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“unexplained expenditure”

Cash Credits & Unexplained ItemsSection 69CSection 69C3,276 judgments

The decision most relied on for unexplained expenditure is CIT v. Bholanath Poly Fab. Pvt. Ltd. (355 ITR 290), cited in 712 judgments on BharatTax.

Leading authorities on unexplained expenditure

CIT v. Bholanath Poly Fab. Pvt. Ltd.
355 ITR 290 · 2013 · High Court
712
citing judgments

If an assessee makes purchases from bogus parties, but the underlying goods are genuinely acquired and sold, only the profit margin embedded in such purchases, and not the entire value of the bogus purchases, should be added to the assessee's income.

Vijay Proteins Ltd. v. Asst. CIT
58 ITD 428 · 1996 · ITAT
430
citing judgments

Where purchases are found to be non-genuine or fictitious, a reasonable disallowance of 25% of such purchases or the peak credit, whichever is higher, can be made. This is applied to address unexplained expenditure under Section 69C when actual goods are likely procured from the grey market.

Nikunj Eximp Enterprises v. CIT
216 Taxmann 171 · 2013 · High Court
325
citing judgments

Purchases may be treated as genuine even if the purchase parties are untraceable or not available for verification, as long as there is no specific evidence from the parties themselves denying the transactions or proving them to be bogus.

CIT v. M.K. Brothers
163 ITR 249 · 1987 · High Court
262
citing judgments

Mere non-production of a party or their denial of a transaction is insufficient to treat a payment as non-genuine if it is duly recorded in books and made through banking channels. Once the assessee furnishes relevant documentation, the burden shifts to the Assessing Officer to prove the transaction is not genuine.

N.K. Proteins Ltd. v. DCIT
84 Taxmann.com 195 · 2017 · Supreme Court
204
citing judgments

When purchases are found to be entirely bogus and based on fictitious invoices from non-existent or unconfirmed suppliers, the entire amount of such purchases is liable to be added back as unexplained expenditure, not merely a percentage thereof.

CIT v. La Medica
250 ITR 575 · 2001 · High Court
150
citing judgments

When purchases are shown to be non-genuine, the entire amount is to be disallowed as unexplained expenditure under section 69C, irrespective of whether the goods were procured from alternative sources.

Vijay Proteins Ltd. v. CIT
58 Taxmann.com 44 · 2015 · High Court
140
citing judgments

When an assessee makes alleged bogus or hawala purchases but subsequently makes genuine sales from those purchases, the addition to income should be restricted only to the estimated profit embedded in such transactions, not the entire purchase value.

N.K. Industries Ltd. v. DCIT
72 Taxmann.com 289 · 2016 · High Court
127
citing judgments

When there is a categorical finding that purchases are bogus and from fictitious suppliers, the Assessing Officer is justified in making a 100% addition of the bogus purchase amount under Section 69C, rather than restricting the disallowance to merely the profit margin. This position has been upheld by the Supreme Court through the dismissal of the assessee's SLP.

Judgments citing unexplained expenditure

ACIT CC-6(1), Mumbai, Bkc vs. Vinaykumar Sudhakar Deshpande, Solapur, Maharashtra

In the result, the ground of appeal and consequently, the appeal filed by the Revenue are dismissed

ITA 6278/MUM/2024[2021-22]Status: DisposedITAT Mumbai27 Oct 2025AY 2021-22

Bench: Shri Narender Kumar Choudhry & Shri Prabhash Shankarassistant Commissioner Of V/S. Vinaykumar Sudhakar Income Tax, Central Circle- 6(1) बनाम Deshpande Room No. 445, 4Th Floor, 528, Deshpande Lane, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra Near Bank Sangola, (East), Mumbai – 400 051, Solapur – 413 307, Maharashtra Maharashtra स्थायी लेखा सं./जीआइआर सं./Pan/Gir No: Abcpd0198H Appellant/अपीलार्थी .. Respondent/प्रतिवादी

For Appellant: Shri Satyaprakash Singh,ARFor Respondent: Shri Leyaqat Ali Aafaqui, (Sr. DR)
Section 132Section 132(4)Section 143(3)Section 148Section 69C

after making addition of Rs. 3,50,00,000/- u/s. 69C of the Act treating the said entry as Unexplained expenditure. 4. In the subsequent appeal before the first appellate authority, he contested the impugned addition. The ld.CIT(A) observed that search account u/s. 132 of the Act was conducted ... used to the detriment of the respondent. The present addition was made expressly u/s 69C of the Act, holding the sum to be unexplained expenditure. The provisions of section 69C were incorrectly applied, as before invoking the provisions, it was incumbent to first establish that the respondent had in fact

Mr.Mohamed Meera Wahitha, Sivagangai vs. ACIT, Circle-1, Karaikudi

In the result, the appeal filed by the assessee is allowed

ITA 1955/CHNY/2025[2017-18]Status: DisposedITAT Chennai22 Oct 2025AY 2017-18

Bench: Shri S.S. Viswanethra Ravi & Shri Ratnesh Nandan Sahayआयकर अपील सं./I.T.A. No.1955/Chny/2025 िनधा"रण वष"/Assessment Year: 2017-18 Mohamed Meera Wahitha, Vs. The Assistant Commissioner Of 13-3/12-H, Bungalow Oorani Street, Income Tax, Puduvayal, Karaikudi Taluk, Circle 1, Sivagangai 630 108. Karaikudi. [Pan:Aajpw6483G] (अपीलाथ"/Appellant) (""थ"/Respondent) अपीलाथ" की ओर से / Appellant By : Shri M.K. Rangasamy, C.A. ""थ" की ओर से/Respondent By : Ms. E. Pavuna Sundari, Addl. Cit सुनवाई की तारीख/ Date Of Hearing : 18.09.2025 घोषणा की तारीख /Date Of Pronouncement : 22.10.2025 आदेश /O R D E R Per S.S. Viswanethra Ravi: This Appeal Filed By The Assessee Is Directed Against The Order Dated 26.02.2025 Passed By The Ld. Commissioner Of Income Tax (Appeals), National Faceless Appeal Centre [Nfac], Delhi For The Assessment Year 2017-18. 2. The Assessee Raised 10 Grounds Of Appeal Amongst Which, The Only Issue Emanates For Our Consideration As To Whether The Ld. Cit(A) Is Justified In Confirming The Addition Made By The Assessing Officer

For Appellant: Shri M.K. Rangasamy, C.AFor Respondent: Ms. E. Pavuna Sundari, Addl. CIT
Section 131Section 133ASection 44ASection 69Section 69A

relevant to assessment year concerned, in which the assessee is found to be the owner of such money, bullion, jewellery or valuable article or unexplained expenditure, if, the such expenditure or such money etc., are not recorded in the books of accounts, if any, maintained by assessee for any source

Kritika Jain, New Delhi vs. ITO Ward 36(1), New Delhi

In the result, the appeal of the assessee is partly allowed as above

ITA 777/DEL/2025[2019-20]Status: DisposedITAT Delhi17 Oct 2025AY 2019-20

Bench: Shri Satbeer Singh Godara & Shri Avdhesh Kumar Mishraita No.777/Del./2025, A.Y. 2019-20 Kritika Jain Income Tax Officer, C/O. Ds Legal & Associates, Ward 36(1), B-50, Lgf, South Extension-Ii, Vs. Civic Centre, New Delhi Minto Road, New Delhi Pan: Aftpa6657B (Appellant) (Respondent) Appellant By Sh. Shaantanu Jain, Advocate Sh. Dipanshu Jain, Advocate Ms. Jahanvi Khanna, Advocate Respondent By Sh. Dayainder Singh Sidhu, Cit-Dr Date Of Hearing 29/07/2025 Date Of Pronouncement 17/10/2025 Order Per Avdhesh Kumar Mishra, Am This Appeal Of The Assessee For Assessment Year (‘Ay’) 2019-20 Is Directed Against The Order Dated 22.01.2025 Of The Commissioner Of Income Tax (Appeals), Nfac, New Delhi [‘Cit(A)’].

Section 143(2)

Rs.8,20,000/- is hereby disallowed, treating the same as inflation of purchases to evade quantum of profit element embedded. Therefore, treated as unexplained expenditure u/s 69C of the IT. Act, and the same is added back to the total income of the assessee. Accordingly, penalty 4 Kritika Jain proceedings ... under: “5.3 During the appellate proceedings, the appellant claimed that all the purchases were genuine and the AO erred in treating them as unexplained expenditure. The Investigation/enquiries by the Government Agencies have proved that the above parties were engaged in giving bogus bills for the sake of commission. In fact