JT. DIT, MUMBAI vs. M/S. FREIGHT CONNECTION INDIA PVT. LTD, MUMBAI

CBDT vide Circular No. 3/2018 dated 11.07.2018 has specified that appeals shall not be filed before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) in cases where the tax effect does not exceed the monetary limit of Rs.20,00,000/-. For this purpose, „tax effect‟ means the difference between the tax on the total income assessed and the tax that would have been chargeable had such total income been reduced by the amount of income in respect of issues against which appeal is intended to be filed. Further, „tax effect‟ shall be taxes including applicable surcharge and cess. However, the tax will not include any interest thereon, except where chargeability of interest itself is in dispute. In case the chargeability of interest is the issue under dispute, the amount of interest shall be the „tax effect‟. In cases where returned loss is reduced or assessed as income, the „tax effect‟ would include notional tax on disputed additions. In case of penalty order, the „tax effect‟ will mean quantum of penalty deleted or reduced in the order to be appealed against.

As a step towards further management of litigation, CBDT vide Circular No. 17/2019 has fixed the monetary limit for filing of appeals before ITAT at Rs.50,00,000/-.

In the instant appeals filed by the Department, the tax effect involved is below the monetary limit of Rs.50,00,000/-. The same was brought to the notice of the Ld. Departmental Representative (DR), who had admitted the said fact.

Before us, the Ld. D.R submits that liberty may kindly be given to raise, after necessary further verification and to seek recall of the dismissal of the appeals and their restoration, in case it can be shown that they are covered by the exceptions.

We agree with the above contentions of the Ld. DR and make it clear that the appellant shall be at liberty to point out the exceptions and we will take appropriate remedial measures in this regard.

With the above observations the captioned appeals involving a „tax effect‟ of less than Rs.50,00,000/- are dismissed. As we have dismissed the appeal of the revenue for A.Y. 1998-99 in ITA No. 3168/Mum/2003 on account of low tax effect, therefore, the cross-objection filed by the assessee i.e C.O. No. 102/Mum/2003 cannot survive on a standalone basis and has to meet the same fate. Accordingly, the C.O. No. 102/Mum/2003 (arising out of ITA No. 3168/Mum/2003) having been rendered as infructous is also dismissed.

The appeals of the revenue for A.Y. 1998-99 i.e and for A.Y. 2001-02 i.e ITA No. 2155/Mum/2005, as well as the cross-objection of the assessee for A.Y. 1998-99 i.e C.O. No. 102/Mum/2003 (arising out of ITA No. 3168/Mum/2003) are dismissed.