M/S MAHESH INVESTMENTS vs. THE ASST. COMMISSIONER OF
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court held that the rental income from the commercial complex, being the sole income of the partnership firm derived from letting out its property, is correctly assessable under the head 'income from house property' and not 'business income'. The court found no substantial question of law to interfere with the concurrent findings of the lower authorities.
What were the facts?
The assessee, a partnership firm, declared rental income from a commercial complex. The Assessing Officer reclassified this income from 'business income' to 'income from house property', leading to a tax demand. This decision was upheld by the Commissioner (Appeals) and the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT).
What were the issues?
Whether rental income from a commercial complex owned by a partnership firm should be assessed as 'income from house property' or 'business income'. Whether the ITAT erred in upholding the reclassification of income without providing the appellant an opportunity to make submissions on jurisdiction.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BANGALORE
DATED THIS THE 19th DAY OF MARCH 2013
PRESENT
THE HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE N KUMAR
AND
THE HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE B. MANOHAR
ITA.NO.337 OF 2012
BETWEEN:
M/S MAHESH INVESTMENTS A-1, MUS3EUM TERRACE, NO 29, MUSEUM ROAD, BANGALORE-560 001 ...APPELLANT
(By Sri:GANESH R.GHALE, FOR ASHOK A. KULAKARNI, ADV.,)
AND
THE ASST. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX, CIRCLE-1(1), BANGALORE. ... RESPONDENT -------
THIS ITA FILED UNDER SEC.260-A OF I.T. ACT, 1961, ARISING OUT OF ORDER DATED 31/05/2012 PASSED IN ITA NO.960/BANG/2010, FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2003-2004, PRAYS TO: I. FORMULATE THE SUBSTANTIAL QUESTIONS OF LAW STATED THEREIN, II. ALLOW THE APPEAL AND SET ASIDE THE ORDER OF THE ITAT IN ITA NO.960/BANG/2010 DATED 31/05/2012, ORDER OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME
2 TAX (APPEALS) DATED 25/05/2010 AND ASSESSMENT ORDER DATED 30/07/2007 AND SUITABLY MODIFY IT AS SOUGHT IN THE APPEAL.
THIS ITA COMING ON FOR ADMISSION THIS DAY, N KUMAR J., MADE THE FOLLOWING:
JUDGMENT
This appeal is preferred by the assessee challenging the concurrent finding recorded by the three courts below holding that the rental income received by the partnership firm from the commercial complex is to be assessed under the heading “income from house property” and not from “business income”.
The assessee is a partnership firm. It filed its return declaring total income of `12 lakhs. The return was processed under Section 143(1) of the Act. Subsequently, notices under Section 143(2) and 142(1) were issued on 26.5.2005. The assessee filed his objections contending that the said notice has not been issued within 12 months from the date of filing of the return. Accepting the said contention,
3 proceedings were dropped. Further, notice under Section 148 of the Act was issued to the assessee on 13.7.2006. In reply to the same, the assessee submitted that the return filed on 8.8.2003 may be treated as necessary compliance of the requirement of Section 148. Subsequently, notice was issued, firm was called upon and then the assessing authority held the income is to be treated as ‘income from house property’ and not ‘business income’. Therefore, assessment order was framed and the assessee was called upon to pay the difference in tax as well as interest. Aggrieved by the same, he preferred appeal. The Appellate Authority confirmed the said finding. Aggrieved by the same, an appeal is preferred to the Tribunal, which also came to be dismissed . Aggrieved by these orders, the assessee is in appeal before this Court.
Learned counsel for the appellant assailing the impugned order contended it was obligatory on
4 the part of the Tribunal either to look into the records and reasons and to make available to the appellant to make submissions thereof before upholding jurisdiction under Section 147 and secondly the income belongs to partnership, which was formed to carry on the business and therefore the income of the partnership firm has to be assessed under the heading ‘business income’ and not ‘income from house property’. We do not see any merit in either of these contentions. Admittedly, the partnership firm filed its return declaring the rental income as the income of the partnership business which was assessed accordingly. On the ground of suppression of income, proceedings under Section 148 was issued. Notice was served on the assessee, who was heard. Keeping in mind the settled legal position that the income is received by the partnership firm and this is the only income of the partnership firm and the said income is coming from letting out of the commercial
5 complex, the assessing authority held the income is to be assessed under the heading ‘income from house property’ which was erroneously assessed as ‘income from business’. Therefore, impugned order came to be passed. The said order has been confirmed by both the Appellate Authorities after dwelling into the statutory provisions as well as law on the point. In that view of the matter, we do not see any substantial question of law which arise for consideration. In the light of the aforesaid admitted facts, there is no merit in this appeal.
Accordingly, appeal is dismissed.
Sd/-
JUDGE
Sd/-
JUDGE *mn/-
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