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Facts
The assessee filed four appeals for AY 2011-12, challenging an unexplained addition in quantum assessment and various penalties under sections 271(1)(c), 271F, and 271(1)(b) of the Income Tax Act. Initially, the assessee opted for the VSVS-2020 Scheme, leading to the dismissal of the quantum appeal by the Ld.CIT(A), but later faced financial difficulties and could not deposit the tax, prompting a request for fresh adjudication on merit with additional evidence.
Held
The Tribunal set aside the Ld.CIT(A)'s orders and remitted all quantum and penalty proceedings back to the Assessing Officer for fresh adjudication on merit. The assessee was allowed to furnish additional documents and evidence. The penalties were also remitted as their validity depends on the outcome of the quantum proceedings, with the AO given liberty to initiate fresh penalties if warranted.
Key Issues
Whether the quantum appeal, dismissed due to initial VSVS-2020 opt-out, can be reopened for fresh adjudication on merit; and consequently, the validity of penalties related to unexplained additions and non-compliance.
Sections Cited
250, 271(1)(c), 271F, 271(1)(b)
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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “SMC”
Before: DR. ARJUN LAL SAINI
Per Dr. Arjun Lal Saini, A.M आदेश/Order Captioned four appeals filed by the assessee, pertaining to same
Assessment Year (AY), that is, 2011-12, are directed against the separate orders passed by the Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), National Faceless Appeal Centre, Delhi [in short “the Ld. CIT(A)/NFAC"], under section 250 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act"), three orders of Ld.CIT(A) are dated 19.02.2025 and one order of CIT(A) is dated 07.04.2025 in case of ITA No.257/RJT/2025. In ITA No.255/RJT/2025, the assessee has challenged the unexplained addition in quantum assessment. In ITA No.256/RJT/2025, the assessee has challenged the validity of penalty levied u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act. In ITA No.257/RJT/2025, the assessee has challenged the validity of penalty levied u/s 271F of the Act and in ITA No.259/RJT/2025, the assessee has committed one time default for non- compliance of notice during assessment proceedings, therefore, assessing officer imposed penalty u/s 271(1)(b) of the Act.
All the four appeals are interconnected, and relate to one assessee, for one
assessment year 2011–12, therefore with the consent of parties, these appeals have been clubbed and heard together and a consolidated order is being passed, to avoid the conflicting decisions.
At the outset of hearing, the Ld. Counsel for the assessee submits that assessee has made sufficient compliance during quantum assessment as well as penalty(ies) proceedings. However, when the proceedings before Ld.CIT(A) was going on, then, the assessee requested the ld. CIT(A) to avail VSVS-2020 Scheme and therefore assessee's quantum appeal was dismissed, by ld CIT(A), on this count. However, later on, the assessee found difficult to deposit the tax amount under the VSVS-2020- Scheme, due to financial difficulty and could not pay the tax demanded by Department. The Ld. Counsel for the assessee contended that now the assessee wants to contest the appeal on merit, and wish to submit some additional documents and evidences before the assessing officer to prove his claim, therefore, the matter may be remitted back to the file of the Assessing Officer for fresh adjudication, on merit. The Ld. Counsel for the assessee stated that assessee has not furnished adequate documents and evidence before Assessing Officer as well as before Ld.CIT(A), and now, the assessee is willing to submit complete documents and evidences. The Ld. Counsel fairly submitted that one more opportunity should be given to the assessee to plead his case before Assessing Officer. The Ld. Counsel also informs the Bench that appeal in ITA No.255/Rjt/2025, relates to quantum proceedings. Since the Tribunal is remitting the quantum proceedings back to the file of Assessing Officer, therefore various penalties imposed u/s 271(1)(c)/271F/271(1)(b) of the Act, may also be remitted back to the file of Assessing Officer on same footing. That is, when the quantum proceeding is remitted back to the file of the assessing officer, then in that circumstances, these penalties should also be restored back to the file of the assessing officer, for fresh adjudication, if any, in accordance with law.
The ld. DR for the Revenue, submitted that assessee wanted to avail VSVS-2020- Scheme, therefore, Ld.CIT(A), had rightly dismissed the appeal of the assessee, in quantum proceedings. Later on, the assessee could not adopt VSVS-2020- Scheme, due to financial difficulty, as the assessee was not in a position to deposit the tax demanded by the Department. Therefore, appeal may be revived and should be remitted back to the file of the assessing officer for fresh, adjudication, on merit.
I have heard both the parties and perused the materials available on record. I note that assessee wanted to avail VSVS-2020 -Scheme and informed the Ld.CIT(A) that he wanted to adopt VSVS-2020- Scheme, therefore, the quantum appeal was dismissed by Ld.CIT(A). However, later on, the assessee found difficulty to tax demanded by the Department, due to financial difficulty. Later on, the assessee informed the Ld.CIT(A) that he could not avail VSVS- 2020 Scheme, due to financial difficulties, as the assessee did not have money to pay the department in the said scheme. Now, Ld. Counsel for the assessee, stated that assessee wish to contest his case before lower authorities, by filing more documents and evidences, to prove his claim. Therefore, ld. Counsel prayed the Bench to remit the quantum proceeding before Assessing Officer with a direction to adjudicate the issue afresh, on merit. The Ld. Counsel for the assessee also contended before the Bench that assessee wants to submit some detail, documents and evidence before Assessing Officer. I accept the prayer of Ld. Counsel for the assessee, therefore, in the interest of justice and fair play, I set aside the order of Ld.CIT(A) and remit the quantum proceedings back to file of Assessing Officer with a direction to adjudicate the issue afresh in accordance with law and assessee is permitted to furnish additional evidences, if any, as and when called for, by the Assessing Officer.
Since I have remitted back the quantum proceedings in ITA No.255/Rjt/2025 to the file of Assessing Officer, therefore, the penalties imposed u/s 271(1)(c)/271F/271(1)(b) of the Act will not survive. That is, when the matter in quantum proceedings have been restored to the file of Assessing Officer, the penalties do not have leg to stand. However, the Assessing Officer is given liberty to initiate fresh penalties, if any, in accordance with law, in fresh quantum proceedings.
In the combined result, assessee's appeals (in ITA Nos. 255-257/Rjt/2025 and ITA No. 259/Rjt/2025) are treated as allowed for statistical purposes, in above terms. Order pronounced in the open court on 16/05/2025. राजकोट /Rajkot दिनांक/Date: 16/05/2025 DKP Outsourcing Sr.P.S (Dr. A.L. SAINI) लेखा सदस्य/ACCOUNTANT MEMBER ITA Nos. 255-257 & 259/Rjt/2025 A.Y 11-12 Vinod V Sanghani आदेश की प्रतिलिपि अग्रेषित/ Copy of the order forwarded to : • • अपीलार्थी/ The Appellant प्रत्यर्थी / The Respondent • आयकर आयुक्त/ CIT • आयकर आयुक्त (अपील)/ The CIT(A) • विभागीय प्रतिनिधि, आयकर अपीलीय आधिकरण, राजकोट/ DR, ITAT, RAJKOT • गार्डफाईल / Guard File //// By order/आदेश से, सहायक पंजीकार आयकर अपीलीय अधिकरण, राजकोट", "summary": { "facts": "The assessee filed four appeals against separate orders concerning Assessment Year 2011-12. The assessee initially sought to avail the VSVS-2020 Scheme but later faced financial difficulties in depositing the required tax amount. Consequently, the appeals were dismissed by the CIT(A).", "held": "The Tribunal accepted the assessee's prayer to remit the quantum proceedings back to the Assessing Officer for fresh adjudication. The Tribunal also noted that since the quantum proceedings are being remitted, the penalties imposed would not survive, but the Assessing Officer is at liberty to initiate fresh penalties.", "result": "Allowed", "sections": [ "271(1)(c)", "271F", "271(1)(b)" ], "issues": "Whether the appeals should be remitted back to the Assessing Officer for fresh adjudication, allowing the assessee to submit additional documents and evidence, and whether the penalties imposed should also be set aside." } }