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2015 (8) TMI 1093 - AT - Income Tax


Issues Involved:
1. Acceptance of the assessee's plea regarding the purchase and possession of the plot in 1980.
2. Rejection of the AO's plea regarding the claim of deduction under Section 48 without filing a revised return.

Detailed Analysis:

Issue 1: Acceptance of the Assessee's Plea Regarding the Purchase and Possession of the Plot in 1980
The Revenue contested the CIT(A)'s decision to accept the assessee's claim that the plot was purchased in 1980, with part payment and possession taken in that year. The Revenue pointed out several discrepancies:
- The sale agreement submitted by the assessee was undated, unregistered, and unwitnessed, rendering it legally unenforceable.
- The registered sale deed dated 2-11-1997 indicated that the actual physical possession was handed over only on 28-1-1997 after full consideration was received.
- The sale deed specified that the amount paid in 1980 was considered a loan, adjusted in 1997 towards the sale consideration.
- Under the Transfer of Property Act and the Indian Registration Act, the transfer of immovable property requires actual delivery of possession and registration of the agreement.

The AO observed that the assessee failed to produce the original sale agreement and relied on an undated, unregistered, and unwitnessed document. The AO concluded that the property was effectively transferred in 1997, not 1980. The AO calculated the long-term capital gain based on this conclusion.

The CIT(A), however, accepted the assessee's claim, noting that the advance payment in 1980 was not disputed and that the sale deed corroborated the facts of the agreement to sale. The CIT(A) directed the AO to delete the addition of Rs. 37,86,495/- made on account of long-term capital gain.

Issue 2: Rejection of the AO's Plea Regarding the Claim of Deduction Under Section 48 Without Filing a Revised Return
The AO rejected the assessee's claim for indexed cost of acquisition and improvement, citing the Supreme Court decision in Goetze India Ltd. vs. CIT, which held that claims not made in the original or revised return cannot be entertained. The AO noted that the assessee did not disclose the capital gains in the return and only made the claim after the transaction was detected through AIR information.

The CIT(A) disagreed with the AO, stating that the appellate authorities have the power to entertain such claims even if not made in the original or revised return. The CIT(A) accepted the assessee's claim for deduction under Section 48, leading to the deletion of the addition made by the AO.

Conclusion:
The appellate tribunal found that the CIT(A) accepted the assessee's evidences without allowing the AO an opportunity to examine them. The tribunal noted that the assessee did not produce the original sale agreement before the AO and did not disclose the capital gains in the return. The tribunal set aside the CIT(A)'s order and remanded the case back to the AO for a fresh decision, providing the assessee a reasonable opportunity to present their case.

Final Decision:
The appeal of the Revenue was allowed for statistical purposes, and the case was remanded back to the AO for a de novo decision.

Order Pronounced:
The order was pronounced in the open court on 11/08/2015.

 

 

 

 

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