2012 (3) TMI 292 - HC - Wealth-tax

Addition - Search operations were conducted during the relevant year but no incriminating material/ document regarding understatement sale transaction was found - Assessing Officer, estimated fair market value of the property as on 1.1.1964 by adopting the rent capitalization method as provided in Schedule III to the Wealth Tax Act, 1957 - Assessing Officer held - The perusal of details submitted by the assessee company, indicate that sale consideration shown by the assessee company is absurd when compared with the rentals, these properties were fetching - The claim of the assessee is primarily based on the argument that its sale considerations are supported by sale deed/ other agreements etc - Held that Assessing Officer failed to conduct a detailed enquiry and verification, which may have justified their stand regarding understatement or non-declaration of the actual sale consideration - Once it is shown that consideration has been understated, it may be open to the Assessing Officer to quantify the same by reference to the market value arrived at by the rent capitalization method in the absence of any material to show the precise extent of understatement - Revenue appeal dismissed

Summary

Issues:
- Appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 regarding the assessment year 2002-03.
- Justification of making additions based on understatement of sale consideration and capitalizing annual rent.
- CIT(Appeals) and Tribunal's decision on deletion of the addition.
- Assessment Officer's failure to conduct detailed inquiry and verification regarding understatement of sale consideration.

1. Appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961:
The appeal filed by the Revenue challenges the order passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (Tribunal) in the case of the assessee for the assessment year 2002-03. The Revenue contends that the Assessing Officer was justified in making additions based on the understatement of sale consideration and computing it by capitalizing the annual rent. The Revenue relied on the decision of the Madras High Court in a specific case to support their submission.

2. Justification of making additions based on understatement of sale consideration:
The CIT(Appeals) deleted the addition after considering the factual matrix, where no incriminating material regarding understatement of sale transaction was found during search operations. The parties involved in the transactions affirmed the sale consideration mentioned in the agreements. The CIT(Appeals) concluded that the rent capitalization method was not suitable for determining the deemed sale consideration as there was no material indicating understatement. The Tribunal affirmed these findings, stating that the Assessing Officer's estimation based on rent capitalization was unjustified as no evidence showed the sale value was lower than the recorded value.

3. CIT(Appeals) and Tribunal's decision on deletion of the addition:
The Tribunal affirmed the CIT(Appeals) findings, emphasizing that no material suggested the properties were sold at higher prices than mentioned in the sale deeds. The Tribunal rejected the Assessing Officer's method of valuation based on rent capitalization, as it lacked justification and evidence of understatement of sale consideration. The Tribunal highlighted the importance of establishing understatement before quantifying it using the rent capitalization method.

4. Assessment Officer's failure to conduct detailed inquiry and verification:
The Assessing Officer's observations indicated a lack of detailed inquiry and verification to justify the claim of understatement of sale consideration. The Assessing Officer did not collect necessary evidence from other sale instances or consider the rate of rent and capital value in the area. The Tribunal criticized the Assessing Officer for relying solely on assumptions and surmises, emphasizing the need for justification and material to establish understatement. The Tribunal dismissed the appeal, noting the failure of the Assessing Officer to conduct necessary inquiries and the factual findings supporting the deletion of the addition by the CIT(Appeals).