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2016 (9) TMI 906 - AT - Income Tax


Issues Involved:
1. Levy of penalty under Section 271(1)(c) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for Assessment Years (AYs) 1995-96, 2002-03, and 2004-05.

Issue-wise Detailed Analysis:

1. AY 1995-96:
The primary issue was the levy of penalty under Section 271(1)(c) due to disallowances and denial of deductions. The disallowances included bad debts, depreciation, and deduction under Section 80IA. The Assessing Officer (AO) held that the assessee furnished inaccurate particulars of income, leading to a penalty of ?15,37,090. The Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [CIT(A)] granted partial relief but confirmed the penalty on bad debts, depreciation, and deduction under Section 80IA.

The Tribunal noted that the addition on account of bad debts was deleted by CIT(A) following the Tribunal's direction, making the penalty on bad debts unsustainable. For depreciation and deduction under Section 80IA, the Tribunal referred to a previous decision where similar penalties were deleted. It concluded that the assessee had provided all necessary documents and there was no evidence of false information or concealment of income. Citing the Supreme Court's decision in CIT vs. Reliance Petroproducts Pvt. Ltd., the Tribunal held that merely making an unsustainable claim does not amount to furnishing inaccurate particulars. Consequently, the penalty was deleted.

2. AY 2002-03:
The issue was the penalty for disallowances related to deductions under Sections 80HHC and 80IB, and dividend income. The AO imposed a penalty of ?2,23,424, stating that the assessee furnished inaccurate particulars by claiming deductions on interest and miscellaneous income. CIT(A) upheld the penalty, arguing that the claims were not genuine or bonafide.

The Tribunal observed that the assessee had filed all relevant documents and there was no evidence of inaccurate particulars or concealment. It reiterated that an unsustainable claim does not equate to furnishing inaccurate particulars, referencing the Supreme Court's judgment in Reliance Petroproducts. The Tribunal directed the deletion of the penalty.

3. AY 2004-05:
The issue was similar to AY 2002-03, involving penalties for disallowances related to deductions under Sections 80HHC and 80IB. The AO imposed a penalty of ?11,99,361. The Tribunal noted that the facts and circumstances were identical to AY 2002-03. Following the same reasoning and the Supreme Court's judgment, the Tribunal directed the deletion of the penalty.

Conclusion:
In all three appeals, the Tribunal concluded that the assessee had not furnished inaccurate particulars or concealed income. The penalties under Section 271(1)(c) were deleted, relying on the Supreme Court's judgment that making an unsustainable claim does not amount to furnishing inaccurate particulars. All three appeals were allowed in favor of the assessee.

 

 

 

 

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