Natural justice denied to assessee at assessment stage cannot be cured by sufficient natural justice at appellate stage

0 comments Tuesday, July 31, 2012



Delhi ITAT in Jai Karan Sharma vs DCIT has gone one step further by holding that where natural justice is denied to the assessee in the assessment proceedings then such defect can not be cured at the appellate level as well.
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54EC exemption not available against deemed capital gain calculated u/s 50C

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Section 54EC provides for exemption from tax on long-term capital gain when the capital gain arises from the transfer of long-term capital asset and the whole or any part of the said capital gain is invested in certain bonds within the period of 6 months. Section 54EC speaks of the actual capital gain which arises out of transfer of long-term capital asset and not deeming amount. Whereas section 50C provides for deeming fiction where value of consideration is adopted as per the stamp valuation authorities or any authority of the State Government. Even if the property has been sold at a lesserprice but under the deeming fiction of section 50C, the value adopted by the stamp valuation authorities is to be taken as sale consideration. Such a deeming fiction cannot be imported into section 54EC. Hence, the deemed value cannot be considered for the purpose of exemption under section 54EC. Thus, for the purpose of deduction under section 54EC, the sale value would be taken at Rs. 16 lakhs, which is the actual sale consideration and has been invested in the bond. At the same time, for the working of the long-term capital gain, the sale consideration will be taken up as per the value determined under section 50C, which is at Rs. 24.48. Thus, the sale value for the purpose of computation of long-term capital gain would be taken at Rs. 24.48 lakhs.
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Agents of NRIs, Private Discretionary trusts exempted from mandatory efiling even if income exceeds 10 lakhs

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PRESS RELEASE

Subject: Relaxation from compulsory e-filing of return of income for assessment year 2012-13 – for representative assesses of non-residents and in the case of private discretionary trusts -reg

Rule 12 of the Income-tax Rules, 1962 mandates that an individual or Hindu undivided family, if his or its total income or the total income in respect of which he is or it is assessable under the Act, during the previous year, exceeds ten lakh rupees, shall furnish the return electronically for the assessment year 2012-13 and subsequent assessment years.

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Due date for filing return of income for A.Y. 2012-13 extended to 31-8-2012

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Due to power failure across Northern and Eastern states, the CBDT extended the due date for filing I-T returns to 31st August from 31st July
 
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has extended the due date for filing income tax (I-T) returns for assessment year 2012-13 to 31st August from 31st July. This means, you can file your I-T returns for FY2011-12 till 31st August.
 
CBDT, in a notification said, "On consideration of the reports of disturbance of general life caused due to failure of power, the CBDT in exercise of powers conferred under section 119 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, hereby extends the ‘due date’ of filing of returns of income for the Assessment Year 2012-13 to 31 August 2012".



Order under Section 119 of the Income Tax Act, 1961

order [f.no225/163/2012/ita-ii], dated 31-7-2012

On consideration of the reports of disturbance of general life caused due to failure of power and further in consideration of the fact that the e-filing of returns for a specified category of individuals and HUF has been made mandatory, the Central Board of Direct Taxes, in exercise of powers conferred under section 119 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, hereby extends the 'due date' of filing of returns of income for the Assessment Year 2012-13 to 31st August 2012 in respect of assessees who are liable to file such returns by 31st July 2012 as per provisions of section 139 of Income Tax Act, 1961.
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Fishing inquiries unconnected with reasons recorded in income tax reassessment proceedings not allowed

0 comments Sunday, July 29, 2012

It is generally seen in the reassessment proceedings u/s 147 of Income Tax Act, 1961, the assessing officers tend to make inquiries and ask questions  even at the start of the reassessment proceedings which are totally unconnected to income that is believed to have escaped assessment in the reasons recorded for reassessment proceedings.

I have seen  some cases where questionnaire being issued in the reassessment proceedings contain no question relating to the income believed to have escaped assessment in the reasons recorded but  different questions totally unconnected to the reasons recorded are being asked.
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VAT on Sugar, amended rate of tax on cell phones applicable w.e.f 25-07-2012 in Punjab

0 comments Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Few days back there was a news that VAT on sugar has been imposed by Punjab Government @ 5%, but no notification publicly was available confirming the same. Now Excise & Taxation Department, Punjab has issued a public notice confirming that VAT @ 5% has been imposed on sugar w.e.f 25-07-2012.

It has also been clarified that surcharge will not be applicable on sugar hence rate of tax on sugar will be 5% only and not 5.5%.
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Punjab VAT-Uploading of Intra-state Transaction(within Punjab) made compulsory

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Excise & taxation Department Punjab has made uploading of intra-state movement of goods i.e movement of goods within the state of Punjab upto Rs. 2 lakh in case of Iron & Steel Goods and Rs. 3 Lakh in other case on the official website of the Department i.e www.pextax.com, compulsory w.e.f 10th August 2012.


Section 51 of Punjab VAT Act, 2005 stipulates that every movement of goods shall be accompanied by documents as mentioned in sub-section 2 of this section. For the purpose of inter-state trade, information regarding such movement of goods is collected on the Information Collection centres(ICC) set up by the Department of Excise & taxation Punjab. To facilitate the furnishing of this information, the Department had introduced an e-service namely"e-ICC" whereby the owner of goods can furnish this information from his premises.


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Property jointly owned not to be added in calculating Residential houses owned by Assessee u/s 54F

0 comments Monday, July 23, 2012

A reading of the provisions contained in Section 54F(1), as it stood at the relevant point of time, shows that exemption from payment of tax on the capital gains arising on thetransfer of any long-term capital asset not being a residential house is available to an assessee being a Hindu Undivided Family or an individual, if the long-term capital gain is invested in purchasing a residential house or constructing the residential house within the time stipulated therein. Proviso to sub section (1) states that the exemption contemplated under sub section (1) would not be available where an assessee owns a residential house as on the date of thetransfer and that the income from the residential house is chargeable under the head “income from house property”. The Finance Act, 2001 amended the proviso with effect from 2001-02 to permit exemption under Section 54F, even if the assessee has owned one residential house as on the date of transfer, other than the new asset, or purchase in investments any residential house other than the new asset within a period of one year or three years as the case may be, but after the date of transfer of the original asset and the income from such residential house other than the one owned on the date of transfer of the original asset is chargeable under the head “income from house property”.
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Section 14A can't be invoked in respect to income, for which deduction under Chapter VI-A is claimed

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Delhi High Court in the following important case namely CIT vs Kribcho has held that disallowance u/s 14A cannot be made for income for which deduction under chapter VI-A is claimed.

Section 14A states that for the purpose of computing total income under Chapter IV, no deduction shall be allowed in respect of expenditure incurred in relation to the income which does not form part of the total income under this Act. It does not state that income which is entitled to deduction under Chapter VI-A has to be excluded for the purpose of the said section.
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Exemption u/s 54F available if investment made after due date u/s139(1) but before date of filing of belated return

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In the instant case, it is found that the eligible new asset was not purchased within one year before the date on which thetransfer of the original asset took place. Thus, the amount which is not utilized by the assessee for the purchase of new asset before the date of furnishing the return of income under section 139 was required to be deposited as per the provisions of sub-section (4) for availing deduction under section 54F in respect of those amounts also. In other words, as per the plain language employed in the above sub-section (4), only the amount which was actually utilized by the assessee for the purpose of purchase of the new residential house before the date of furnishing of the return of income under section 139 shall only be eligible forcomputation of deduction under section 54F(1). It is found that in the instant case it is not in dispute that the return of income for the relevant year was filed by the assessee on 9-1-2009, which is the date of furnishing of return of income under section 139 by the assessee. Thus, it is held that considered view, the amount utilized by the assessee for purchase of new residential house before 9-1-2009 qualifies for consideration with reference to which deduction under section 54F(1) is to be computed. Thus, the Commissioner (Appeals) was not justified in holding that only the amount which was utilized by the assessee before 31-3-2008 only qualifies for deductionunder section 54F. The assessee claimed that Rs. 15 lakh was utilized by him for the purchase of new residential flat on or before 9-1-2009. The orders of the lower authorities on this issue is, therefore, set aside and the Assessing Officer is directed to verify the amount which was invested by the assessee before the date of furnishing of return of income under section 139 by the assessee and, thereafter, allow the deduction under section 54F(1) with reference to the said amount as per law. Needless to mention that he shall allow reasonable and proper opportunity of hearing to the assessee before adjudicating the issue afresh.
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Jurisdiction in income tax reassessment proceedings is limited to the reasons recorded if no escapement of income is found for which reasons were recorded

0 comments Sunday, July 22, 2012
Bombay High Court in the following case namely CIT vs M S Sanklecha has held that reassessment order will be invalid if its based on the grounds other than the reasons recorded for the reopening of the case. This judgement of High Court again confirms the point that jurisdiction to make reassessment u/s 147/148 of Income Tax Act, 1961 is limited to the reasons recorded by AO for reopening the case.

Crux learning from the case: Section 147 has this effect that the Assessing Officer has to assess or reassess the income (“such income”) which escaped assessment and which was the basis of the formation of belief and if he does so, he can also assess or reassess any other income which has escaped assessment and which comes to his notice during the course of the proceedings. However, if after issuing a notice under Section 148, he accepted the contention of the assessee and holds that the income which he has initially formed a reason to believe had escaped assessment, has as a matter of fact not escaped assessment, it is not open to him independently to assess some other income. If he intends to do so, a fresh notice under section 148 would be necessary, the legality of which would be tested in the event of a challenge by the assessee
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Exemption To Salaried Employees From Filing ROI For AY 2012-13

0 comments Saturday, July 21, 2012
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) vide its Notification No. 9/2012 dated 17th February, 2012 has exempted salaried employees from the requirement of filing the returns for assessment year 2012-13. The exemption is applicable only if all the following conditions are fulfilled:-
 
• Employee has earned only salary income and income from savings bank account and the annual interest earned from savings bank account is less than Rs. 10 thousand.
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Reassessment u/s 147 not valid on the ground that assessee was not entitled to 54EC exemption

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Notice issued u/s 148 for reopening of assessment/s 147 on the ground the assessee was not entitled to exemption u/s 54EC in original assessment order.

It appears that all facts were available on record and according to the respondents was only erroneously granted. This is a clear case of review of an order. The application of law or interpretation of a statue leading to a particular conclusion cannot lead to a conclusion that tax has escaped assessment for this would then certainly amount to review of an order which is not permitted unless so specified in a statue. The order dated 14.11.2011 disposing of the Petitioner’s objection to initiation of proceedings under Section 147 of the said Act also proceeds on the view that there has been non application of mind during the original proceedings for assessment. This is unsustainable and as held this court in Asian Paints Ltd. v. Dy. C.I.T. 308 ITR 195 a fresh application of mind by the Assessing officer on the same set of facts amounts to a change of opinion and does not warrant reopening.
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VAT on sugar imposed and on mobile phones and accessories rate of tax revised in Punjab

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There is a news that Cabinet in Punjab has approved levy of tax on sugar @ 5.5%. Earlier only on the sugar imported from outside Punjab except the levy sugar(levy sugar means on which additional excise duty is paid) was subjected to tax @ 5.5. It now seems from the news as being published in Times of India that tax @ 5.5% has been imposed on all types of sugar.
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Exemption u/s 54 available for capital gain on multiple houses sold, if investment made in one house

0 comments Friday, July 20, 2012
Whether the exemption u/s 54 will be available, in case, capital gain arising from sale of more than one residential house, is invested in one residential house. The ld. counsel appearing for the assessee argued that there was no restriction under section 54 that capital gain arising from two residential houses cannot be invested in one residential house. We find substance in the argument advanced by the Id. counsel for the assessee. No rulings have been brought on record by the ld. DR to show that the capital gain arising from sale of more than one residential houses cannot be invested in one residential house. The provisions of section 54 as pointed out earlier apply to transfer of any number of residential houses by the assessee provided the capital gain arising therefrom is invested in a residential house. The exemption u/s 54 is available if capital gain arising from transfer of a residential house is invested in a new residential house within the prescribed time limit. Thus there is an inbuilt restriction that capital gain arising from the sale of one residential house cannot be invested in more than one residential house. However, there is no restriction that capital gain arising from sale of more than one residential houses cannot be invested in one residential house. In case, capital gain arising from sale of more than one residential houses is invested in one residential house, the condition that capital gain from sale of a residential house should be invested in a new residential house gets fulfilled in each case individually because the capital gain arising from sale of each residential house has been invested in a residential house. Therefore, even if two flats are sold in two different years, and the capital gain of both the flats is invested in one residential house, exemption u/s 54 will be available in case of sale of each flat provided the time limit of construction or purchase of the new residential house is fulfilled in case of each flat sold.
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No addition for discrepancies in books of account if income declared under presumptive income scheme

0 comments Friday, July 13, 2012

Allahabad High Court in an important judgement has held that where income is declared under presumptive income  scheme (i.e section 44AE in this case), no addition could be made on the ground that some discrepancies were found in account books and considering any sum as income from other source on the basis of such discrepancies. 
This judgement makes it clear that once income is declared under presumptive income scheme no books of account are required to be maintained by the assessee and if the books of account are being maintained by assessee even then no addition could be made on the basis of discrepancies found, if any in such books of account.
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No service Tax on foreign remittances

0 comments Thursday, July 12, 2012


CBEC issues Clarification Regarding Leviability of Service Tax on the Remittance of Foreign Currency in India from Overseas
The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) issued today necessary clarification regarding the leviability ofservice tax on the remittance of foreign currency in India from overseas. Various concerns have been expressed at different forums in this regard.
The CBEC through a circular issued today stated that the matter has been examined and it is clarified that there is no service tax per se on the amount of foreign currency remitted to India from overseas. In the negative listregime, ‘service’ has been defined in clause (44) of section 65B of the Finance Act 1994, as amended, which excludes transaction in money. As the amount of remittance comprises money, the activity does not comprise a ‘service’ and thus not subjected to service tax.
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One accounting code for all services w.e.f 01-07-2012

0 comments Saturday, July 7, 2012
Accounting Code for payment of service tax under the Negative List approach to taxation of services, with effect from the first day of July 2012 - regarding.
Negative List based comprehensive approach to taxation of services came into effect from the first day of July, 2012. For payment of service tax under the new approach, a new Minor Head - ‘All taxable Services’ has been allotted under the Major Head “0044-Service Tax”.
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Restricted Input tax credit on inter-state stock transfers whether constitutional?

0 comments Sunday, July 1, 2012

Most of the States have legislated provision in their respective VAT Acts for allowing a restricted input tax credit on the goods purchased within State if such goods are transferred outside the State otherwise than as sale. Ussualy Input tax credit in such cases is allowed only in excess of 4% or 2%.


Under Punjab VAT Act, 2005 section 13(2) deals with such situation and allows input tax credit to the extent by which the amount of tax paid in the State exceeds 4% on the purchase of goods, If such goods are:
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