Loading..
AMICUS AI
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Case Number
Disposition
Attorney(S)
Acts
  • CIT u/s. 263 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred
Are you a practicing lawyer?
Enhance your digital presence and reach by creating a Casemine profile.
Upload pleading to use the new AI search
Cites
Cited by
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Case Number
Disposition
Attorney(S)
Acts
  • CIT u/s. 263 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred
Smart Summary

Summary of ITA No. 1105/Kol/2019 — Swasti Realinfra Pvt. Ltd. v. Income Tax Officer, Ward-10(4), Kolkata

Bench: "B" Bench, ITAT Kolkata — Shri Rajesh Kumar, Accountant Member & Shri Sonjoy Sarma, Judicial Member.
Parties: Appellant — Swasti Realinfra Pvt. Ltd.; Respondent — Income Tax Officer, Ward-10(4), Kolkata.
Assessment Year: 2012-13. Date of hearing: 21.11.2022. Order pronounced in open court: 11 January, 2023.

Factual and Procedural Background

The appellant, Swasti Realinfra Pvt. Ltd., filed its return of income on 30.09.2012 declaring total income as NIL. The case was selected for scrutiny and an assessment order under section 143(3) was framed on 13.03.2015 assessing total income at Rs. 2,23,64,110/-. The Principal Commissioner of Income Tax (Pr. CIT) invoked revisionary jurisdiction under section 263 of the Income Tax Act and, by order dated 01.06.2016, set aside the assessment order dated 13.03.2015 for de novo consideration.

Following that direction, the Assessing Officer (AO) gave effect to the section 263 order and, after issuing notices and conducting enquiries, framed the assessment under section 143(3) read with section 263 on 09.08.2016 assessing total income at NIL. Thereafter, the Pr. CIT again examined the reassessment records and issued a show cause notice under section 263 on 31.12.2018, observing that the AO's order dated 09.08.2016 was erroneous and prejudicial to the revenue because the AO allegedly failed to carry out a detailed investigation into investments by shareholders and large share premiums without verifying investors' financial positions.

The assessee replied on 11.02.2019, asserting that the AO had carried out detailed inquiries, issued notices under section 133(6), summoned the director under section 131, recorded statements, and verified the identity and creditworthiness of investors, ultimately accepting the investments. The Pr. CIT was not persuaded and issued a second revisional order setting aside the AO's order again. The assessee appealed this second revisional order to the ITAT.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax validly exercised revisionary jurisdiction under section 263 of the Income Tax Act a second time to set aside the assessment passed by the AO on 09.08.2016, where the AO had already conducted enquiries (including notices under sections 142(1), 133(6) and summons under section 131) and recorded findings accepting the investments as genuine?

Arguments of the Parties

Appellant's Arguments (Ld. AR)

  • The second revisional order by the Pr. CIT exceeded jurisdiction because the AO had already carried out detailed inquiries and reached a plausible conclusion in the assessment passed on 09.08.2016.
  • The AO had issued notices under section 133(6) and summons under section 131, obtained information from the investor companies and the director, and recorded statements and documentary proof establishing identity, creditworthiness and genuineness of transactions.
  • Reliance was placed on the coordinate-bench decision in Omkar Infracon (P) Ltd. Vs. ITO (ITA No. 896/Kol/2019 dated 18.03.2020), where a second revisional exercise with verbatim show-cause reasons was held invalid, and on the decision cited as PCIT Vs Bhagwati Vintrade Pvt. Ltd. (ITAT/184/2022, IA No. GA/2/2022 dated 18.11.2022) where similar second-round revision was quashed.

Respondent's Arguments (Ld. DR)

  • The revisional action by the Pr. CIT should be sustained because the assessee would be given fair and sufficient opportunity during the setting-aside proceedings, and therefore no prejudice would be caused by revising the assessment under section 263.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
Omkar Infracon (P) Ltd. Vs. ITO, ITA No. 896/Kol/2019 dated 18.03.2020 Coordinate bench decision where a second revisional proceeding (with verbatim show-cause reasons) was held invalid and the assessment passed in the first (set-aside) proceeding was upheld. The Tribunal relied on this coordinate-bench decision to support the view that a second revisionary exercise, where the AO had already conducted inquiries and reached a plausible finding, was invalid and that the AO's earlier assessment should be upheld.
PCIT Vs Bhagwati Vintrade Pvt. Ltd., ITAT/184/2022, IA No. GA/2/2022 dated 18.11.2022 Decision (referred to in the opinion as from the jurisdictional High Court) holding that where the Assessing Officer conducted the enquiries directed by an earlier section 263 order (including summons under section 131), the Tribunal found no lack of application of mind and upheld the assessing officer's plausible view, dismissing revenue's appeal. The Tribunal cited this decision as support for quashing the second revisional order, noting that the facts before it were materially the same and that the AO had carried out the directed inquiries.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Tribunal reviewed the record, the impugned revisional order of the Pr. CIT, the assessment order framed on giving effect to the first section 263 direction, and the decisions cited by the parties. The Tribunal's step-by-step analysis (as reflected in the opinion) is as follows:

  1. The Pr. CIT's second revisional order was founded on the ground that the AO had allegedly failed to make a detailed enquiry into the sources of share capital and share premium and into the financial position of the investors.
  2. The Tribunal examined the AO's assessment order framed on 09.08.2016 (i.e., the order passed in the “first inning” after the Pr. CIT's initial setting-aside) and reproduced the AO's findings showing the sequence of enquiries undertaken by the AO:
    • The AO issued notice under section 142(1) to the assessee on 12.07.2016, complied with by the assessee's director who produced papers and documents.
    • Notices under section 133(6) were issued on 12.07.2016 to the parties from whom funds were received; replies were received proving identity and genuineness and showing transactions routed through banking channels.
    • Investor companies submitted annual reports and ITRs and the investments were reflected in their accounts.
    • A summon under section 131 was issued to the company's director, who appeared and gave a statement with relevant papers.
  3. Based on the above enquiries and documentary responses, the AO recorded satisfaction accepting the investments and computed total income as NIL in the assessment order dated 09.08.2016.
  4. Given these facts, the Tribunal concluded that the AO had applied his mind, carried out the inquiries directed in the earlier order, and reached a plausible conclusion. Therefore, the basis for a second exercise of revisional power under section 263 did not validly exist.
  5. The Tribunal reinforced this conclusion by reference to the coordinate bench decision in Omkar Infracon (supra) and the cited decision in PCIT Vs Bhagwati Vintrade (supra), observing that the facts in those authorities were materially similar and that those decisions quashed the second-round revisions where the AO had already conducted the required enquiries.
  6. Accordingly, the Tribunal held that the Pr. CIT's second exercise of jurisdiction under section 263 was not validly exercised and warranted being quashed.

Holding and Implications

Holding: The Tribunal allowed the appeal of the assessee and quashed the second order passed by the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax under section 263 of the Income Tax Act. The Tribunal upheld the assessment order passed by the Assessing Officer in the first set-aside proceeding (i.e., the assessment dated 09.08.2016 assessing total income at NIL).

Implications:

  • Direct effect on the parties: The Pr. CIT's second revisional order under section 263 is quashed; the AO's assessment order dated 09.08.2016 (assessing income at NIL) stands upheld as between the parties in this appeal.
  • Broader precedent: The Tribunal relied on existing coordinate-bench and jurisdictional decisions (Omkar Infracon and PCIT Vs Bhagwati Vintrade) to support its conclusion. The opinion does not purport to lay down a new legal principle beyond applying those authorities to the facts before it.

Order pronounced in open court on 11 January, 2023. Appeal of the assessee allowed.

    M/s. Swasti Realinfra Private Limited , Kolkata v. ITO, Ward - 10(4), Kolkata

    1

    ITA No. 1105/Kol/2019 Swasti Realinfra Pvt. Ltd., AY 2012-13 IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL "B" BENCH, KOLKATA [Before Shri Rajesh Kumar, Accountant Member & Shri Sonjoy Sarma, Judicial Member] I.T.A. No. 1105/Kol/2019

    Assessment Year: 2012-13

    Swasti Realinfra Pvt. Ltd. C/o Rajesh Mohan & Associates Unit No. 18, 5th Floor, Bagati House, 34, Ganesh Chandra Avenue, Kolkata- 700013. (PAN: AAMCS0142C) Vs. Income Tax Officer, Ward-10(4), Kolkata.
    Appellant Respondent
    Date of Hearing 21.11.2022
    Date of Pronouncement .01.2023
    For the Appellant Shri Sunil Surana, FCA
    For the Respondent Shri Biswanath Das, CIT, DR

    ORDER

    Per Shri Rajesh Kumar, AM This is an appeal preferred by the assessee against the order of Ld. Pr. CIT-4, Kolkata dated 08.03.2019 for AY 2012-13.

    2. In the various grounds of appeal the assessee has challenged the jurisdiction exercised by Ld. Pr. CIT u/s. 263 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as the "Act") by ignoring the order passed u/s. 143(3) read with sec. 263 of the Act by the AO, which is neither erroneous nor prejudicial to the interest of the revenue.

    3. Briefly stated facts in brief are that the return of income was filed on 30.09.2012 declaring total income at NIL. The case of the assessee was selected for scrutiny and the assessment order u/s. 143(3) of the Act was framed vide order dated 13.03.2015 assessing the total income at Rs.2,23,64,110/-. Subsequently, the said order was revised by the Ld. Pr. CIT u/s. 263 of the Act vide order dated 01.06.2016 setting aside the assessment order to be framed de novo vide order dated 13.03.2015. The AO while giving effect to the order u/s. 263 of the Act passed the assessment u/s.

    2

    143(3) read with sec. 263 of the Act vide order dated 09.08.2016 assessing the total income at NIL. Subsequently, the Ld. Pr. CIT upon examination of the assessment records again observed that the order framed by the AO u/s. 143(3) read with sec. 263 of the Act dated 09.08.2016 is erroneous in so far as prejudicial to the interest of the revenue as the AO has failed to carry out detailed investigation into the investment by shareholders and also the huge share premium thereon without verifying the financial posit ions of the investors. Accordingly, a show cause notice was issued u/s. 263 of the Act on 31.12.2018 which is reproduced as under:

    3

    4. The assessee replied the said show cause notice vide written submissions dated 11.02.2019 before the PCIT by submitting that the issue of share capital and share premium were examined in detail by the AO by specifically raising queries from the assessee and also calling for information from the investors and thereafter gave a specific finding in the assessment order framed u/s. 143(3) read with sec. 263 of the Act. The Ld. Pr. CIT brushed aside the submissions of the assessee and revised the assessment as framed in the first set aside proceeding by directing the AO to frame the assessment afresh as the order passed u/s. 143(3) read with 263 of the Act is erroneous in so far as prejudicial to the interest of the revenue on the ground of lack of enquiry on the part of the AO.

    4

    5. The Ld. AR vehemently submitted before us that the Ld. Pr. CIT has failed to appreciate the facts on record especially the assessment order framed u/s. 143(3) read with 263 of the Act dated 09.08.2016 wherein the AO has appended a detailed findings that necessary details and information from the assessee as well as from the shareholder companies were called by issuing notices u/s. 133(6) of the Act and also after issuing summon u/s. 131 of the Act to the director of the assessee company which were duly complied with and statements were also recorded and the identity and creditworthiness of the investor and genuineness of the transactions were duly proved. The Ld. AR submitted that Ld. Pr. CIT has exceeded his jurisdiction by wrongly invoking the revisionary jurisdiction to prove a case which did not suffer from the vice of lack of enquiry as is apparent from the detailed findings given by the AO in the assessment order framed in the first inning. The Ld. AR emphasized his arguments by relying on the decision in the case of Omkar Infracon (P) Ltd. Vs. ITO, ITA No. 896/Kol/2019 dated 18.03.2020 wherein revisionary jurisdiction exercised for the second time recording the same reason for issuing show cause notice u/s. 263 of the Act which were verbatim same as in the case of the assessee. The coordinate bench has also held that the order framed by the AO in the first revisionary proceeding pursuant to the direction of the Ld. Pr. CIT was a valid order. The ld AR also relied on the decision of the Hon'ble Calcutta High Court in the case of PCIT Vs Bhagwati Vintrade Pvt Ltd ITAT/184/2022, IA No. GA/2/2022 dated 18.11.2022 wherein under similar facts the second round by PCIT was quashed.

    6. The Ld. DR, on the other hand, relied on the order of Ld. Pr. CIT by submitting that no prejudice is going to be caused to the assessee by the said revising of assessment u/s. 263 of the Act as assessee would be given a fair and sufficient opportunity in the setting aside proceeding again and, therefore, the order of Ld. Pr. CIT may kindly be sustained.

    5

    7. We have heard rival submissions, carefully perused the material available on record, the impugned appellate order, the assessment order passed in the set aside proceeding and the decision cited before us in the case of Omkar Infracon (P) Ltd. (supra) and the decision of jurisdictional High Court in the case of PCIT Vs Bhagwati vintrade Pvt Ltd(supra). We observe on the basis of the records before us that Ld. Pr. CIT has revised the assessment on the ground lack of enquiry on the part of the AO into the issue of investment of share capital and share premium. However, we note that in the set aside assessment proceeding in the first inning the AO examined the issue in detail after calling information from the assessee as well as investors u/s 133(6) of the Act and based on that detai led enquiry on the issue accepted the investments made in the assessee company. The relevant findings of the AO in the assessment order as framed u/s 143(3) r.w.s. 263 of the Act are reproduced as under:

    "And considering the facts and circumstances of case as discussed above and as per submission of assessee, the assessment order was passed without making inquiries and veri f ication which would have been made and therefore the order was passed on 13.03.2015 stands erroneous in so far as prejudicial to the interest of revenue and is set aside de novo with direction to AO to carry out proper examination of books of accounts including bank accounts of assessee as well as investors. AO is also directed to examine of credit appearing in the books of assessee as share capital including premium and nature of transactions, identi ty of investor and i ts genuineness.

    As directed by the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax-4, Kolkata in the order u/s. 263 as above notice u/s. 142(1) of the I . T. Act , 1961 was issued and served on the assessee on 12.07.2016 asking to produce relevant papers and documents. In response to notice u/s. 142(1) Sri Rajesh Kumar Agarwal, Director of the assessee company appeared t ime to time along with papers and documents as required to discuss the case.

    To ensure genuinity of transactions of the shareholder companies further notices u/s. 133(6) of the I . T. Act , 1961 were issued on 12.07.2016 to the parties from whom funds were rece ived to the shareholder companies as source of investment in the assessee company. Replies were received from all the parties proving identi ty of parties, genuinity of the transact ions and again it was observed that al l the transaction were made through banking channel and duly recorded in the books of accounts of the parties.

    Accordingly i t is inferred that

    (i ) As the shareholders are private l imited companies and registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs they have an estabslished identi ty .

    6

    (i i) Details of source of funds have been submitted by all the shareholders. (i i i ) None of applicants have been made otherwise than by banking channels. (iv ) All the investors have submitted their Annual reports and I. T. Returns. (v ) In all the cases the investments is duly ref lected in the Annual Accounts of the investor.

    (vi ) Moreover, summon u/s. 131 was also issued to the director of the company. In response to the summon u/s. 131 the director of the company appeared and give statement along with relevant papers.

    In view of the above observations, the total income of the assessee is computed as per separate computat ion sheet at tached.

    Assessed u/s. 264/143(3) for a total income of Rs. NIL."

    8. We note from the above findings of the AO that while giving effect to the directions of the Ld. Pr. CIT, AO issued notice u/s. 142(1) of the Act to the assessee which was duly complied with by filing necessary documents and informations. We note that the AO also issued notices u/s. 133(6) on 12.07.2016 to the parties from whom the funds were raised by the assessee and verified the source of investments, identity and genuineness. The said investor companies duly responded to the said notice and thereafter the AO recorded his satisfaction accepting the said investments in the hands of the assessee. Considering the above facts, we are of the view that the jurisdiction u/s. 263 of the Act by Ld. Pr. CIT has not been validly exercised. The case of the assessee finds support from the decision of the coordinate bench in Omkar Infracon (P) Ltd. (supra) wherein under similar facts, wherein the show cause notice is verbatim same, the coordinate bench has held the second revision as invalid by upholding the assessment order passed in the first inning. Recently the Hon'ble Calcutta High Court has held in the case of PCIT Vs Bhagwati Vintrade Pvt. Ltd ITAT/184/2022, IA No. GA/2/2022 dated 18.11.2022 that " the present proceeding arising out of the second round of proceedings under section 263 of the Act. The learned Tribunal has carefully considered the factual position and noted that assessing officer has followed the direction issued in the earlier order passed by the Section 263 of the Act . The Assessing Officer has issued summons under Section 131 of the Act to the directors of the Shareholding Company M/s Laxmi Timber Pvt. Ltd. in consonance with the direction issued by the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax under Section 263 of the Act. This finding would be seen from paragraphs 5 to 7 of the

    7

    assessment order. Thus the learned Tribunal on re-verification of the facts found that this is not a case of non-application of mind nor this is a case of failure to re- appreciate the facts and concluded that the view taken by the assessing officer was a plausible view. That apart we note that the assessing officer conducted thorough enquiry and has also examined the directors of the holding company. Thus the learned Tribunal rightly dismissed the appeal filed by the revenue."

    9. Since the facts of the case before us are materially same as involved in the cases decided above, we are therefore, inclined to quash the order u/s. 263 of the Act passed by the Ld. Pr. CIT second time by upholding the order passed in the first round by the AO in terms of the direction of the Ld. Pr. CIT. Accordingly, the appeal of the assessee is allowed.

    10. In the result, the appeal of assessee allowed. Order is pronounced in the open court on 11th January, 2023 Sd/- Sd/-

    (Sonjoy Sarma) (Rajesh Kumar)

    Judicial Member Accountant Member

    Dated: 11thJanuary, 2023

    JD, Sr. PS

    Copy of the order forwarded to:

    1. Appellant-

    2. Respondent .

    3. Pr. CIT-4, Kolkata.

    4. ITO, Ward-10(4), Kolkata. ,

    5. DR, ITAT, Kolkata, (sent through e-mail). True Copy By Order

    Assistant Registrar

    ITAT, Kolkata Bench, Kolkata

    Use AI to get other relevant cases.

    Comments

    M/s. Swasti Realinfra Private Limited , Kolkata v. ITO, Ward - 10(4), Kolkata
    (Jan 11, 2023)