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2018 (9) TMI 2075 - AT - Income Tax


Issues Involved:
1. Addition made by the Assessing Officer in respect of bogus purchases.
2. Disallowance of interest expenditure.

Comprehensive, Issue-Wise Detailed Analysis:

1. Addition made by the Assessing Officer in respect of bogus purchases:

The primary issue in these appeals pertains to the addition made by the Assessing Officer (AO) in respect of bogus purchases made by the assessee. The AO added 12.5% of the value of bogus purchases for the assessment years (A.Ys) 2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13, and 2013-14, which was later reduced to 3% by the learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [CIT(A)]. Both the Revenue and the assessee have contested this decision.

The assessee, engaged in the manufacture and export of gems and jewellery, was scrutinized for purchases made from entities controlled by the Rajendra Jain Group. During the course of assessment proceedings for A.Y. 2011-12, it was revealed that these entities were providing accommodation entries without actual supply of goods. Consequently, the AO disallowed the purchases and reopened the assessments for A.Ys. 2009-10, 2010-11, and 2012-13, and made similar additions for A.Y. 2013-14.

The Tribunal, in its order for A.Y. 2011-12, noted that the suppliers had appeared before the AO and confirmed the genuineness of the transactions through affidavits. The Tribunal also observed that the assessee had exported the entire goods, with no local sales, and followed the decision in the case of M/s. Imperial Imp & Exp., thereby deleting the entire addition made by the AO.

The learned Departmental Representative (DR) argued that the AO’s addition was based on specific information that the Rajendra Jain Group was providing accommodation entries. The AO relied on the decisions of the Hon'ble Gujarat High Court in the cases of Simit P. Sheth and Bholenath Poly Fab P. Ltd., asserting that the profit element in bogus purchases should be taxed.

In rejoinder, the learned Authorized Representative (AR) contended that the facts of the present case differed from those in Simit P. Sheth, as the assessee had produced the suppliers before the AO, who confirmed the transactions under oath. Additionally, the purchases were exported, leaving no room for doubting their genuineness.

The Tribunal, after hearing both parties and reviewing the records, noted that the issue was identical to that in A.Y. 2011-12. The Tribunal found that the suppliers had confirmed the transactions and the goods were exported, thus validating the purchases. Consequently, the Tribunal directed the AO to delete the additions related to purchases from companies where Rajendra Jain, Dharmichand Jain, and Anoop Jain were partners/directors. For purchases from other concerns, the AO was instructed to re-examine the issue.

2. Disallowance of interest expenditure:

In A.Y. 2013-14, the Revenue raised an additional ground regarding the disallowance of interest expenditure. The AO disallowed the interest expenditure, arguing that the assessee had advanced interest-free amounts to certain concerns. The assessee countered that it had sufficient interest-free funds to cover these advances, citing the decisions of the Hon'ble Jurisdictional High Court in CIT Vs. Reliance Utility and Power Ltd. and CIT Vs. HDFC Bank Ltd.

The Tribunal, following its decision in the assessee’s own case for A.Y. 2011-12, restored the issue to the file of the AO for fresh examination, applying the ratio laid down by the cited High Court decisions.

Conclusion:

The appeals filed by the Revenue for A.Y. 2013-14 were partly allowed, while all other appeals by the Revenue were dismissed. All the appeals filed by the assessee were allowed. The Tribunal's order was pronounced on 24.9.2018.

 

 

 

 

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