THE GUNDUGOLANU LARGE SIZE COOPERATIVE SOCIETY LIMITED ,GUNDUGOLANU vs. NFAC, DELHI

This appeal is filed by the assessee against order of Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), National Faceless Appeal centre, Delhi [hereinafter in short “Ld.CIT(A)”] vide DIN & Order No. ITBA/NFAC/S/250/2024-25/1071161972(1) dated 12.12.2024 for the I.T.A.No.95/VIZ/2025 The Gundugolanu Large Size Cooperative Society Ltd., A.Y.2018-19 arising out of the order passed under section 143(3) r.w.s. 143(3A) & 143(3B) of Income Tax Act, 1961 (in short ‘Act’) dated 08.04.2021.

Brief facts of the case are, assessee is an AOP/BOI, e-filed its return of income on 23.10.2018 admitting a total income of Rs. NIL. Subsequently, the case was selected for limited scrutiny for the following issues: -

Thereafter, notice under section 143(2) and 142(1) of the Act was duly issued and served on the assessee on various dates. In response to the notice assessee has not submitted any details before Ld. Assessing Officer [hereinafter in short “Ld. AO"] by seeking time for filing information vide letter dated 11.02.2021. The Ld. AO observed that assessee has not submitted any reply till 08.04.2021 and thereafter made an addition of Rs.68,25,879/- claimed as deduction under section 80P(2)(a)(i) of the Act and also disallowed the deduction claimed by the assessee under section 80P(2)(d) of the Act for Rs.65,462/-.

Aggrieved by the order of the Ld. AO, Assessee carried the matter before the Ld. CIT(A). Based on the written submissions made by the assessee, the Ld.CIT(A) by relying on the various judicial pronouncements as detailed in his order partly allowed the appeal of the assessee by directing the Ld. AO to allow the deductions based on the submissions made by the assessee.

The learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) is not justified in holding that the deduction u/s 80P(2)(a)(i) would not include income earned from activity of providing credit to associate/nominal members.

The learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) is not justified in holding that the deduction u/s 80P(2)(d) would not be available to interest received form deposits/savings account kept with other cooperative societies/banks which are governed by RBI Banking Regulation Act and schedule commercial banks.

Any other ground that may be urged at the time of appeal hearing.”

Ground Nos. 1 & 4 are general in nature and needs no adjudication.

Ground No. 2 is with respect to disallowance of deduction under section 80P(2)(a)(i) of the Act on the income earned from activity of providing credit to associate / nominal members. On this issue, Ld. Authorised Representative [hereinafter “Ld.AR”] submitted that the total list of members has been provided before Ld. CIT(A), Ld. CIT(A) observed and directed the Ld. AO to allow deduction under section 80P(2)(a)(i) of the Act in respect of the income earned from activity of providing credit facilities to its members. However, the Ld.CIT(A) denied the deduction for the income earned from activity of providing credit to associate / nominal members. Ld.AR submitted that list of Page. No 3

Further, on the issue of allowance of deduction 80P(2)(d) of the Act, Ld.AR submitted that this Bench has allowed the interest receipts from deposits kept with other cooperative societies / banks. He therefore prayed that this matter also may be remitted back to the file of Ld. AO for verification and for allowance of deduction claimed by the assessee.

Per contra, Ld. Departmental Representative [hereinafter in short “Ld.DR”] placed heavy reliance on the orders of the Revenue Authorities.

We have heard rival contentions and perused the material available on record. The dispute arising out of the impugned order agitated by the assessee in this appeal is with respect to the disallowance of deduction under section 80P(2)(a)(i) of the Act on the interest earned by the assessee dealing with its non-members / nominal members and also interest received from deposits held with other cooperative societies / banks. The Ld. CIT(A) in Para No. 10.6 of its order dated 12.12.2024 observed as follows: -

The assessee has also not submitted details before Ld. AO during the assessment proceedings, however, submitted the details before Appellate Authority. In this scenario, we do not find any infirmity in the order of the Ld.CIT(A) directing the Ld. AO to examine the submissions made by the assessee and allow the deductions in accordance with law. Accordingly, grounds raised by the assessee are allowed for statistical purposes.

In the result, appeal of the assessee is allowed for statistical purposes.