VISHANDAS SATRAMDAS LAKHANI,NAVI MUMBAI vs. ITO WD 22(3)(4), NAVI MUMBAI

We will first take-up The Learned CIT(A) erred in confirming the action of the AO in assessing an income of Rs.20,97,020/- as against the income declared at Rs.2,52,618/-.

2. The Learned CIT(A) erred in confirming the order passed by the Assessing Officer in treating the business receipts as “Income from Other Sources” and disallowing the total expenses claimed.

The Learned CIT(A) erred in confirming the action of the AO in disallowing the expenses as per the P/L account consisting of various expenses such as audit fee, bank charges, conveyance expenses, depreciation, Car Insurance Charges, interest on loan and other expenses without any valid or cogent reasons”.

The facts in brief are that, the assessee is a partner in the firm, M/s Gokul Constructions which was engaged in construction business and United Marine Pharmacy. During the year, the assessee derived income from share of profit and remuneration income from the firm, M/s Gokul Constructions and income from business. The AO noted that, assessee has claimed various expenses debited in the profit and loss accounts, the details of which are as under:- Sr. Expenses under separate heads Expenses claimed No. Rs. 1 Audit Fee 11,030 2 Bank charges 16,665 3 Conveyance 1,16,838 4 Depreciation 3,03,839 5 Car Insurance charges 22,973 6 Interest on loan 8,25,985 7 Int. on capital (UMP) 3,77,550 8 Loan expenses 32,243 9 Membership & Subscription ch. 7,000 10 Professional Fees 50,000 11 Rep. & Maintenance 27,644 12 Telephone charges against Remuneration and medical Income & share in profit from firm 10,809 3 ITA No. : 4380/Mum/2014 �वशनदास एस लखानी Vishandas S Lakhani ITA No. : 4381/Mum/2014 �वजयकुमार एस लखानी Vijaykumar Satramdas Lakhani 4. In response to the show cause notice as to why the expenses claimed against the remuneration income from the Firm should not be disallowed, the assessee submitted that, the payment of expenses relates to earning of business income and had also been shown against income from medical profession. However, the AO rejected the assessee’s contention on the ground that assessee could not provide any details of the earning of medical income and the expenses could not be established against the business income. Accordingly, he treated the medical income declared by the assessee at Rs.5,56,100/- as “income from other sources” and also disallowed the expenses except the bank interest of Rs.13,55,724/-.

Before the ld. CIT(A), the assessee’s submissions was that assessee was a Doctor by profession and had earned income from medical practice at Rs.5,56,100/-. The assessee is also a partner in a firm, which is engaged in the field of construction from which he had received remuneration, which is chargeable under the head “income from business and profession”. Thus, both the streams of income were assessable under the head business income and profession. Even otherwise, if the income is to be treated as ‘income from other sources’ then also expenses relatable to earning of such income has to be allowed under section 57(iii). The assessee’s submission have been incorporated by the CIT(A) in para 2.3.

Before us, Ld. Counsel, Mrs. Ritika Agarwal submitted that, first of all, assessee in support of his medical income had filed copy of Ledger account not only before the AO as well as before the Ld. CIT(A), which are appearing from pages 25 to 32 of the paper-book. The assessee had also furnished copy of certificate of Life Member of ‘Indian Medical Association’ (IMA) as well as registration certificate allotted by ‘Medical Council of India’ (MCI).

On the other hand, Ld. DR strongly relied upon the order of the CIT(A).

We have heard the rival submissions and also perused the relevant finding given in the impugned orders as well as materials placed before us. The main dispute relates to disallowance of expenditure as claimed by the assessee in the profit and loss account and also treatment of the ‘business income’ as ‘income from other sources’. The main allegation of the Ld. CIT(A) for disproving the medical income as business income is that, the assessee could not furnish any details or evidences before him. Such a finding of the Ld. CIT(A) has been disapproved/ rebutted by the Ld. Counsel by producing the certified copy of ‘order sheet entries’ of the first appellate proceedings, wherein, the Ld. CIT(A) himself had asked for the details of business income and expenditure. In response to the said order sheet entry dated 03.07.2013, the assessee had filed these details on 20th August, 2013. Further, from the perusal of the paper book submitted before us, it is seen that assessee had furnished copy of Ledger account of medical income giving date wise details and income earned along with the copy of certificate of Life Membership of IMA and Registration Certificate allotted by MCI. Thus, the factum of income from Medical Profession cannot be disregarded once these facts have been brought on record and no adverse material has been brought or enquiry whatsoever has been done by AO. The AO 7 ITA No. : 4380/Mum/2014 �वशनदास एस लखानी Vishandas S Lakhani ITA No. : 4381/Mum/2014 �वजयकुमार एस लखानी Vijaykumar Satramdas Lakhani has treated this income as ‘income from other sources’, which has no basis in the wake of these evidences. Accordingly, we hold that the income of Rs.5,56,100/- shown by the assessee is nothing but medical income shown by the assessee which is chargeable under the head “income from business and profession” under section 28. Further, from the nature of expenses debited it is quite evident that these expenditures are purely for the purpose of earning of business incomes shown, like in the nature of audit fees, bank charges, interest on loan, insurances, payments made for professional fees, telephone expenses, car repairs etc. All these expenses have been incurred by way of account payee cheques barring one minor item of Rs.11,712/-, which is in cash. Thus, neither the genuineness of the expenditure is doubted nor it is the case of the revenue that these are unverifiable. Thus, we do not find any reason to hold that these expenditures are to be disallowed. Accordingly, we allow the expenditure claimed by the assessee which has been debited in the profit and loss account against the business income. Thus, grounds raised by the assessee are treated allowed.

Now we will take-up, of 2014, which admittedly, the facts are quite similar to the above appeal. Here in this case, the assessee had shown business income from real estate transaction/ commission at Rs.5,78,500/-. The assessee is in the field of construction and consultancy in real estate business for the last 20 years; and is also a partner in M/s Gokul Construction from where he has received remuneration for his services. All these incomes are assessable under the head ‘income from business and profession’. Authorities below have disallowed expenditures on the ground that, firstly, the assessee could not establish the expenses claimed against the business income and secondly, details of business income have not been shown. Accordingly, it was treated as income from other sources and expenses were disallowed by the 8 ITA No. : 4380/Mum/2014 �वशनदास एस लखानी Vishandas S Lakhani ITA No. : 4381/Mum/2014 �वजयकुमार एस लखानी Vijaykumar Satramdas Lakhani AO and confirmed by Ld. CIT(A). The reasoning given by AO and CIT(A) are exactly same, as has been given in the earlier case.

Here in this case also, the Ld. Counsel had filed the copy of order sheet-entry of the First Appellate Authority to controvert the finding of the ld. CIT(A). In this case also all the details of earning of business income as well as details and nature of expense incurred were filed along with the Ledger account before the ld.CIT(A). The break-up of expenditure as given before us are as under:- S. Details of Bank Cash Journal Total No. Expenses Entries 1 Audit Fees 11,030 - - 11,030 2 Bank Charges 14,525 - - 14,525 3 Bank interest 12,59,405 - - 12,59,405 4 Conveyance 2,44,427 - - 2,44,427 5 Depreciation - - 1,76,999 1,76,999 6 Insurance Car 24,517 - - 24,517 7 Interest on Loan 15,14,310 - 2,112 15,14,310 8 Loan processing charges 17,595 - - 17,595 9 Car Maintenance - 24,141 - 24,141 10 Membership Fees 26,000 - - 26,000 11 Professional Fees 65,000 - - 65,000 12 Telephone Expenses 34,874 - - 34,874 Total 32,11,683 24,141 1,76,999 34,12,823 Ld. Counsel drew our attention to copy of the Ledger account as placed in the paper book and submitted that, assessee has been earning business income not only in this year but also in the earlier years for which regular books of accounts, Ledger accounts have been maintained. The Ledger account revealed that Rs.5,78,500/- has been earned as commission income which has been shown as such in the return of income. Thus, she submitted that, such an income has to be treated as business income and expenditures incurred needs to be allowed.

In the result, both appeals filed by the assessees’ stands allowed. Order pronounced in the open court on 21st July, 2016.