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2016 (4) TMI 1164 - AT - Income TaxRental value computation - reference to DVO - Held that - Assessing Officer is expected to compute the annual rental value of the property on the basis of the method provided in the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease & Rent Control) Act, 1960. Since the provisions of Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease & Rent Control) Act, 1960 was not taken into consideration and the Commissioner enhanced the rent at the rate of 25% per annum, this Tribunal is of the considered opinion that the Assessing Officer has to compute the rental value of the property by taking into consideration of the provisions of Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease & Rent Control) Act, 1960. Once it is determined under the provisions of Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease & Rent Control) Act, 1960 for the assessment year 2002-03, it would be reasonable to increase the rent at the rate of 15% for every three years as suggested by the Ld.counsel for the assessee. Thus entire issue is remitted back to the file of the Assessing Officer. - Decided in favour of assessee for statistical purposes.
Issues involved:
Assessment of rental income for multiple years based on the rental value of a property let out to a holding company, application of the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease & Rent Control) Act, 1960, and the reasonableness of increasing rental value at a fixed rate annually. Analysis: 1. Assessment of Rental Income: The appeals addressed the estimation of rental income for various assessment years concerning a property leased to a holding company. The Assessing Officer had increased the rental value by 25% per annum, leading to disputes. The counsel for the assessee argued that a 25% increase annually was unreasonable and suggested a 15% increase every three years. The appellate Commissioner had estimated the rental income at different amounts for each year based on the 25% increase per annum. The Tribunal observed that the rental value should be determined based on market demand and the agreed rent between the lessor and lessee. 2. Application of Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease & Rent Control) Act, 1960: The Tribunal highlighted the significance of considering the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease & Rent Control) Act, 1960 for computing the annual rental value of the property. It noted that the Assessing Officer failed to apply these provisions, leading to arbitrary estimations. The Tribunal directed the Assessing Officer to reevaluate the rental income for the initial assessment year as per the Act's guidelines and subsequently increase it by 15% every three years. 3. Reasonableness of Rental Value Increase: The Tribunal emphasized that the 25% annual increase in rental value was arbitrary and not supported by market dynamics. It stressed that the rental value increment should be in line with the market rates and the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease & Rent Control) Act, 1960. The decision to remit the issue back to the Assessing Officer was based on the need for a fair and reasonable assessment of the rental income, ensuring compliance with relevant legal provisions. Conclusion: Ultimately, the Tribunal allowed all appeals of the assessee for statistical purposes, setting aside the lower authorities' orders. The decision aimed to ensure a proper evaluation of rental income in accordance with the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease & Rent Control) Act, 1960 and reasonable annual increments, promoting a fair and legally sound assessment process. This comprehensive analysis of the legal judgment provides a detailed overview of the issues involved and the Tribunal's decision regarding the assessment of rental income for the property in question.
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