ITO WARD 1(4), THANE vs. SHRI. GANESH CHANDRAKANT DERE, THANE

The addition was made by the Assessing Officer in reassessment proceedings vide order dated 06/02/2015 passed under section 143(3) r.w.s. 147 of the Act by estimating GP @ 12.04% on alleged bogus purchases. The Assessing Officer vide order dated 21/08/2015 levied penalty u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act on the estimated addition of alleged bogus purchases. Shri R. Bhoopathi, appearing on behalf of Department, vehemently defended the penalty order and prayed for reversing the findings of the CIT(A). The Departmental Representative submitted that since reopening was done on the basis of information received from external investigating agency, the appeal would not be covered by CBDT Circular dated 08/082019 on monetary limits for filing appeals by the Department.

I have considered the submissions made by ld.Departmental Representative and have perused the orders of authorities below. Every addition made in assessment proceedings does not automatically lead to levy of penalty u/s. 271(1)(c) of the Act. In the instant case penalty u/s. 271(1)(c) has been levied on the disallowance of bogus purchases made on estimation. It is a well settled legal position that no penalty is leviable on additions based on estimations. Merely for the reason that addition has been accepted by the assessee does not ipso-facto result in initiation of penalty proceedings. I see no reason to interfere with the impugned order.

I further observe that the quantum of penalty which is subject matter of dispute is Rs. 25,047/- only. The Tax effect in this appeal by the Revenue is far less than the limit prescribed by CBDT for filing appeals by the Department before the Tribunal. It would be relevant to mention here that Department appeals emanating from penalty proceedings u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act on the additions consequent to information received from external investigating agencies are not covered by exceptions provided in para 10 of the CBDT circular dated 20.08.2018.

Thus, for the reasons cited above, the appeal of Revenue is liable to be dismissed. I hold and direct accordingly.