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Facts
The assessee appealed an order from the CIT(A) which dismissed their appeal as infructuous. The CIT(A)'s order was based on the finding that the intimation under section 143(1) merged with the regular assessment order under section 143(3), making the appeal against the 143(1) order infructuous.
Held
The Tribunal held that the CIT(A) erred in dismissing the appeal as infructuous without considering the adjustment made by the CPC in the return income. Such dismissal could lead to dual disallowance. The Tribunal restored the issue to the CIT(A) for fresh examination.
Key Issues
Whether the CIT(A) was correct in holding that an appeal against an intimation under Section 143(1) becomes infructuous when a regular assessment order under Section 143(3) is passed.
Sections Cited
143(1), 143(3), 144C(13), 144B, 11
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “B” BENCH, DELHI
Before: SHRI ANUBHAV SHARMA& SHRI MANISH AGARWAL
This appeal is preferred by the assessee against the order dated 28.02.2025 of the Ld. CIT/Addl/JCIT-2, Bengaluru (hereinafter referred as Ld. First Appellate Authority or in short Ld. ‘FAA’) in DIN &Order No :
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ITBA/APL/S/250/2024-25/1073818156(1) arising out of the order dated 22.09.2022 u/s 143(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’) passed by the DEL-C(42)(1)for AY: 2021-22.
At the time of hearing ld. Counsel has submitted that the impugned order of ld. CIT(A) is primarily based on erroneous observation that there was merger of intimation u/s 143(1) of the Act with the assessment order passed u/s 143 r.w.s 144C(13) of the Act. The ld. Counsel has taken us through the order u/s 143 of the Act available at page No.330 which has the final computation of taxable income in consequence to the assessment concluded u/s 143(3) and we find that income has computed u/s 143(1)(A) at Rs.26,12,76,361/- have been taken and for completeness we reproduce the relevant part:
Sr. Description Amount (in INR) No. 1. Income as per return of income filed 18,16,65,150/- 2. Income a computed u/s 143(1)(a) 26,12,76,361/- 3. Variation in respect of issue of <point 4.6> (if any) 23,00,60,150/- 4. Variation in respect of issue of<> (if any) (As per DRP 2,23,59,656 effect order) 5. Total Income/Loss determined 51,36,96,167/-
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However, ld. CIT(A) while passing the impugned order with following findings;
“5.2.1 On going through the submissions of the appellant, it is found that the appellant has filed an appeal against the addition of Rs.7,96,11,211/- made by the Ld. AO, CPC, Bengaluru in order u/s. 143(1) of the IT Act.
Thereafter, the case is selected for Complete Scrutiny under CASS. The Ld. AO, Assessment Unit has passed an order u/s. 143(3) r.w.s 144C (13) read with section 144B of the Income-tax Act on 25/10/2024 vide ITBA/AST/S/143(3)/2024- 25/1069945378(1) and assessed an income of Rs. 51,36,96,167/- including the income determined by the Ld. AO, CPC, Bengaluru in order u/s. 143(1) of the IT Act. So, the appeal filed against the order u/s. 143(1) became infructuous.
Further, the appellant has also filed an appeal against the order u/s. 143(3) r.w.s 144C(13) read with section 144B before ITAT, Delhi vide Appeal Number: ITA 6040/DEL/2024 on 26-Dec-2024. So, the appeal filed against the order u/s. 143(1) became infructuous.
5.2.2 On this front, it is seen that the Hon. ITAT, Delhi in South India Club v. ITO (ITA 354/DEL/2024 dealt with a similar issue. It was held that.,
“The assessee claimed exemption under Section 11 while filing the Rol. The said exemption was denied vide the intimation under Section 143(1). The assessee filed an appeal before the CIT(A) against the said intimation. Subsequently, the case of the assessee was picked up for scrutiny and the Assessing Officer also denied the same exemption in the assessment order under Section 143(3) of the IT Act. The Hon'ble Tribunal held that in the present case the intimation under Section 143(1) of the IT Act merges with the assessment order under Section 143(3), the said intimation becomes inoperative. Therefore, the appeal filed against such an intimation would also become infructuous.”
Thus, it is held that the order passed u/s 143(1) is merged with the regular assessment passed u/s 143(3) and it does not have legs to stand on its own once the regular assessment proceedings are initiated. So, the appeal filed against the order u/s. 143(1) became infructuous.
In the result, this appeal is dismissed as infructuous.”
P a g e | Itron India Pvt. Ltd. (AY: 2021-22) 4. We are of the considered view that ld. CIT(A) has fallen in error in making aforesaid observation while dismissing the appeal as infructous as by not taking into consideration adjustment made in the return income by CPC would lead to dual disallowance and agitated in separate appeal. Therefore, the issue is restored to the files of ld. CIT(A) to examine the issue fresh, in the light of the aforesaid observation of the Bench. The appeal is allowed for statistical purpose.
Order pronounced in the open court on 30.01.2026