What did the Tribunal hold?

The Tribunal held that the tax effect in the disputed issues was less than Rs. 10 lakhs, making Circular No. 21/2015 applicable. As such, the appeal filed by the Revenue was dismissed.

The Revenue filed an appeal before the ITAT against an order of the CIT(A). The assessee pointed out that the tax effect involved in the appeal was below the threshold limit specified in Circular No. 21/2015 for filing appeals.

What were the issues?

The primary issue was whether the Revenue's appeal was maintainable before the Tribunal given the tax effect and the applicability of CBDT Circular No. 21/2015.

ACIT vs Sri. B.K. Lokesh | ITAT Bangalore 2016

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, BANGALORE BENCH A, BANGALORE

Before: SHRI. ABRAHAM P. GEORGE & SHRI. VIJAYPAL RAO

For Appellant: Smt. Preethi, Advocate

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL BANGALORE BENCH 'A', BANGALORE BEFORE SHRI. ABRAHAM P. GEORGE, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER AND SHRI. VIJAYPAL RAO, JUDICIAL MEMBER (Assessment Year : 2006-07) Asst. Commissioner of Income tax, Central Circle -2(1) Bangalore .. Appellant v. Shri. B. K. Lokesh, No.203, 3rd Main, 5th Cross, Chamrajpet, Bangalore 560 001 .. Respondent PAN : ABQPL5469H Assessee by : Smt. Preethi, Advocate Revenue by : Shri. G. R. Reddy, CIT, DR-I Heard on : 06.01.2016 Pronounced on : 06.01.2016 O R D E R PER ABRAHAM P. GEORGE, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER :

This is an appeal filed by Revenue directed against order dated 16.07.2012 of CIT (A)-VI, Bangalore, for the A. Y. 2006-07.

ITA.1293/Bang/2012 Page - 2

When the appeal was taken up for hearing Ld. Counsel for the assessee pointed out to the Ld. DR that tax effect involved in this appeal was less than Rs.10 lakhs for the impugned assessment year, therefore by virtue of Circular No.21/2015, dt.10.12.2015, is below the limit laid down for filing appeals before this Tribunal.

Ld. DR submitted that para 8 of the circular was not applicable in this case. Therefore he did not object to the application of the circular.

We have perused the orders and heard the contentions. Para 4 of the circular No.21/2015 (supra) is reproduced hereunder :

“4. For this purpose, “tax effect” means the difference between the tax on the total income assessed and the tax that would have been chargeable had such total income been reduced by the amount of income in respect of the issues against which appeal is intended to be filed (hereinafter referred to as “disputed issues”). However the tax will not include any interest thereon, except where chargeability of interest itself is in dispute. In case the chargeability of interest is the issue under dispute, the amount of interest shall be the tax effect. In cases where returned loss is reduced or assessed as income, the tax effect would include notional tax on disputed additions. In case of penalty orders, the tax effect will mean quantum of penalty deleted or reduced in the order to be appealed against.”

The tax effect on the issues that are disputed by the Revenue is less than Rs.10 lakhs for the impugned assessment year. Assessee had not challenged the constitutional validity of any provisions of the Act nor had it ITA.1293/Bang/2012 Page - 3 challenged the legality of the Circular. Revenue has not brought to our notice anything to show that the appeal arose on an issue emanating from any Revenue Audit Objections accepted by the Department. Addition giving rise to the appeal does not relate to any undisclosed foreign assets / bank accounts. Thus we find that circular No.21/ 2015 (supra) is squarely applicable in this case. However if Revenue find that appeal arise out of issues emanating from audit objection it will be free to file MP for recalling this order.

With the above observations appeal of the Revenue is therefore dismissed.

Pronounced in the open court on this 6th day of January, 2016.

ACIT, BANGALORE vs. SRI. B.K. LOKESH, BANGALORE

What did the Tribunal hold?

What were the facts?

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