Appeal to Commissioner of Income-Tax (Appeals)

1. Introduction

At times it may happen that the taxpayer is aggrieved by an order of the Assessing Officer. In such a case he can file an appeal against the order of the Assessing Officer before the Commissioner Of Income-Tax (Appeals) {CIT(A)}. In this part you can gain knowledge about various provisions relating to appeals to CIT(A).

2. Order which are Appealable Before CIT (A)

The CIT(A) is the first appellate authority. Section 246A specifies the orders against which an appeal can be filed before the CIT(A). The list of major orders against which an appeal can be preferred before the CIT(A) is given below:

> Order passed against the taxpayer in a case where the taxpayer denies the liability to be assessed under Income Tax Act.

> Intimation issued under section 143(1)/(1B) where adjustments have been made in income offered to tax in the return of income.

> Intimation issued under section 200A(1) where adjustments are made in the filed statement.

> Assessment order passed under section 143(3) except in case of an order passed in pursuance of directions of the Dispute Resolution Panel

> An assessment order passed under section 144.

> Order of Assessment, Re-assessment or Re-computation passed after reopening the assessment under section 147except an order passed in pursuance of directions of the Dispute Resolution Panel

> An order referred to in section 150.

> An order of assessment or reassessment passed under section 153A or under section 158BC in case of search/seizure.

> Assessment or reassessment order passed under section 92CD(3).

> Rectification order passed under section 154 or under section 155.

> Order passed under section 163 treating the taxpayer as agent of non-resident.

> Order passed under section 170(2)/(3) assessing the successor of the business in respect of income earned by the predecessor.

> Order passed under section 171 recording the finding about partition of a Hindu Undivided Family.

> Order passed by Joint Commissioner under section 115VP(3) refusing approval to opt for tonnage-tax scheme to qualifying shipping companies.

> Order passed under section 201(1)/206C(6A) deeming person responsible for deduction of tax at source as assessee-in-default due to failure to deduct tax at source or to collect tax at source or to pay the same to the credit of the Government.

> Order determining refund passed under section 237.

> Order imposing penalty under section(s) 221/271/271A/271AAA/271F/271FB/272A/272AA/272B/272BB/275(1A)/158BFA(2)/271B/271BB/271C/271CA/271D/271E/271AAB.

> Order imposing a penalty under Chapter XXI.

3. Time-limit for presenting an appeal before CIT (A)

As per Section 249(2), appeal should be presented within 30 days of the following date:

a) Where the appeal relates to any assessment or penalty, the date of service of notice of demand relating to the assessment or penalty.

b) Where appeal is under section 248, i.e., appeal by a person denying liability to deduct tax under section 195, the date of payment of tax.

c) In any other case, the date on which intimation of the order sought to be appealed against is served.

The CIT(A) may admit belated application on sufficient cause being shown. Application for condonation of delay in filing the appeal, giving the reasons for the delay, along with necessary evidences should be filed with Form No. 35 (i.e., form of appeal). The CIT(A) can condone the delay in filing the appeal if genuine reason exists for delay.

4. Form of appeal for appeal before CIT (A)

The CBDT had substituted the Rule 45 of Income-tax Rules, 1962 relating to filing of Form of appeal to CIT(A) vide Income-tax (3rd Amendment) Rules, 2016.

By virtue of such amendment, the CBDT had issued a new Form No. 35 for filing an appeal before CIT(A). Further, e-filing of Form has been made mandatory for persons for whom e-filing of return of income is mandatory.

5. Signature to the appeal before CIT (A)

The form of appeal, the grounds of appeal and the form of verification are to be signed and verified by the person authorised to sign the return of income under section 140 as applicable to the taxpayer. In other words, form of appeal is to be signed and verified by following:

1) In case of appeal by an individual taxpayer, by the individual taxpayer himself or by a person duly authorised by him who is holding a valid power of attorney

2) In case of a Hindu Undivided Family, by the Karta of the family or if Karta is absent from India or is not capable for signing, by any other adult member of such family.

3) In case of a company, by the Managing Director or if Managing Director is not available or where there is no Managing Director by any director of the company.

4) In case of foreign company, by a person who holds a valid power of attorney from such company

5) In case of a firm, by the Managing Partner or if Managing Partner is not available or where there is no Managing Partner by any partner (not being a minor)

6) In case of a LLP, by the Designated Partner or if Designated Partner is not available or where there is no Designated Partner by any partner.

7) In case of a Local Authority, by the Principal Officer thereof

8) In case of a Political Party, by the Chief Executive Officer of such party

9) In case of any other Association, by the Principal Officer thereof or by any member of the Association.

10) In case of any other Person, by that Person or by some person competent to act on his behalf.

6. Pre-deposit of tax before appeal before CIT (A)

Before filing the appeal, the taxpayer should pay the tax determined as per the return of income filed by him.

If no return of income is filed, the taxpayer should pay tax equal to the amount of advance tax payable by him. However, on application made by the taxpayer, the CIT(A) may exempt the taxpayer from payment of tax before filing the appeal. Such benefit is granted if good and sufficient reason is proved by the taxpayer for non-payment of tax before filing the appeal.

7. Documents to be submitted for appeal before CIT (A)

> Form No. 35 (including statement of facts and grounds of Appeal) – in duplicate. However, e-filing has been made mandatory for persons for whom e-filing of return of income is mandatory w.e.f 1/3/2016.

> One certified copy of order, appealed against.

> Notice of demand in original.

> Copy of challans of fees the details of the challan (i.e., BSR code, date of payment of fee, serial number and amount of fee) are required to be furnished in case of e-filing of form of appeal.

8. Fees for Appeal Filing

The fees for filing the appeal before the CIT(A) are as follows:

> Where assessed income (i.e. total income as determined by the Assessing Officer) is :

◊ Less than or equal to Rs. 1,00,000 :- Rs. 250

◊ More than Rs. 1,00,000 but less thanRs. 2,00,000:- Rs. 500

◊ More than Rs. 2,00,000:- Rs.1,000

◊ Where subject-matter of appeal relates to any other matter, i.e., other than above:- Rs. 250.

9. Procedure of the appeal

> After the receipt of Form no. 35, the CIT(A) will fix the date and place for hearing the appeal.

> The date and place will be communicated to the taxpayer and to the Assessing Officer against whose order appeal is preferred. The communication will be made by issuing a notice to both the parties.

> In the appeal proceedings the taxpayer or the Assessing Officer can either appear personally or can appear through an authorized representative.

> The CIT(A) would hear the appeal and may adjourn the appeal from time-to-time.

> Before passing the order, the CIT(A) may make such further inquiries as he thinks fit, or may direct the Assessing Officer to make further inquiry and report the result to him.

> During the course of appeal, the CIT(A) may allow the taxpayer to go into additional grounds of appeal*. However, additional grounds will be accepted only if the CIT(A) is satisfied that omission of these grounds from the form of appeal was not willful or unreasonable.

(*) Additional grounds means grounds which are not specified in Form no. 35

10. Filing of additional evidences before CIT (A)

During the appeal proceedings before the CIT(A) , the taxpayer is permitted to produce only those evidences (whether oral or documentary) which were produced by him before the Assessing Officer. In other words, the CIT(A) will not permit the taxpayer to produce any additional evidences which were not produced by him before the Assessing Officer. However, in following circumstances additional evidence will be accepted by the CIT(A)

a) Where the Assessing Officer has refused to admit evidence which ought to have been admitted; or

b) Where the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from producing the evidence which he was called upon to be produced by the Assessing Officer; or

c) Where the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from producing any evidence before the Assessing Officer which is relevant to any ground of appeal; or

d) Where the Assessing Officer has made the order appealed against without giving sufficient opportunity to the appellant to adduce evidence relevant to any ground of appeal.

Normally, the taxpayer has to make an application for acceptance of additional evidences. In other words, the additional evidences are to be accompanied with an application stating the reasons for their admission. On receipt of such an application, the CIT(A) may admit the same after recording reasons in writing for the admission of these evidences. Before taking into account the additional evidence filed by the taxpayer, the CIT(A) has to provide a reasonable opportunity to the Assessing Officer for examining the additional evidence or the witness, as well as to produce evidences to rebut additional evidences produced by the taxpayer.

11. Decision of the CIT(A)

After hearing the case/arguments, the CIT(A) will pass his order. The order will be in writing. The order will be passed for disposal of the appeal and will state the decision on each ground of appeal along with reasons.

In case of an appeal against the assessment order the CIT(A) may confirm, reduce, enhance or annul the assessment (including assessment in respect of which proceedings before the Settlement Commission abates).

In case of an appeal against the penalty order the CIT(A) may confirm, reduce or enhance the penalty.

Before enhancing any assessment or penalty, the CIT(A) has to provide a reasonable opportunity to the taxpayer to present his case against such enhancement.

While disposing of an appeal, the CIT(A) may consider and decide any matter arising out of the proceedings in which order appealed against was passed, even if such matter was not raised by the taxpayer before the CIT(A) .

12. Disposal of appeal by CIT (A)

Where it is possible, the CIT(A) shall dispose off the appeal within a period of one year from the end of the financial year in which appeal is filed. The order should be issued within 15 days of last hearing.

[As amended by Finance Act, 2018]

Source: https://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/tutorials/34-%20appeal%20to%20cit.pdf