Case Law Details
Suchit Arvindbhai Patel Vs ITO (ITAT Ahmedabad)
The crux of the matter lies in the assertion by the taxpayer’s representative that there was neither concealment of income nor furnishing of inaccurate particulars. The argument extends to the taxpayer’s status as a non-resident Indian (NRI) during the relevant year, thus absolving them of any tax liability. ITAT Ahmedabad’s scrutiny reveals a crucial oversight by both the Assessing Officer and the CIT(A). Neither authority duly considered the taxpayer’s status for the assessment year in question. Moreover, the fact that the taxpayer is a third co-owner of the bank account, from which deposits were added to their income, was disregarded. The non-application of mind in invoking penalty under Section 271(1)(c) of the Act becomes evident. The penalty imposition lacks a basis in verifying the existence of concealment or furnishing of inaccurate particulars by the taxpayer. Thus, the penalty is deemed unsustainable in the present case. In a respite for Suchit Arvindbhai Patel, the appeal is allowed, and the penalty is annulled.
FULL TEXT OF THE ORDER OF ITAT AHMEDABAD
This appeal is filed by the assessee against order dated 30.08.2019 passed by the CIT(A)-1 3, Ahmedabad for the Assessment Year 2007-08.
2. The assessee has raised the following grounds of appeal :-
“1. Ld. CIT(A) erred in confirming penalty on addition of Rs.5,65,666/- by invoking provision under section 271(1)(c) of the Act ignoring submission of the appellant that there is neither concealment of income nor furnishing inaccurate particulars of income which leads to invocation of penalty.
2. Ld. CIT(A) ought to have considered the fact that appellant is the third co-owner of the bank account whose deposit has been added in case of appellant and accordingly it is not a fit case for the penalty.
3. Ld. CIT(A) failed to appreciate that ld. AO failed to record proper satisfaction as to penalty for concealment of income or furnishing inaccurate particulars of income and without proper satisfaction penalty order required to be quashed. It be so held now.”
3. Information AIR data reveal that during the financial year 2006-07 the assessee deposited cash of Rs.16,97,000/- in savings Bank Account. The assessee did not file return of income. The assessment was reopened after recording reasons and notice under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 was issued on 25.03.2014. In response to the notice under Section 148 of the Act, the assessee did not file return of income. The assessee failed to comply with the statutory notices and, therefore, the assessment was finalised under Section 144 read with Section 148 of the Act on 29.12.2014 determining the total income at 23,67,710/- making addition to that effect as undisclosed income from other sources being cash deposited, cheque deposits and interest income accrued in DCB Bank Account. Penalty proceedings under Section 271(1 )(c) of the Act were initiated for concealment of income and notice under Section 274 read with Section 271(1)(c) of the Act was issued on 29.12.2014. The assessee did not file any reply as such and the Assessing Officer imposed penalty to the extent of Rs.7,40,871/- under Section 271(1 )(c) of the Act.
4. Being aggrieved by the Penalty Order, the assessee filed appeal before the CIT(A). The CIT(A) partly allowed the appeal of the assessee.
5. The Ld. AR submitted that there was neither concealment of income nor furnishing of inaccurate particulars of income which needs invocation of penalty. In fact, the assessee was an NRI during the year under consideration and did not have any income chargeable to tax and, therefore, the assessee did not file any return of income. The Ld. AR submitted that no case for concealment of income or for furnishing of inaccurate particulars of income was made out by the Assessing Officer. The assessee is the third co-owner in respect of the Bank Account from which deposits have been added to assessee’s income, therefore, this is not a fit case for penalty.
6. The Ld. DR relied upon the Assessment Order, Penalty Order and the Order of the CIT(A).
7. We have heard both the parties and perused all the relevant material available on record. It is pertinent to note that the Assessing Officer as well as the CIT(A) has not taken cognisance of the status of the assessee for the assessment year 2007-08 and without looking into the same, has simply imposed penalty without verifying whether there is concealment of income or furnishing of inaccurate particulars of income by the assessee. The fact that the assessee is the third co-owner of the Bank Account whose deposits have been added was also not taken into account either by the Assessing Officer or by the CIT(A). Thus, this amounts to non-application of mind by invoking Section 271(1)(c) of the Act which is penalty. Therefore, in the present assessee’s case, the penalty does not sustain.
8. In the result, appeal of the assessee is allowed.
Order pronounced in the open Court on this 17th April, 2024.
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