RAJAT BUILDERS,INDORE vs. CPC, BANGALORE

The grounds of appeal raised by the assessee read as under:

That on the facts and in the circumstances of case and in law, the Ld. National Faceless Appeal Centre, Delhi erred in confirming the charging of interest u/s 234A at Rs.46066, u/s 234B at Rs.423694 and u/s 234C at Rs.313635/-. The appellant craves leave to add, to alter or amend the aforesaid grounds of appeal as and when necessary.”

Being aggrieved by the rectification order, the assessee filed appeal before the CIT(A). The CIT(A) dismissed the appeal of the assessee.

The Ld. AR submitted that the Assessing Officer did not appreciate that the Tax Audit Report uploaded alongwith the return of income wherein in column 26(B) Annexure 03, it was clearly mentioned by the auditor that the said amount of outstanding GST at Rs. 28,75,114/- was duly deposited by the assessee firm on 19.04.2018 and as such no disallowance could be made. The due date for filing return of income was 30.09.2018 on which the assessee e-filed the return. The Ld. AR submitted that the rectification Rajat Builders vs. CPC Asst.Year –2018-19 - 3 – application filed by the assessee firm was rejected by the CPC on 22.08.2019 without assigning any reason. The Ld. AR submitted that the credit of GST amount pertain to previous year 2017-18 (i.e. A.Y. 2018-19) deposited on 29.04.2018 i.e. before the due date of filing of return under Section 139(1) shall be allowed under Section 43B in the previous year 2018-19 (i.e. A.Y. 2019-20).

The Ld. DR relied upon the order of the CIT(A) and the assessment order/rectification order.

We have heard both the parties and perused all the relevant material available on record. It is pertinent to note that the due date of filing the return of income for A.Y. 2018-19 was 30.09.2018 and the assessee deposited the GST amount on 29.04.2018 which is before the due date applicable in the assessee’s case for furnishing the return of income under sub-Section (1) of Section 139 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Section 43B clearly set out that nothing contained in the said section shall apply in relation to any sum which is actually paid by the assessee on or before the due date applicable in the said assessee’s case for furnishing the return of income under sub-Section (1) of Section 139 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 in respect of the previous year in which the liability to pay such sum was incurred. These facts were not denied by the Assessing Officer as well as by the CIT(A). The return of income filed by the assessee for A.Y. 2018-19 clearly shows that the assessee deposited GST amount on 29.04.2018 which means no tax liability was kept alive at the time of filing the return of income within the due date. Thus, the CIT(A) was not right in confirming the addition. Hence, Ground No. 2.1 and 2.2 are allowed. As regards Rajat Builders vs. CPC Asst.Year –2018-19 - 4 – Ground No. 1, the same is general in nature, hence dismissed. As regards Ground No. 3, the same is consequential in nature, hence not adjudicated at this juncture.

In result, appeal of the assessee is partly allowed.