Case Law Details
K.R. Madhusudhan Vs ACIT (ITAT Bangalore)
Introduction: The recent decision by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) Bangalore in the case of K.R. Madhusudhan vs ACIT has clarified the requirement of submitting Income Tax Form No. 10BA for claiming deduction under Section 80GG of the Income Tax Act. This article provides a detailed analysis of the case and its implications.
Detailed Analysis: In the appeal directed against the order of the NFAC for the assessment year 2019-20, the appellant, K.R. Madhusudhan, contested the denial of deduction under Section 80GG of the Income Tax Act. The Assessing Officer (AO) and the NFAC had rejected the claim on the grounds that the deduction was available only to individuals and not to Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs).
However, upon examining the provisions of Section 80GG, the ITAT observed that the section does not specify the nature of the assessee eligible for the deduction, merely mentioning “assessee.” Therefore, the tribunal concluded that the deduction cannot be denied solely on the basis of the assessee being an HUF.
Nevertheless, the ITAT emphasized the necessity of filing Form No. 10BA, as prescribed by Rule 11B of the Income Tax Rules, 1963, for claiming the deduction under Section 80GG. The case was remitted back to the AO to consider the deduction after verifying the submission of Form No. 10BA.
Conclusion: The ITAT Bangalore’s ruling underscores the importance of complying with procedural requirements for claiming deductions under the Income Tax Act. While affirming that Section 80GG deductions are not restricted to individuals, the tribunal highlights the mandatory submission of Form No. 10BA for availing the benefit. Taxpayers, especially HUFs, should ensure proper documentation to support their claims for deductions under Section 80GG.
FULL TEXT OF THE ORDER OF ITAT BANGALORE
This appeal by assessee is directed against the order of NFAC passed u/s 250 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (in short “The Act’) dated 6.10.2023 for the assessment year 2019-20. The assessee has raised following grounds of appeal:
1. The appellate order passed by the ld. CIT(A), in the facts and under the circumstances, is grossly opposed to facts and law.
2. The learned Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals) has grossly erred in law in holding that the appellant was not entitled to the benefit of deduction under Sec. 80GG in respect of the rent paid by the appellant in respect of the residence occupied by him.
3. The impugned order passed by the learned Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals) records a perverse finding in so far as it claims that no reply regarding the admissibility of deduction under Sec. 8OGG was furnished, when factually detailed written submissions on the admissibility of the deduction were furnished during the course of the appellate proceedings.
4. The learned Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals) has grossly erred in holding that the benefit of deduction under Sec. 8OGG was available only to an individual and not a Hindu Undivided Family when the provision makes no such distinction.
5. Without prejudice, it should have been appreciated that the property let out by the appellant was in the nature of a commercial property and therefore did not attract the disqualification in the proviso to Section 80GG which only refers to a residential accommodation.
6. It should have been appreciated that where no residential accommodation was owned by the appellant, and the fact that rent was paid by it for the residential accommodation occupied by it, it was eligible for the benefit of deduction u/s 80GG of the Act.
7. The appellant craves for leave to add to, to delete from and to amend the grounds of appeal Tax effect Rs.14,970/-
2. Facts of the case are that the assessee claimed deduction u/s 80GG of the Act at Rs.60,000/- and the same has been denied by the AO on the reason that deduction u/s 80GG of the Act is available to the individual only and not to the HUF. As such, according to the ld. AO, the assessee has not fulfilled the basic condition to grant deduction u/s 80GG of the Act and the same has been confirmed by the NFAC. Against this assessee is in appeal before us.
3. We have heard the rival submissions and perused the materials available on record. In our opinion, a plain reading of section 80GG of the Act does not suggest that the said deduction is only available to individual assessee. On the other hand, said section mentions only assessee and not specifying the nature of assessee. Being so, on this ground, deduction u/s 80GG of the Act cannot be denied. However, we make it clear that assessee has to file appropriate Form in Form 10BA, so as to claim the deduction u/s 80GG of the Act. Accordingly, the issue is remitted to the file of ld. AO to grant deduction u/s 80GG of the Act after considering the Form No. 10BA read with Rule 1 1B of the I.T. Rules, 1963. Ordered accordingly.
4. In the result, appeal of the assessee is allowed for statistical purposes.
Order pronounced in the open court on 9th Jan, 2024.
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