“Section 56(2)(b)”
The decision most relied on for Section 56(2)(b) is CIT v. Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages P Ltd. (331 ITR 192), cited in 152 judgments on BharatTax.
Leading authorities on Section 56(2)(b)
The Principal Commissioner of Income Tax cannot exercise revisional jurisdiction under Section 263 if the Assessing Officer has taken one of two possible views on a debatable issue during assessment proceedings.
This case establishes the principles for calculating compensation in motor accident and personal injury claims, including the selection of the multiplier based on the deceased's age, assessment of loss of dependency, consideration of future prospects, and deductions for personal expenses.
An Assessing Officer's order is deemed prejudicial to the interests of the revenue under Section 263 if, due to its erroneous nature, the revenue suffers a loss of lawfully payable tax. This principle applies where the Assessing Officer fails to conduct proper enquiry.
Rectification under Section 154 is permissible based on a subsequent judgment of the Jurisdictional High Court or the Supreme Court. Such a judgment clarifies the law as it always stood, thereby revealing a mistake apparent from the record.
Where the Assessing Officer has taken a plausible view based on sufficient details and disclosures on record, the assessment order cannot be treated as erroneous and prejudicial to the interests of revenue to invoke revisionary powers under Section 263.
Under Section 263, the PCIT/CIT cannot set aside an assessment order for mere 'insufficiency of enquiry' or by remanding the matter to the Assessing Officer for fresh examination. The PCIT/CIT must conduct necessary inquiries and themselves establish how the order is erroneous and prejudicial to the revenue before passing a revision order.
The Commissioner cannot exercise revisional power under Section 263 if the Assessing Officer (AO) has adopted one of the courses permissible in law or where two views are possible and the AO has adopted one of them. A regular assessment made under Section 143(3) carries a presumption of application of mind, and the CIT must demonstrate how the AO's order is unsustainable in law and prejudicial to revenue, not merely disagree with the view.
The amended provisions of Section 153C require that documents found during a search must 'pertain to' or 'relate to' the assessee. The High Court held that this requirement does not apply to searches conducted prior to the amendment.