AMIT KUMAR,VAISHALI vs. ITO, WARD- 1 (3), VAISHALI

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ITA 243/PAT/2024Status: DisposedITAT Patna12 February 2025AY 2017-183 pages

In favour of the assessee: the assessee's appeal was allowed. From the AI summary of this appeal.

AI SummaryAllowed

What did the Tribunal hold?

The Tribunal held that the impugned addition of Rs. 8,06,200/- was not warranted and directed its deletion. The reasoning was based on the assessee's submission that the business activity was proven and the AO's action of treating the entire deposit as unexplained was not justified. The Tribunal considered the submission that the profit element on sales should be brought to tax. Applying Section 44AD of the Act, an estimated profit of 8% on the total deposit of Rs. 12,06,200/- (treated as turnover) was calculated, resulting in an income of approximately Rs. 96,000/-. This estimated income was found to be below the threshold for filing an income tax return or depositing tax. Therefore, the addition was deleted. The ratio decidendi is that in cases of unorganized sector businesses with unverified sales, estimation of profit under Section 44AD is a more equitable approach than treating the entire deposit as unexplained income, especially when the estimated profit falls below taxable limits.

What were the facts?

The assessee, Amit Kumar, filed an appeal before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) against the order dated 15.11.2023 of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeal), NFAC, Delhi. The appeal pertains to Assessment Year 2017-18 and challenges the confirmation of an addition of Rs. 8,06,200/-. The Assessing Officer (AO) noticed a cash deposit of Rs. 12,06,200/- in the assessee's bank account during the demonetization period. The assessee, engaged in saree trading, explained the deposits were from sales but could only substantiate Rs. 4,00,000/- in sales through bills. The AO treated the remaining Rs. 8,06,200/- as unexplained income. The CIT(A) upheld this addition.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the addition of Rs. 8,06,200/- on account of unexplained cash deposit in the bank account is justified, turning on the provisions related to unexplained income under the Income Tax Act, 1961. Assessee's contentions: - The assessee belongs to the unorganized sector and does not issue bills for every sale. - Business activity is duly proved, and the AO was not justified in treating the deposit as unexplained. - The addition should be treated as a case of no accounts, and profit on sales should be estimated under Section 44AD of the Act. Revenue's contentions: - The Senior Departmental Representative (DR) fairly agreed that justice would be served by taxing only the profit element on the sales.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 44AD,Section 250

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, PATNA “SMC” BENCH, VIRTUAL HEARING AT KOLKATA

Before: SRI SANJAY GARG

For Appellant: Shri Sanjeev Kr. Anwar, Advocate
For Respondent: Shri Ashwani Kumar, Sr. DR

order : 12.02.2025 ORDER The captioned appeal has been preferred by the assessee against the order dated 15.11.2023 of the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeal), National Faceless Appeal Centre (NFAC), Delhi [hereinafter referred to as Ld. ‘CIT(A)’] u/s. 250 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as the “Act”) for Assessment Year (AY) 2017-18.

2.

This appeal of the assessee is time barred by 23 days. However, considering the submissions of the Ld. AR of the assessee and the shortness of delay, the delay in filing the appeal is hereby condoned.

3.

The assessee in this appeal is aggrieved by the action of the Ld. CIT(A) in confirming the addition of Rs.8,06,200/- made on account of unexplained cash deposit in the bank account of the assessee.

4.

The brief facts of the case are that the Assessing Officer noticed that the assessee had deposited a sum of Rs.12,06,200/- in his bank account during demonetization period. On being asked to explain in this respect the I.T.A. No.: 243/PAT/2024 Amit Kumar, AY : 2017-18 assessee explained that he is involved in the business of trading in sarees. That he further explained that the assessee possesses small business and his income was less than the prescribed threshold for filing the return of income. He explained that the total deposits were out of the sales transaction of the assessee. He further explained that the assessee neither maintain any accounts nor is legally required to do so. He, however, to prove that the deposits were out of sales transaction produced certain bills before the Assessing Officer. The Assessing Officer found that the assessee to prove the sales of Rs. 4 lakh only. He, therefore, treated the balance amount of Rs.8,06,200/- as unexplained income of the assessee.

5.

The Ld. CIT(A) confirmed the addition so made by the Assessing Officer.

6.

I have heard the rival contentions and gone through the records. The Ld. Counsel for the assessee has submitted that the assessee belongs to unorganised sector. The assessee did not issue bills/vouchers on every sale of sarees. However, the assessee could produce the bills of Rs. 4 lakh out of the total sales of Rs.12,06,200/-. The ld. Counsel for the assessee has further submitted that the business activity of the assessee has been duly proved and that the Assessing Officer was not justified in treating the said amount of deposit of Rs.8,06,200/- as unexplained income of the assessee. He has further submitted that the addition in this case of the assessee may be treated as a case of no accounts and the profit on the sales of the assessee to estimate u/s. 44AD of the Act. The Ld. DR has also fairly agreed that in this case the proper justice will be that only the profit element on the sales be brought to tax.

7.

In the year under consideration, if estimation of profit requires to be taken @ 8% of the turnover of the assessee u/s. 44AD of the Act on the entire deposit of the assessee of Rs. 12,06,200/- as turnover of the assessee and apply the estimated profits @ 8% the income of the assessee would be approximately Rs. 96,000/- which is very less than the prescribed threshold for an assessee to file the income tax return or to deposit any tax. In view of this, the impugned addition is not warranted and the same is deleted.

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