CIT(A) NFAC Must Address Appeals on Merits Even in Ex-Parte Orders: ITAT Pune

Santosh Tukaram Varade Vs ITO (ITAT Pune) The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) Pune addressed appeals filed by Santosh Tukaram Varade concerning assessment years 2013-14 and 2017-18. The core issue revolved around income additions made by the Assessing Officer (AO) based on discrepancies between declared income and bank account transactions. For the 2013-14 assessment, the AO applied an 8% profit rate to gross receipts, resulting in an addition of Rs. 27,97,934. For 2017-18, the AO added the entire bank credit of Rs. 2,86,93,336 as unexplained money. The assessee, a commission agent for ag...