Home Case Index All Cases Income Tax Income Tax + AT Income Tax - 2012 (8) TMI AT This
Forgot password New User/ Regiser ⇒ Register to get Live Demo
2012 (8) TMI 179 - AT - Income TaxAddition on the Annual Letting Value on account of notional interest on interest free security received by the assessee Held that - There was no rent paid and in lieu of that rent excessive deposit was made, the usufruct of that deposit could be considered as rent for determining the annual letting value - AO had not carried out any exercise for determination of the fair market value of the property but had added the notional rent @ 12% per annum on interest free security deposit - it cannot be treated as part of annual letting value in favor of assessee
Issues:
Deletion of addition on Annual Letting Value for notional interest on interest-free security received by the assesses. Analysis: The appeals by the Revenue in the case of two different assessees were heard together and disposed of by a common order. The main ground of appeal in all three assessment years for Mrs. Uma Beriwala and Shri Vinit Beriwal concerned the deletion of an addition of Rs. 15,00,000 on the Annual Letting Value due to notional interest on interest-free security received by the assesses. The common issue involved in these appeals was the deletion of the addition made by the Assessing Officer on the Annual Letting Value for notional interest on interest-free security received by both assessees. The AO estimated notional rent on the security deposit at 12% amounting to Rs. 15 lakh and added it to the annual letting value of the property. Before the Ld. CIT(A), it was argued that the notional interest on the deposit should not be considered while determining the annual value of the property as per section 23 of the Income Tax Act. The Ld. CIT(A) examined the contention in light of relevant provisions and judicial pronouncements, concluding that notional interest on interest-free security cannot be a determinative factor for fair rent. During the hearing, the Ld. CIT(DR) and Ld. AR presented arguments based on different decisions, with the AR of the assessee supporting the Ld. CIT(A) order. The Tribunal noted that the AO had not determined the fair market rent but added notional rent based on the interest-free security deposit, which was not in line with the provisions of section 23(1)(a) of the Act. The Tribunal highlighted a previous decision by the Hon'ble Delhi High Court, emphasizing that the fair rent should be determined based on what the property might reasonably be expected to let for, not on notional interest. The Tribunal differentiated the facts of the case from a previous case cited by the Revenue, supporting the Ld. CIT(A)'s decision to delete the addition on the Annual Letting Value. In conclusion, the appeals filed by the Revenue for the assesses were dismissed, upholding the decision to delete the addition on the Annual Letting Value for notional interest on interest-free security deposits.
|