Case Law Details
Erumapalayam Primary Agricultural Co-Op Credit Society Vs ITO (ITAT Chennai)
The Ld. AR pleaded that there was sufficient cause for delay in the audit since the assessee being cooperative society, it was governed by the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Societies Act, 1983 and the relevant rules 1988. For the relevant AY, the accounts of the society could not be audited till the completion of the assessment. Since the delay in the completion of the audit was not due to any fault on the part of the assessee society in view of the fact that the assessee was not in control of the matters relating to the appointment and completion of the audit under the aforesaid Act and Rules. Therefore, this constitutes reasonable cause and the penalty was to be deleted. The Ld. AR further submitted that the last date for filing of return was 31.10.2015 whereas the return was filed with minor delay on 06.01.2016 which was due to the fact that the Final Audit Report audited by the Cooperative departmental Audit got completed only on 31.12.2015.
ITAT concur with the submissions of Ld. AR that there was sufficient cause for late filing of return of income and audit. The assessee was subjected to audit under Tamil Nadu Cooperative Societies Act, 1983 and the relevant rules made thereunder. The matter of appointment of auditor and completion of audit was not in control of the assessee. It could also be noted that the audit was finally completed on 31.12.2015 and the assessee filed return immediately thereafter. Accordingly, ITAT delete the impugned penalty under section 271B.
FULL TEXT OF THE ORDER OF ITAT CHENNAI
1. Aforesaid appeal by assessee for Assessment Year (AY) 2015-16 arises out of the order of learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), NFAC, Delhi [CIT(A)] dated 03.12.2021 in the matter of penalty levied by Ld. AO u/s. 271B of the Act for Rs.112715/- vide order dated 18.03.2020.
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