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- In this case it was held that Exemption under Section 54F cannot be denied to HUF even if capital asset was purchased in the individual name of coparcener of HUF, for investment out of borrowed fund and on expenses incurred to make existing unit fit for human habitation after purchase.
- Exemption under Section 54F cannot be denied to HUF even if capital asset was purchased in the individual name of coparcener of HUF.
- Exemption under Section 54F cannot be denied even if capital asset was purchased out of borrowed funds
- Exemption under Section 54F cannot be denied on expenses incurred on renovating the existing residential building to to make it fit for human habitation after purchase
In this case it was held that Exemption under Section 54F cannot be denied to HUF even if capital asset was purchased in the individual name of coparcener of HUF, for investment out of borrowed fund and on expenses incurred to make existing unit fit for human habitation after purchase.
1. The assessee sold a capital asset namely diamond and claims exemption on the capital gain under Section 54F of the Act. The Assessing Officer rejected the claim of the assessee on three grounds.
1) First, the capital asset was purchased in the individual name of coparcener of HUF.
2) Borrowed funds were used for purchase of the new asset and not the sale proceeds of the diamond.
3) There was no construction on the new asset.
Exemption under Section 54F cannot be denied to HUF even if capital asset was purchased in the individual name of coparcener of HUF.
2. As regards the investment made in the individual capacity, even though HUF is an independent assessable unit under Income Tax Act, under the common law, HUF cannot be considered to be a legal entity. The HUF has to be represented through any one of the coparceners. Therefore, when the assessee HUF invested the funds in the name of any one of the coparcener, it has to be construed that the investment was made in the name of HUF. When the nucleus of the HUF fund was used for purchase of a property in the name of any one of the coparcener, the property belongs to the HUF, even though the property was registered in the individual name of one of the The property belongs to all the coparceners in equal shares as members of HUF. Therefore, the Assessing Officer is not justified in rejecting the claim of the assessee especially, when the investment was made in the name of Karta of HUF.
Exemption under Section 54F cannot be denied even if capital asset was purchased out of borrowed funds
3. Now coming to second reason for disallowance of claim of the assessee, the Assessing Officer found that only the borrowed funds are used for purchase of new asset. As rightly submitted by the Ld. representative for the assessee, provisions of Section 54F of the Act, requires the assessee to purchase a property one year before the date of the sale or two years after the date of the sale of asset. If the assessee could not invest within the time frame provided in the Act, the same has to be deposited in any one of the capital gain account within the due date provided for filing the return of income under Section 139(1) of the Act. No one could expect the assessee to utilize the sale proceeds of the capital asset or the capital gain arising from such sale before the date of the sale of the capital asset. The assessee cannot have any sale proceeds before the date of the sale. Therefore, this Tribunal is of the considered opinion, when the assessee borrowed the funds and utilized in purchasing the capital asset and thereafter uses the sale proceeds or capital gain for repaying the loan borrowed, that would amount to sufficient compliance of the requirement of Section 54F of the Act. Therefore, merely because the borrowed funds were used when the property was purchased before the date of the sale of asset, this Tribunal is of the considered opinion, this cannot be a reason for disallowing the claim of the assessee.
Exemption under Section 54F cannot be denied on expenses incurred on renovating the existing residential building to to make it fit for human habitation after purchase
4. Now, coming to the last reason for disallowance by the Assessing Officer that no construction was made, admittedly, the assessee has purchased a land and building. Therefore, it is not a case of new construction. The assessee claims that the building was renovated to make it fit for human habitation after purchase. This Tribunal is of the considered opinion, when the assessee has purchased a building and made some investment for making it fit for human habitation, the same has to be treated as part of the investment from out of the capital gain and the Assessing Officer is not justified in rejecting the claim of the assessee on the ground that the assessee has not filed any proof / plan from the Corporation of Chennai. For the purpose of renovation and maintenance, the Corporation may not give any approval or planning permission. The assessee has to necessarily obtain the planning permission and building approval in case there was new construction or an additional construction over and above the existing building. In the case before us, it is not the case of the assessee that there was additional construction or new construction. The admitted case of the assessee that the existing building was made it fit for human habitation. Therefore Assessing Officer is not justified in disallowing the claim of the assessee.
5. In view of the above, we are unable to uphold the orders of both the lower authorities. Accordingly, the orders of both the lower authorities are set aside and the addition is deleted. The Assessing Officer is directed to allow the claim of exemption under Section 54F of the Act, to the extent of the amount invested on or before the date of filing of return of income as provided under Section 139(1) of the Act.
