INCOME TAX OFFICER, INCOME TAX OFFICE, FEROZEPUR vs. JAGAT AGRO, GURUHARSHAI
Facts
The Revenue filed an appeal against the order of the CIT(A). The assessee pointed out that the tax effect involved in the appeal was below the stipulated limit prescribed by CBDT circular No. 09/2024. The tax effect was Rs. 59,45,413/-, which is below the Rs. 60,00,000/- threshold for filing appeals before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal.
Held
The Tribunal noted that the tax effect in the appeal was below the prescribed monetary limit for filing appeals by the department, as per CBDT Circular No. 09/2024. The Ld. DR conceded that the case did not fall within any exceptions. Consequently, the appeal was considered not maintainable.
Key Issues
Whether the appeal filed by the revenue is maintainable considering the tax effect is below the threshold limit stipulated by the CBDT circular?
Sections Cited
250(6) of the Act, 1961, CBDT Circular No. 09/2024, CBDT Circular No.5 dated 15.3.2024
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, AMRITSAR BENCH, AMRITSAR
Before: SH. UDAYAN DASGUPTA & SH. KRINWANT SAHAY
Per Udayan Dasgupta, J.M.:
The following appeals has been filed by the revenue (AO) against the order of the ld. CIT(A) NFAC, Delhi passed u/s 250(6) of the Act,1961, the details of which are as follows:
ITA/212/Asr/2024, Asstt Year: 2014-15 Jagat Agro: (PAN: AABAJ 2188A)
2 I.T.A. No. 21/Asr/2024 ITO v. Jagat Agro 2. At the hearing, the assessee has pointed out at the very onset that the tax effect
involved in the appeal filed by the department is less than the stipulated limit
prescribed by the CBDT circular No. 09/2024 dated 17/09/2024, and as such the
appeal filed by the revenue is not maintainable and cannot be proceeded with.
The tax effect as per the memorandum of appeal in Form 36 filed by the
revenue are as follows:
Jagat Agro: (PAN: AABAJ 2188A) As per Form 36: Rs. 59,45,413/-
It is prayed that since the tax effect in the said matter is below the prescribed
threshold, the appeal of the department may kindly be dismissed.
The Ld. DR has not controverted the Tax computation and admitted that
appellant case do not fall within the exceptions provided in the aforesaid CBDT
Circular, and he has no objection to the request of the assessees since the tax effect in
the said matter is below the prescribed threshold limit for filing the appeal by the
department.
Having heard both the sides and perusal of record, we find that the tax effect
involved in the appeal is below the prescribed threshold limit for filing the appeal by
3 I.T.A. No. 21/Asr/2024 ITO v. Jagat Agro
the department in terms of the CBDT Circular No. 09/2024 dated 17/09/2024. The
Ld. DR for the appellant has stated that this is a matter involving low- tax-effect as per CBDT Circular No. 09 of 2024 dated 17th of September 2024 wherein the
mandatory limit for Department to file appeal before the Income Tax Appellate
Tribunal is further increased to Rs.60,00,000/-, and he submitted that the present
appeals, as regards mandatory limit are concerned, does not fall in any of the
exceptions prescribed in the Circular No.5 dated 15.3.2024 issued earlier.
As per CBDT Circular No.09 of 2024 monetary limit for filing appeal before
the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal is Rs. 60,00 000/-. The relevant Paras 2, 3 & 5 of
said Circular read as under:-
“2. As a step towards management of litigation, it has been decided by the Board to revise the monetary limits for filing of appeals in Income-tax cases as stated in Para 4.1 of the aforementioned Circular as follows:
SI. No. Appeals/SLPs in Income-tax matters Monetary Limit (Tax effect in ?) 1. Before Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 60 lakh 2. Before High Court 2 crore 3. Before Supreme Court 5 crore
Monetary limits given in paragraph 2 above with regard to filing appeal/SLP shall be applicable to all cases including those relating to TDS/TCS under the Income-tax Act, 1961 with exceptions as per paras 3.1 and 3.2 of Circular No 5/2024 dated 15.03.2024,
4 I.T.A. No. 21/Asr/2024 ITO v. Jagat Agro where the decision to appeal/file SLP shall be taken on merits, without regard to the tax effect and the monetary limits.
It is clarified that an appeal should not be filed merely because the tax effect in a case exceeds the monetary limits prescribed above. Filing of appeal in such cases is to be decided on merits of the case. The officers concerned shall keep in mind the overall objective of reducing unnecessary litigation and providing certainty to taxpayers on their Income-tax assessments while taking a decision regarding filing an appeal.
The modifications shall come into effect from the date of issue of this Circular. This Circular will apply to SLP/appeals to be filed henceforth in SC'HCs/Tribunal. It shall also apply to the SLPs/appeals pending before Supreme Court/High Courts/Tribunals, which may accordingly be withdrawn."
We make it clear that the appellants shall be at liberty to point out the cases
which are wrongly included in the appeal so summarily dismissed, either owing to
wrong computation of tax effect, or owing to such cases being covered by the
permissible exceptions, or for any other reason, and thus, the department shall be at
liberty to revive the appeal in situ.
In the light of the above discussions, and in the light of the CBDT Circular
dated CBDT Circular No.09 of 2024 monetary limit for filing appeal before the
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal is Rs. 60,00,000/- and above. Therefore, the appeal
of the revenue would be liable to be dismissed as withdrawn. Accordingly, the appeal
filed by the Revenue is dismissed.
5 I.T.A. No. 21/Asr/2024 ITO v. Jagat Agro 10. In the result, the appeal filed by the revenue is dismissed as not maintainable.
Order pronounced in accordance with Rule 34(4) of the Income Tax (Appellate
Tribunal) Rules, 1963 as on 24.032025
Sd/- Sd/- (Krinwant Sahay) (Udayan Dasgupta) Accountant Member Judicial Member *GP/Sr.PS* Copy of the order forwarded to: (1)The Appellant: (2) The Respondent: (3) The CIT concerned (4) The Sr. DR, I.T.A.T