SMT.ANUPAMA NAGESH,BANGALORE vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER, BANGALORE

Per Shri Vijay Pal Rao, J.M. : This appeal by the assessee is against the order dt.20.08.2016 of

Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) for the Assessment Year 2012-13.

the only issue involved is regarding disallowance of claim under Section 54F of

2 ITA No.2288/Bang/2016 the Income Tax Act, 1961 (in short 'the Act') in respect of the capital gains

which was deposited in capital gain account.

for a consideration of Rs.1 Crore. The assessee purchased a plot at J.P. Nagar

on 16.2.2012 for a consideration of Rs.35 lakhs. The total cost of acquisition of

plot is Rs.37,70,690 including registration charges and stamp duty. The

assessee deposited the net consideration out of Rs.1 Crore in capital gain

account scheme with the Indian Oveseas Bank and claimed exemption under

Section 54 for long term capital gain arising from sale of immovable property.

The Assessing Officer noted that the capital gain account shows the balance of

Rs.62,15,502 as on 29.02.2012 and the assessee has not withdrawn and utilized

any amount till date from the capital gain account. The Assessing Officer

further noted that the assessee has not completed the construction of

residential house on or before 30.01.2015 as required under Section 54 and

therefore the Assessing Officer proposed to disallow the long term capital gain

of Rs.87,13,115 claimed under Section 54 of the Act. The Assessing Officer

after conducting the enquiry and verification of the status of the new asset

disallowed the claim of the assessee under Section 54 of the Act. As per the

3 ITA No.2288/Bang/2016 Assessing Officer, the assessee has not utilized the capital gain till the stipulated

period of three years expired on 31.01.2015. The assessee challenged the

action of the Assessing Officer before the CIT (Appeals) but could not succeed.

year under consideration, the assessee invested part consideration for

purchase of the plot in J.P. Nagar for construction of house and the balance

amount was deposited in the capital gain account and therefore the assessee

has satisfied the condition under Section 54 / 54F of the Act for claiming the

exemption. Thus the learned Authorised Representative has submitted that

once the assessee has complied with the condition as provided under Section

54/54F then the Assessing Officer cannot disallow the claim of the assessee. He

has further pointed out that the assessee has finally offered the capital gain in

the Assessment Year 2013-14 and therefore the capital gain cannot be assessed

in the assessment year under consideration. The learned Authorised

Representative has pointed out that since there was a dispute on the property

in J.P Nagar and therefore the assessee could not carryout the construction on

the said plot and accordingly the assessee has offered the capital gain in the

4 ITA No.2288/Bang/2016 Assessment Year 2013-14. He has filed the copy of the return of income along

with the statement of income showing the capital gain offered to tax.

contended that when the assessee has failed to invest the capital gain in

purchase of new house property within the period stipulated as per provisions

of section 54 & 54F then the assessee cannot claim the benefit of section under

the said provision. He has further contended that even in case the assessee has

deposited the amount in capital gain account the said amount is to be

considered as per the provisions of Section 54 of the Act. He has relied upon

the orders of the authorities below.

record. There is no dispute that the assessee has sold immovable property on

30.1.2012 for a consideration of Rs.1 Crore. The amount was deposited in

capital gain account. However the assessee has then utilized a sum of

Rs.37,70,690 for purchasing a plot of land in JP Nagar for construction of house.

Since the time period of three years as provided under the provisions of section

54 & 54F for construction of house was expired during the pendency of the

assessment proceedings therefore, the Assessing Officer denied the claim of

5 ITA No.2288/Bang/2016 the assessee under Section 54/54F of the Act. It is pertinent to note that in

case the assessee could not invest the amount for purchase of new residential

house or construction of new residential house before the date of furnishing

the return of income, the amount shall be deposited by him in the capital gain

account for availing the deduction under Section 54/54F of the Act. For ready

reference Section 54F is reproduced as under :

“ 54F. (1) [Subject to the provisions of sub-section (4), where, in the case of an assessee being an individual or a Hindu undivided family], the capital gain arises from the transfer of any long-term capital asset, not being a residential house (hereafter in this section referred to as the original asset), and the assessee has, within a period of one year before or [two years] after the date on which the transfer took place purchased, or has within a period of three years after that date [constructed, one residential house in India] (hereafter in this section referred to as the new asset), the capital gain shall be dealt with in accordance with the following provisions of this section, that is to say,— (a) if the cost of the new asset is not less than the net consideration in respect of the original asset, the whole of such capital gain shall not be charged under section 45 ; (b) if the cost of the new asset is less than the net consideration in respect of the original asset, so much of the capital gain as bears to the whole of the capital gain the same proportion as the cost of the new asset bears to the net consideration, shall not be charged under section 45: [Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply where— (a) the assessee,— (i) owns more than one residential house, other than the new asset, on the date of transfer of the original asset; or (ii) purchases any residential house, other than the new asset, within a period of one year after the date of transfer of the original asset; or (iii) onstructs any residential house, other than the new asset, within a period of three years after the date of transfer of the original asset; and (b) the income from such residential house, other than the one residential house owned on the date of transfer of the original asset, is chargeable under the head "Income from house property".] Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—

6 ITA No.2288/Bang/2016

"net consideration, in relation to the transfer of a capital asset, means the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of the capital asset as reduced by any expenditure incurred wholly and exclusively in connection with such transfer. (2) Where the assessee purchases, within the period of [two years] after the date of the transfer of the original asset, or constructs, within the period of three years after such date, any residential house, the income from which is chargeable under the head "Income from house property", other than the new asset, the amount of capital gain arising from the transfer of the original asset not charged under section 45 on the basis of the cost of such new asset as provided in clause (a), or, as the case may be, clause (b), of sub-section (1), shall be deemed to be income chargeable under the head "Capital gains" relating to long-term capital assets of the previous year in which such residential house is purchased or constructed. (3) Where the new asset is transferred within a period of three years from the date of its purchase or, as the case may be, its construction, the amount of capital gain arising from the transfer of the original asset not charged under section 45 on the basis of the cost of such new asset as provided in clause (a) or, as the case may be, clause (b), of sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be income chargeable under the head "Capital gains" relating to long-term capital assets of the previous year in which such new asset is transferred.] [(4) The amount of the net consideration which is not appropriated by the assessee towards the purchase of the new asset made within one year before the date on which the transfer of the original asset took place, or which is not utilised by him for the purchase or construction of the new asset before the date of furnishing the return of income under section 139, shall be deposited by him before furnishing such return [such deposit being made in any case not later than the due date applicable in the case of the assessee for furnishing the return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139] in an account in any such bank or institution as may be specified in, and utilised in accordance with, any scheme which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, frame in this behalf and such return shall be accompanied by proof of such deposit ; and, for the purposes of sub-section (1), the amount, if any, already utilised by the assessee for the purchase or construction of the new asset together with the amount so deposited shall be deemed to be the cost of the new asset : Provided that if the amount deposited under this sub-section is not utilised wholly or partly for the purchase or construction of the new asset within the period specified in sub-section (1), then,— (i) the amount by which— (a) the amount of capital gain arising from exceeds the transfer of the original asset not charged under section 45 on the basis of the cost of the new asset as provided in clause (a) or, as the case may be, clause (b) of sub-section (1),

7 ITA No.2288/Bang/2016 (b) the amount that would not have been so shall be charged under section charged had the amount actually utilised 45 as income of the previous by the assessee for the purchase or year in which the period of three construction of the new asset within the years from the date of the period specified in sub-section (1) been the transfer of the original asset cost of the new asset, expires; and (ii) the assessee shall be entitled to withdraw the unutilised amount in accordance with the scheme aforesaid.”

As per proviso to sub-section (4) of Section 54F if the amount deposited in

capital gain account is not utilized wholly or partly for purchase or construction

of new asset within the period specified in sub-section (1) then the amount of

capital gain shall be charged under Section 45 as income of the previous year in

which the period of three years from the date of transfer of the asset expired.

The period of three years in the case of the assessee expires on 31.1.2015

therefore amount of capital gain which was not utilized by the assessee but was

deposited in the capital gain account shall be charged to capital gain in the

previous year 2014-15 and A.Y. 2015-16. Thus from the plain reading of the

provisions of Section 54 & 54F it is clear that once the amount has been

deposited in the capital gain account and subsequently the assessee could not

utilize the said amount for purchase of new asset then the said amount shall be

charged to capital gain as income for the previous year in which the period of

8 ITA No.2288/Bang/2016 three years as provided under sub-clause (1) expired. The consequence of non-

utilisation of the capital gain within period of three years would lead to

assessment of the capital gain to tax in the assessment year relevant to the

previous year in which the three years expires. Therefore it is neither the

discretion of the assessee nor the discretion of the Assessing Officer to assess

the said amount to capital gain tax in the assessment year other than the year

as provided in Section 54/54F and particularly as per proviso to sub-section (4)

of the said section so long the amount is deposited in Capital Gain Account.

Thus the addition made by the Assessing Officer for the year under

consideration is not sustainable and the same is deleted. However the

Assessing Officer is at liberty to assess the capital gain as per the provision of

section 54/54F of the Act.

Order pronounced in the open court on 31st Mar., 2017. Sd/- (VIJAY PAL RAO) JUDICIAL MEMBER Bangalore, Dt.31.03.2017.

*Reddy gp

9 ITA No.2288/Bang/2016

Copy to : 1. Appellant 2. Respondent 3. C.I.T. 4. CIT(A) 5. DR, ITAT, Bangalore. 6. Guard File.

Assistant Registrar Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Bangalore.