ABPS INFRASTRUCTURE ADVISORY PVT. LTD.,MUMBAI vs. ITO 9(1)(1), MUMBAI
In favour of the assessee: the assessee's appeal was allowed. From the AI summary of this appeal.
What did the Tribunal hold?
The Tribunal held that penalty can only be imposed if there is inaccurate particular or concealment of income. If the assessee's claim is debatable and an explanation is offered which is found to be bona fide, penalty cannot be imposed.
What were the facts?
The assessee company, engaged in consultancy services, made a payment of Rs. 36,00,000/- as 'Performance Incentive' to individuals, which the AO disallowed under Section 40A(2)(b) and levied a penalty. The CIT(A) confirmed the penalty.
What were the issues?
Whether penalty can be imposed when the assessee's claim is of a debatable nature and the explanation provided is considered bona fide?
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, MUMBAI BENCHES “A”, MUMBAI
Before: SHRI MAHAVIR PRASAD (JM) & SHRI S. RIFAUR RAHMAN (AM)
आदेशानुसार/ BY ORDER, स�ािपत �ित //True Copy// उप/सहायक पंजीकार (Dy./Asstt. Registrar) आयकर अपीलीय अिधकरण, मुंबई / ITAT, Mumbai
IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL MUMBAI BENCH “A”, MUMBAI BEFORE SHRI MAHAVIR PRASAD, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND SHRI S RAIFAUR RAHMAN, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER ABPS Infrastructure Advisory Pvt. vs. ITO, Ltd. Ward-9(1)(1), Mumbai. 301, Town Centre II, Andheri-Kurla Road, Andheri (East.) Mumbai-400 059 PAN : AAFCA9008A (Respondent) (Appellant)
C O R R I G E N D U M
While passing the order dated 6th November 2019, in the aforesaid Income Tax Appeal, inadvertently a mistake has crept at Para 5, which now stands corrected and the same may be read as under: -
“5. We have gone through the impugned order and heard both the parties in our opinion penalty can be imposed on two counts if assessee has given inaccurate particular or has concealed income from the Department only then penalty can be levied and penalty proceeding depend upon the facts and circumstances of the each case. In some cases, if assessee merely because agree to the addition and the assessment order was passed on the basis of such addition and when assessee have paid tax and Assessment Year: 2012-13 the interest therefore in the absence of any material on record to show the concealment of income, it cannot be inferred that addition was on account of concealment. Moreover, the assessee had offered an explanation and that explanation was not found to be false on the contrary, it was held to be bona fide.’ The order dated 6th November 2019, is modified to this extent only.
More judgments on Section 40A(2)(b)
- Nidhi Petrochemicals Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad vs The PCIT (Central), AhmedabadITA 985/AHD/2024[2018-19]Status: Disposed13 Oct 2026AY 2018-19
- Nirav Dineshbhai Bha vs Ar, Ahmedabadvs.the ITO, Ward-5(3)(2)…ITA 1971/AHD/2025[2018-19]Status: Disposed1 Oct 2026AY 2018-19
- Nirav Dineshbhai Bha vs Ar, Ahmedabadvs.the ITO, Ward-5(3)(2)…ITA 1971/AHD/2025[2018-19]Status: Disposed1 Oct 2026AY 2018-19
- Debdeep Commercial Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata vs I.T.O., Ward - 11(1), KolkataITA 1386/KOL/2026[2023-2024]Status: Disposed30 Sept 2026AY 2023-2024
- Flora Biochem Private Limited, Coimbatore vs DCIT, CoimbatoreITA 1123/CHNY/2026[2022-23]Status: Disposed29 Sept 2026AY 2022-23
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