Jewels Emporium Vs ACIT (ITAT Jaipur)
From the record, we found that as on the date of search, the books of account of M/s Jewels Emporium were incomplete and the printouts of cash books as taken by the search team did not reflect the true and correct balance available which is made part of the seized papers. Under these circumstances the cash balance as appearing in such incomplete books of accounts and taken as recorded cash balance as per books as on the date of search is wrong being not updated.
The statements recorded u/s 132(4) cannot be made the sole basis for making additions for unexplained cash unless it is supported by any documentary evidence.
In this regard, the CBDT has clarified by clarification dated 10/03/2003 (No. 286/2/2003-Income Tax) that while recording statement during the course of search and seizure and survey operations no attempt should be made to obtain confession as to the undisclosed income. Thus, the additions based on the alleged surrender obtained during the course of search are in contravention to the circular and instruction of the CBDT and therefore the same deserves to be deleted.
FULL TEXT OF THE ITAT JUDGEMENT
These are the cross appeals filed by the assessee and the revenue against the order of ld. CIT(A)-IV, Jaipur dated 12/12/2018 for the A.Y. 2015-16 in the matter of order passed U/s 143(3) r.w.s. 153B(1)(b) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (in short, the Act).
2. The hearing of the appeals was concluded through video conference in view of the prevailing situation of Covid-19 Pandemic.
3. Rival contentions have been heard and record perused. Facts in brief are that the assessee is a partnership firm, engaged in manufacturing and trading (including export) of designer jewellery made of gold and silver studded with precious and semi-precious stones. A search operation u/s 132 was carried out on 17.12.2014 at the business premises of the assessee situated at M.I. Road, Jaipur and its sales outlet at Hotel Rambagh Palace, Jaipur. Besides this, simultaneously the search at the residential premises of its partners and other key persons of the group was also carried out. During the course of search, loose papers and cash were found and seized and the entire stock available at both the business premises was valued by the departmental valuer at market price as on the date of search. Statements of the partners and key persons were also recorded and a surrender towards the alleged excess cash and stock was obtained in the statements recorded of one of the partner Shri Anup Bohra.
4. The assessee filed its return of income for the year under appeal on 16.09.2015 declaring total income at Rs. 9,97,510/- and the assessment was completed at total income of Rs. 6,50,52,710/- by making additions of Rs. 33,57,059/- towards alleged excess cash and Rs. 6,14,97,858/- towards alleged excess stock. Against such order, assessee preferred appeal before the ld. CIT(A) who vide order 12.12.2018 has deleted the addition made on account of excess stock. However, addition on account of excess cash was upheld by the ld. CIT(A). Against the order of the ld. CIT(A), both i.e. the assessee and the revenue are in appeals before us wherein following grounds have been taken by the assessee and the revenue:
Grounds of assessee’s appeal:
“1. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, Ld. CIT(A) has grossly erred in confirming addition of Rs. 33,57,039/- made by ld.AO by alleging the same as unexplained cash found during the course of search arbitrarily without appreciating the submissions made, thus the addition of Rs. 33,57,039/- deserves to be deleted.
1.1 That the Ld. CIT(A) has further erred in confirming the addition of Rs.33,57,039/-made by ld.AO, by completely ignoring the submission of the assessee that the said cash is on account of sale of Rs. 30,80,745/, which remained unincorporated in books of accounts as on the date of search and later the same stood incorporated and due profit as included in the total income has been accepted, thus, difference in cash as per books and as found during the course of search is fully explained. Appellant prays addition made on this account be deleted.
1.2 That the Ld. CIT(A) has further erred in not accepting the submission of assessee that assessee has already declared the sales and profit thereon from the sale of goods against the alleged excess cash of Rs. 33,57,039/-, thus any further addition tantamounts to double taxation and therefore, the entire addition of Rs. 33,57,039/-deserves to be deleted.
2. That the appellant craves the right to add, delete, amend or abandon any of the grounds of appeal either before or at the time of hearing of appeal.”
Grounds of revenue’s appeal:
“1. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law Id.CIT(A) is justified in deleting the Additions of unexplained cash found during the course of search & additions on undisclosed excess stock.
2. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law Id. CIT(A) is justified in deleting of initiating penalty proceedings u/s 271AAB of the I.T. Act, 1961.”
5. We have considered the rival contentions and carefully gone through the orders of the authorities below and found from the record that the AO in para 5 of the assessment order has observed that assessee is engaged in manufacturing and trading of gems and designer jewellery and handicrafts and its main clientele is rich Indian and international tourists. The AO then alleged that most of the sales made is in cash and not recorded in the book of accounts. It is true that assessee is engaged in manufacturing and trading of designer jewellery and its customers mainly comprises of foreign tourists however, neither the product is as such that the same could be sold at a hefty price since it is made of precious metal (gold and silver) whose price is governed by the international market and the extraordinary price cannot be asked for the precious stone embedded therein since the customer though coming from the international market but most of them are dealing in the same goods and having deep knowledge about the quality and tentative prevailing rate of such type of precious stones. Further the allegation that most of the sales is in cash which was not recorded in books of accounts is wrong and based on no evidence found as a result of search or brought on record at any stage of proceedings. Most of the sale of the assessee is to foreign tourists where they preferred to make the payment through credit cards and in case of cash payments the same is to be taken in convertible foreign exchange for which the preparation of bill and filing of the details of the same to the relevant authorities is not only mandatory to the assessee but also it is mandatory for the customer to carry and produce the invoice before the custom authorities at the time of leaving the country. Since the foreign tourists have preferred payment through credit card, around 80% of payment against total sale have been received in convertible foreign exchange through credit card. The remaining 20% payment is either received through banking channels or, in case of foreign tourists even cash payment made by them is in the shape of convertible foreign exchange the entire sales is duly recorded. Further as a result of search not a single instance was found where sales have been made and not recorded in the books of accounts.
6. During the course search operation total cash of Rs. 49,72,600/- was found at various premises searched. Out of the total cash found, a sum of Rs. 3,15,000/- was claimed as belonging to group firm M/s Masters Strokes and the balance was claimed as belonging to the assessee and its partners. The cash balance as per cash book lastly updated upto 15.12.2014 was of Rs. 12,99,938/- and for the balance Rs. 33,57,000/- a surrender was obtained from Shri Anup Bohra (one of the partners of the assessee firm) though he himself has stated that the books of accounts are not completed as on the date of search. Thereafter on the receipts of the seized documents, assessee completed its accounts and filed the return of income wherein after incorporating the sales which remained un-entered as on the date of search, there was no difference in cash. However, the AO has failed to appreciate all the facts and evidences furnished and made the addition of balance amount of Rs. 33,57,000/- by holding the same as unexplained. BY the impugned order, the ld. CIT(A) confirmed the addition.
7. It was contended by the ld CIT-DR that statement recorded on oath u/s 132(4) and 131 cannot be brushed aside unless and until the assessee explained that these statements were made under coercion or duress and these are having evidentiary value. Further, if the retraction is to be made, it should be at the earliest. However, in the instant case, the retraction was made indirectly by not declaring the undisclosed income as declared U/s 132(4)/131 in the return of income filed by the assessee. Reliance was placed by the ld. CIT-DR on the following judicial pronouncements in support of the above contention.
(i) Video Master Vs JCIT (2016) 66 taxmann.com 361 (SC)
(ii) Banna Lal Jat Construction P Ltd. Vs ACIT in ITA No. 720/JP/2017 vide order dated 29/12/2017
(iii) PCIT Vs Shri Roshan Lal Sancheti in DB ITA No. 47/2018 dated 30/10/2018
(iv) Bhagirath Aggarwal Vs CIT (2013) com 274 (Del)
(v) CIT Vs O Abdul Razak (2012) 20 com 48 (Ker).
(vi) CIT Vs Lekh Raj Dhunna (2012) 20 com 554 (P&H)
(vii) Thiru S. Shyam Kumar Vs ACIT (2018) 99 com 39 (Mad.)
(viii) CIT Vs M.S. Aggarwal (2018) 93 com 247 (Delhi).
(ix) Ravindra Kr. Verma Vs CIT (2013) 30 com 367 (All)
(x) T. Lakhamshi Ladha & Co. Vs CIT (2016) 73 taxmann.com 117 (Bom)
(xi) Manmohan Singh Vig Vs DCIT (2006) 6 SOT 18 (Mum).
8. On the other hand, the ld AR has reiterated the contentions raised before the ld. CIT(A).
9. We have considered the rival contentions and carefully gone through the orders of the authorities below. We had also deliberated on the judicial pronouncements referred by the lower authorities in their respective orders as well as cited by the ld. AR and ld. DR during the course of hearing before us in the context of factual matrix of the case. From the record, we found that as on the date of search, the books of account of M/s Jewels Emporium were incomplete and the printouts of cash books as taken by the search team did not reflect the true and correct balance available which is made part of the seized papers. Under these circumstances the cash balance as appearing in such incomplete books of accounts and taken as recorded cash balance as per books as on the date of search is wrong being not updated. Following explanation was given to the A.O. with regard to discrepancy in the cash balance which was explained as per note NO. 5(c) of schedule 15 of balance sheet.
(c) As evident from above, during eh course of search, excess cash amounting to Rs. 33,57,039/- was also found, which was seized by the department. This excess cash pertains to sale of difference in stock o f Rs. 30,80,745/- which could not be incorporated in the Books of Accounts at that point of time. After incorporation of the said sale in the books of accounts, there is no excess cash being worked out.
10. It is clear from the above that the books of accounts of the assessee were not complete as on the date of search and there were certain cash sales which had taken place prior to search in respect whereof the necessary entries were pending to be recorded in the books of accounts. After the search and on receipt of seized documents assessee had completed its books and recorded these sales in its books, copies of the relevant voucher was also submitted to the AO. However, the AO failed to appreciate the same by observing that during the course of search in the statement recorded, Shri Anup Bohra, partner never stated that books of accounts are incomplete and accepted the excess cash as undisclosed income of the firm. Ld. CIT(A), without appreciating the facts and the submissions made alongwith the relevant documentary evidence has concurred with the finding of the AO and confirmed the addition.
11. We also found that both the AO as well as ld. CIT(A) failed to appreciate the fact that sales to the extent of Rs. 33,57,000/- was duly incorporated and recorded in the books of accounts while completing the same after search and thus there remained no difference in the cash physically found and as per books of accounts as on the date of search, therefore, no adverse inference could be drawn. It is settled proposition of law that assessee should be allowed to complete its books of accounts upto the date of search. In this regard reliance is placed on the decision of the ITAT Ahmedabad Bench reported in 107 Taxman 85 in the case of V.M. Thakkar Vs. ACIT wherein it has been held that “It is incumbent upon Authorised officer during search or during assessment to allow the assessee to complete his books till date of search”.
12. Furthermore, we found that as on the date of search i.e. on 17.12.2014, the cash as per books was taken by the search team at Rs. 12,99,938/- was actually the closing cash balance of 15.12.2014 (i.e. the date upto which the books were written and completed). Perhaps the partner Shri Anup Bohra was not aware of the fact that the books of account were written up to 15.12.2014 and his aversion made in the statement recorded during the course of search are based on the printouts of cash as per books completed till 15.12.2014 and not up to immediate preceding day of search i.e. 16.12.2014. The copy of printouts of such cash book which was forming part of the seized recorded is marked as Annexure A-1 pages 4-20 wherein the cash balance of Rs. 12,99,938/-taken as the cash as per books of account as on the date of search was actually for 15.12.2014 which did not include the amount of cash sales made on 16.12.2014.This also supports the contention of the assessee that books of account were not complete as on the date of search which is duly evidenced from the seized papers itself. It is pertinent to note that after receiving copies of all the documents and inventory sheets, assessee completed the books and reconciled all the papers / valuation and went to meet with the investigating officials who advised him to raise this contention before the assessing officer. Thereafter assessee at first opportunity i.e. in the return filed for the year under appeal did not include any amount on account of surrender obtained in respect of both excess cash and stock, by the search authorities and immediately after filing the return a detailed letter was filed before the AO on 16.09.2015 and an affidavit of Shri Anup Bohra was also filed during the course of assessment proceedings re-affirming these facts which remained uncontroverted.
13. It was contended by the ld CIT-DR that if the amount of excess cash found during search is taken to be on account of cash sales remained to be recorded in books of the assessee until the date of search then, the assessee would have collected TCS on the same under sec 206C of the Act, and since no such TCS has been collected by the assessee, the contention of the assessee is not acceptable. In this regard, we observe that as per the provisions of sec 206C as were applicable at that point of time, only in cases where goods sold in cash are in excess of Rs. 5 lacs TCS is required to be collected is evident from the voucher submitted for these cash sales that no single sale was made for an amount exceeding Rs. 5 Lacs. Thus, no TCS was collectible and hence the allegation of the AO is incorrect, in as much as the excess cash found during search was indeed on account of genuine cash sales made, which were remained to be entered in the books, as on the date of search. The statements recorded u/s 132(4) cannot be made the sole basis for making additions unless it is supported by any documentary evidence.
14. In this regard, the CBDT has clarified by clarification dated 10/03/2003 (No. 286/2/2003-Income Tax) that while recording statement during the course of search and seizure and survey operations no attempt should be made to obtain confession as to the undisclosed income. Thus, the additions based on the alleged surrender obtained during the course of search are in contravention to the circular and instruction of the CBDT and therefore the same deserves to be deleted.
15. From the record, we also found that one major fact was ignored by the AO as well as by ld. CIT(A) that the sale of Rs. 33,57,039/- was duly recorded in the books of accounts and after inclusion of the same in total sales, cash balance, profits and stocks were derived which were accepted by both the authorities without any doubts. Thus, further addition by alleging the same as excess cash tantamount to taxation of an income twice. One in the shape of sales and profits embedded therein and again by making addition by alleging the same as unexplained excess cash. For this purpose, reliance may be placed on the following judicial pronouncements:
(i) CIT v. Kailash Jewellery House ITA No. 613/2010 (Delhi High Court) dt. 09.04.2010
(ii) CIT v. Jaora flour and Foods Pvt. Ltd. (MP) (2012) 344 ITR 294
(iii) CIT v. Vishal Exports Overseas Ltd., Tax Appeal No. 2471 of 2009 Gujarat High Court dt. 03.07.2012
(iv) Shri Vinod Bhandari vs Pr. CIT, ACIT-2 (1), DCIT-2(1), ITAT, Indore Dt. 20/3/2020 in ITA Nos. 350/Ind/2017, 66/Ind/2017, 57/Ind/2019-
16. In view of the above discussion and considering the facts and circumstances of the case, we do not find any merit in the addition of Rs. 33,57,039/- upheld by the ld. CIT(A) on account of excess cash. The A.O. is directed to delete the same.
17. In the appeal filed by the revenue, the department has challenged deletion of addition of Rs. 6,14,97,858/- made by alleging the same as being Excess stock found during search and admitted by partner in the statements recorded during the search operation.
18. Rival contentions have been heard and record perused. Brief facts are that, during the course of search operation total stock found at the business premises of assessee firm situated at D-7, M.I. Road, Jaipur and shop titled as Boutique, Hotel Rambagh Palace, Jaipur was quantified and valued by departmental valuer at Rs. 26,62,93,376/-. The search team based on incomplete books of accounts worked out the cost of stock as per books as on the date of search i.e. on 18.12.2014 at Rs. 20,47,95,518/-and the differential amount of Rs. 6,14,97,858/- was alleged as excess unexplained stock and based on this working an admission of Shri Anup Bohra, one of the partners of assessee’s firm, was obtained in his statements recorded during the course of search as stated above. On the date of search books of the assessee were not complete and certain entries pertaining to cash sales made on 16.12.2014 remained to be incorporated therein, which fact is established from the copy of cash book print outs seized during the course of search where the cash balance as on 16.12.2014 is appearing in the Balance Sheet marked as Anx-1 page 22 from where the value of stock of Rs. 20,47,95,518.00 is taken by the search team. The other most important factor which is ignored by the department is that while valuing the stock found, the departmental valuer took the value of precious metal and other precious and semi-precious stones at prevailing market price as on the date of search (18.12.2014) whereas in accordance with the specified norms and accounting standards, the stock recorded in the books is at the cost price and or market value whichever is lower and since cost price is lower, same has been recorded at cost price in the books. It is relevant to state that there is no dispute in quantity measured by the departmental valuer. It was thus contended that since the stock found at the time of search was valued at prevailing market value and to compare the stock as per books of accounts which had always been recorded on cost price, the profit element embedded in value estimated by DVO to bring both the values in parity and make them comparable and thereafter the AO is required to find out any excess or any shortage of stock. It was also found that after giving effect to the cash sales made on 16.12.2014, entry of which were remained to be made in the books as on the date of search and further reducing the profit element from the gross value determined by departmental valuer, the total value of stock found as on the date of search was equal to the value of stock recorded in the books of the assessee and therefore no addition is warranted. However, the AO without appreciating the same and simply for the reason that one of the partners had admitted the same as unexplained in the statement recorded during the search, had made the addition. When all these facts alongwith the same evidences which were submitted before the AO during course of assessment proceedings were produced before the ld. CIT(A) in appellate proceedings, ld. CIT(A) after appreciating the same had deleted the addition made in this regard. Findings recorded by the ld. CIT(A) in this regard are as under:
“9.1 I have perused the written submissions submitted by the Ld. A/R and the order of AO. I have also gone through various judgments cited by the Ld. A/R and those contained in the order of AO.
9.2 Briefly the facts related to the issue under consideration are that during the search operation stock found at the business premises of the appellant firm situated at D-7, M.I. Road, Jaipur and shop titled as “Boutique”, Hotel Rambagh Palace, Jaipur was inventoried and valued by the departmental valuer at t 26,62,93,376/-, as against the above, the cost price of the stock as per books of accounts of the firm as on the date of search was worked out by considering opening stock, purchases and sales till the date of search and gross profit related to these sales, which came to 20,47,95,518/-.
The AO has considered the difference between the two amounting to 6,14,97,858/- as excess unexplained stock found during the course of search, as the same was also admitted by Shri Anup Bohra in his statement recorded during the course of search u/s 132(4) of I.T. Act.
9.3 It was submitted before me that stock inventory so prepared during the course of search has been valued at ‘market value’ and has not at all being valued at the ‘cost price’. Accordingly the deduction of GP rate embedded in the value of physical stock is to be considered to arrive at the cost of stock physically found during the course of search for comparing the same with stock as per books of accounts. The working after deducting the Gross Profit embedded in the valuation of physical stock and after considering the same, it was submitted by the Ld. A/R that the cost of physical stock so found was more or less same as of the cost of stock as per books of accounts and rather the physical stock was slightly on lower side and the slight difference was only due to estimation of the valuation of the physical stock so done by the approved valuer. The AO has not accepted the argument of the Ld. A/R merely on the ground that the partner of the firm in his statement recorded at the time of search has admitted and surrendered the excess stock.
9.4 Accordingly in the return of income so filed by the appellant, no additional income was offered on the impugned excess stock and a note to this effect was also made in audited financial results. The Ld. A/R has also given the working of G.P. rate of last four preceding years other than the current year in order to fortify his argument about the G.P. rate in the current year being in the same range as that in earlier years. Moreover the Ld. A/R has also furnished raw material wise working of last six years in order to support his argument that the value so taken by the approved valuer has to be the market value and cannot be the cost price.
9.5 In this connection it may be pointed out that said difference in value of stock in trade as per books of accounts and as per valuation report of registered valuer as on the date of search i.e. 17,12_2014. The AO has not held that there was any difference in quantity of stock as per Valuation report and as per books of accounts. The said stock in trade was of studded jewellery of gems stones, for which registered valuer adopts the value of studded stones on estimated basis at market value. Whereas the value as per books of accounts of the said items is supported by purchase bills and vouchers and is as per its cost to assessee as per regular books of accounts and valuation is made by valuer at market price i.e. at price which it will fetch in open market so profit margin is also there in the value assessed by the valuer. Thus there can be no addition simply on the basis of valuation unless excess quantity of stock is found.
9.6 It is a common practice that during the course of search valuation of stock so physically found at the business premises of any assessee is done on prevailing market value. On the other hand in the present case as in all the cases of jewellers, the assessee is not maintaining the stock register, then stock as per books of accounts as on the date of search could only be determined after considering the opening stock, adding the purchases in it and considering the sales till the date of search as well as the Gross Profit embedded in these sales. It will give us the value / cost of the stock as per books of accounts. Same has to be compared with the cost of physical stock so found, which has to be determined after giving deduction the Gross Profit embedded in the valuation of physical stock so done by the approved valuer. The working for the closing stock accordingly would be:
