GANESH VIJAY PANPALIYA,YAVATMAL vs. ITO WARD-1, YAVATMAL
Facts
The assessee appealed against an ex-parte order that disallowed interest expenses of ₹9,75,495/- u/sec. 36(1)(iii) of the Act. The assessee argued that the plots purchased were stock-in-trade, not investments, and the interest was incurred on borrowed funds for these stock-in-trade items.
Held
The Tribunal held that the assessee is engaged in the real estate business and regularly purchases plots for stock-in-trade. Treating the interest expenses on borrowed funds for these plots as unsustainable under Section 36(1)(iii) was incorrect, as they were directly related to the business of stock-in-trade.
Key Issues
Whether the interest expenses incurred on borrowed funds for plots purchased for stock-in-trade can be disallowed under Section 36(1)(iii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Sections Cited
36(1)(iii), 40(a)(ia), 250
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, NAGPUR “SMC” BENCH : NAGPUR
Before: SHRI NARENDER KUMAR CHOUDHRY
This appeal has been preferred by the assessee against the order dated 31/03/2025 impugned herein passed by the ADDL/ JCIT(A)–6, Chennai [in short, “Ld.Commissioner”] u/sec. 250 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short, “the Act”) for the Assessment Year (for short, “AY”) 2016-17.
2 ITA.No.293/NAG/2025 2. The impugned order, prima–facie, appears to be ex–parte, however, learned counsel Shri Dewani by drawing attention of this Court has substantiated the claim that the assessee on two occasions had sought for adjournments, one on personal reason, second on for collection of certain information to prepare submissions. However, Ld. Commissioner without taking into consideration the adjournments filed by the assessee, ultimately affirmed the additions made by the Assessing Officer on account of disallowances u/sec. 36(1)(iii) of ` 9,75,495/–, interest on VAT of `4,443/– and u/sec. 40(a)(ia) of ` 1,720/–. The assessee is not disputing the additions of ` 4,443/– & ` 1,720/– on account of interest on VAT and disallowance u/sec. 40(a)(ia) of the Act respectively. However, challenging the order on the addition made u/sec. 36(1)(iii). Though the impugned order is ex–parte and the Ld. Commissioner by taking into consideration the determination made by the Assessing Officer, has affirmed the aforesaid addition. However, it is a fact, as duly recorded by the Ld. Commissioner in the impugned order that the assessee is engaged in the business of real estate and has purchased number of plots in earlier and current year with an intention to trade out of borrowed funds. The plots purchased were stock–in–trade, but not as investment, but still the Assessing Officer treated the amount of `93,08,565/– as investment, but not as stock–in–trade and ultimately disallowed the interest to the tune of ` 9,75,495/– by side-lining the substantive claim of the assessee qua stock–in–trade. As admittedly the assessee is regularly purchasing the plots for stock–in–trade as it is not in denial and thus, treating the interest expenses of `9,75,495/– u/sec. 36(1)(iii) of the Act is un–sustainable. Thus, this Court is inclined to delete the aforesaid addition, by allowing the instant appeal.
3 ITA.No.293/NAG/2025 3. In the result, appeal filed by the assessee is partly allowed.
Order pronounced in the open Court on 24.06.2025.
/- Sd/- (Narender Kumar Choudhry) Judicial Member vr/- Copy to
The appellant 2. The respondent 3. The CIT(A), Nagpur concerned. 4. D.R. ITAT, Nagpur Bench, Nagpur. 5. Guard File.
By Order //True Copy //
Sr. Private Secretary, ITAT, Nagpur Bench.
