SHRI SAI ARIHANT NAGARI SAHAKARI PATSANSTHA LTD, AHMEDNAGAR,AHEDNAGAR vs. ITO, WARD-1, AHEDNAGAR, AHEMDNAGAR

ORDER

PER DR. DIPAK P. RIPOTE, AM:

1. The ld CIT(A) erred in law and on facts in confirming disallowance of Rs1,23,06,150/- in respect of NPA Expenditure.

2. The ld CIT(A) erred in law and on facts in denying the deduction claimed under Section 80P(2)(a) of Rs. 1,23,06,150/- to the Shri Sai Arihant Nagari Sahakari Patsanstha Ltd., [A] appellant the income assessed on account of disallowance of NPA expenditure.

3. The ld CIT(A) failed to appreciate that the disallowance of NPA expenditure would result into increasing the income from activities of providing credit facilities to members which is eligible for deduction u/s 80P(2)(a).

Brief facts of the case : 2. Assessee is a Co-operative Credit Society. Assessee e-filed Return of Income for A.Y.2014-15 on 27.09.2014 by declaring total income at Rs.22,88,310/-. The assessee has claimed deduction u/sec.80P of the Act in the Original Return of Income filed on 27.09.2014. The ld.AR has filed the copy of the said return during the proceedings before us. The assessee’s case was selected for scrutiny. The assessment order u/sec.143(3) was passed on 14.12.2016 assessing the income at Rs.23,06,152/-. A notice u/sec.148 of the Act was issued on 22.04.2020 as AO noticed that assessee has debited an amount of Rs.1 crore as provision for assets non-performing in profit and loss account. In the re-assessment order, AO held that assessee is a Co-operative Credit Society and not a bank, therefore, provisions of sections 2 Shri Sai Arihant Nagari Sahakari Patsanstha Ltd., [A] 36(1)(viia) of the Act are not applicable, therefore, AO made the addition of Rs.1 crore to the income assessed u/sec.143(3) on 14.12.2016. AO has not allowed any deduction u/sec.80P of the Act on the addition made by AO of Rs.1 crore. Aggrieved by the assessment order, assessee filed appeal before the ld.CIT(A). The ld.CIT(A) upheld the order of the AO.

Submission of the ld.AR for the Assessee : 3. The ld.AR at the outset submitted that ITAT Pune in assessee’s own case in for A.Y.2017-18 on identical facts has allowed deduction u/sec.80P(2) of the Act.

Submission of ld.DR for the Revenue : 4. The ld.Departmental Representative for the Revenue (ld.DR) relied on the order of the Assessing Officer and ld.CIT(A).

Findings & Analysis : 5. We have heard both the parties and perused the records. The ITAT Pune in for A.Y.2017-18 in assessee’s own case had held as under: “In any event, in view of the undisputed position that the appellant cooperative society is entitled for deduction u/s.80P(2)(a)(i) of the Act, the addition, if any, also partakes the character of business 3 Shri Sai Arihant Nagari Sahakari Patsanstha Ltd., [A] income, which qualifies for deduction u/s.80P(2)(a)(i) of the Act. Accordingly, the appeal filed by the appellant cooperative society stands allowed.”