that the cash deposits were made out of the loans received from relatives and co-workers of the appellant and also loan proceeds etc. Before us, the appellant had filed the bank statement showing the withdrawals from the Savings Bank Account maintained by the assessee with Kerala Gramin Bank, Kizhissery. In our considered opinion, the lower authorities should have treated the withdrawals made from the Savings Bank account as available for subsequent deposits, in the absence of any evidence to show that the withdrawals are utilized for some other purpose. In these circumstances, we are of the considered opinion that the matter requires remand to the file of the AO with a direction to pass a fresh assessment order after affording a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the assessee. All the contentions raised by the assessee before us are kept open for the AO.
In the result, appeal filed by the assessee stands partly allowed.
Order pronounced in the open court on 30th June, 2025.