2020 (2) TMI 1727 - AT - Income Tax

Validity of the assessment made by the AO u/s 143(3)/147 - approval given by the Ld. Pr. CIT and merely a single word yes was used by the Ld. Pr. CIT while according his approval - HELD THAT - As reopening of assessment to be bad in law on the ground that the approval for reopening of assessment given by the Ld. Pr. CIT in a mechanical manner without application of mind did not meet the statutory requirement of section 151 of the Act. Appeal of the assessee is allowed.

Summary

Issues:
1. Validity of assessment made by the AO u/s 143(3)/147 of the Act.
2. Addition of income earned by the assessee from commission on accommodation entries.

Analysis:
Issue 1: Validity of assessment
The appeal was filed against the order of Ld. CIT(A)-6, Kolkata challenging the assessment made by the AO u/s 143(3)/147 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The AO reopened the assessment based on information regarding substantial deposits in the assessee's undisclosed bank account. The approval for reopening the assessment was challenged by the assessee, citing a similar case where the Tribunal held such mechanical approvals as invalid. The Tribunal agreed with the assessee, canceling the assessment as the reopening itself was deemed bad in law.

Issue 2: Addition of income from commission
The AO had added Rs. 21,20,256/- to the assessee's income as commission earned from providing accommodation entries at a rate of 1%. The Ld. CIT(A) found the rate to be on the higher side and reduced it to 0.5%, limiting the addition to Rs. 10,60,128/-. The assessee appealed this decision before the Tribunal. After hearing both sides, the Tribunal allowed the appeal, holding in favor of the assessee.

The Tribunal's decision was based on the invalidity of the assessment due to the mechanical approval for reopening. The addition of income was also revised downwards by the Ld. CIT(A) but was further contested by the assessee, leading to the Tribunal's final decision in favor of the assessee.