ACIT CIR 15(1), MUMBAI vs. AMRITA TALWAR, MUMBAI

This appeal has been filed by the revenue against the order of the CIT(A)-26, Mumbai dt. 6.8.2012 passed against the penalty order u/s. 271(1)(c) for A.Y 2006-07. The revenue is aggrieved with the action of the ld. CIT(A) in deleting the penalty of Rs.44,18,897/- u/s. 271(1)(c) of the Act by the AO.

“3.2 I have carefully considered the findings of the AO as well as the written submissions of the appellant. It is noted that the central issue for levy of penalty in this case is regarding the treatment of trading profits on sale of shares i.e. as to whether it is taxable as short term and long term capital gains or as business income. This is a highly debatable issue on which there may be two divergent view of the assessee and the AO. In the case of Gopal Purohit, Hon’ble Bombay High Court 228 CTR 582 has held that it is a mixed question of facts and law as to whether income from shares in the hands of the assessee is taxable as capital gain or business income. Otherwise also, it is not the case of either furnishing of inaccurate particulars of income or concealment of income. The AO has also not been able to point out if there is any default of the assessee either by way of furnishing of inaccurate particulars of income or concealment of income. Therefore, after considering the totality of facts and circumstances of the case, I do not find it a fit case of levy of penalty u/s. 271(1)(c). Accordingly, the penalty levied by the AO is deleted.”

“18. We have earlier noticed that the decision taken by the assessing office in AY 2006-07 was followed in other years. In assessment year, the assessing officer has considered following points to hold that the assessee has dealt in the shares as a trader:- (a) The holding period in majority of shares was less than a month. (b) Volume of transactions is high. However a critical analysis of the transactions of the assessee would show that the assessed has dealt with 24 scrips, 27 scrips, 26 scrips and 17 scrips respectively in the years relevant to the assessment years 2005-06, 2006-07, 2008-09 and 2009-10. We have earlier noticed that the assessee has purchased each shares in high quantities and hence the volume of transactions was seen at higher figure. With regard to holding period, we have seen that the assessee has held shares in varying periods ranging from one week to nine months. Hence the average holding period was reasonably good. The repetition of transactions were very minimal, i.e, upto a maximum of four transactions only. The assessee has not borrowed funds for purchasing the shares. The assessee has held major shares for more than one year and has declared long term capital gains. We notice that the assessing officer has ignored all other factors, which are in favour of the assessee and has decided the issue against the assessee by considering only two factors. We have seen that even the two factors that were considered by the assessing officer works out in favour of the assessee only. Hence, in our view, the decision taken by the assessing officer in AY 2006-07 is not correct in the facts and circumstances of the case and hence the assessment orders passed in other years by following the decision rendered in AY 2006-07 would consequently rendered incorrect. Under these set of facts, we are of the view that there is merit in the contentions of Ld A.R that the assessing officer was not justified in assessing the gains arising on sale of shares as business income of the assessee.

Thus, we find that since the claim of the assessee has been accepted, there remains no basis to continue with the penalty. Thus, the action of ld. CIT(A) in deleting the penalty is upheld.

Order pronounced in the open court on 12th February, 2016.