Surprise Searches Can Be Conducted On Family's Lockers U/S 132 Of Income Tax Act Over Suspicion Of Undisclosed Assets: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has upheld the surprise search and seizure conducted by the Income Tax Department at the private lockers maintained by a family at South Delhi Vaults, without issuance of prior notice or summons to them.The family claimed that failure to notify them was a flagrant violation of Section 132 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 which relates to 'Search and seizure'.Section 132(1)(c) stipulates that when the Department has 'reason to believe' that any person is in possession of...

Employees' Contributions Must Be Paid By Due Date Under ESI/EPF Act, Not Income Tax Act: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has held that an employer can claim deduction of employees' contributions towards Provident Fund or Employer's State Insurance Fund, held by it in trust, only if it deposits these amounts on or before the statutory due date prescribed under the relevant labour law.Section 36(1)(va) of the Income Tax Act, 196 pertains to employees' contribution. It stipulates that deductions towards any sum received by the assessee from any of his employees shall be allowed, if such sum is...

Assessee Cannot Be Asked To Prove Non-Occurrence Of Transaction Once Documentary Evidence Is Produced: ITAT

LThe Mumbai Bench of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has stated that the assessee is not required to prove negative once documentary evidence is produced.Section 69C of the Income Tax Act, 1961 provides that if an assessee incurs any expenditure during a financial year and fails to provide a satisfactory explanation, or if the Assessing Officer does not accept the explanation, the amount of such expenditure may be treated as the assessee's deemed income for that year.Amit Shukla (Judicial...

AO Can Determine Annual Value Of Property Higher Than Municipal Rateable Value U/S 22 Income Tax Act: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court stated that the assessing officer (AO) can determine the annual value of the property higher than the municipal rateable value under Section 22 of the Income Tax Act. Section 22 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 deals with the "taxability of 'Income from House Property”. It says the annual value of property consisting of any buildings or lands appurtenant thereto of which the assessee is the owner, other than such portions of such property as he may occupy for the...

Cash Deposits During Demonetisation Not 'Unexplained Money' If Traceable To Previous Year's Balance: Chhattisgarh High Court

The Chhattisgarh High Court held that cash deposits during demonetisation are not unexplained money if traceable to previous year's balance. Section 69 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 requires the assessee to provide proof of income and provide a proper explanation of the source of such unexplained income. Justices Sanjay K. Agrawal and Deepak Kumar Tiwari stated that the factum of liquidation/refund of short-term loans and advances and its consequential accumulation as cash-in-hand...

Income Tax | Interest On Fixed Deposits, TDS Refund Linked To Business Qualifies For S. 80IA Deduction: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court held that interest on fixed deposits, TDS refund linked to business qualifies for deduction under Section 80IA of the Income Tax Act. Section 80IA of the Income Tax Act, 1961 provides tax incentives for businesses operating in certain sectors such as infrastructure, power, and telecommunications. Justices B.P. Colabawalla and Firdosh P. Pooniwalla stated that the placement of fixed deposits was imperative for the purpose of carrying on the eligible business of...

Supreme Court Pulls Up Income Tax Dept For Launching Prosecution For Tax Evasion Without ITAT Confirmation, Imposes Rs 2 Lakh Cost

The Supreme Court on Thursday (Aug. 28) imposed Rs. 2 Lakhs cost on Income Tax Department for 'grossly abusing its position' to continue a prosecution against an assessee alleging willful tax evasion.The bench comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi set aside the Madras High Court's decision, which refused to quash the prosecution case initiated by the department. The Court criticized the department's action of launching the prosecution against the assessee in contrast to its own...

Wedding Gifts Can't Be Automatically Treated As 'Unexplained Income' Without Evidence: ITAT

The Ahmedabad Bench of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has stated that wedding gifts can't be automatically treated as unexplained income without evidence. Dr. BRR Kumar (Vice President) and Siddhartha Nautiyal (Judicial Member) stated that the fact that marriage gifts were received prior to the date of marriage itself could not lead to the conclusion that the same are not genuine, when a complete lists of persons from whom the gifts were received was duly submitted during the...

Property Transfer Between Spouses Without Actual Consideration Not Taxable As Capital Gains: ITAT

The New Delhi Bench of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has stated that property transfer between spouses without actual consideration is not taxable as capital gains. S. Rifaur Rahman (Accountant Member) and Anubhav Sharma (Judicial Member) were dealing with the issue arises out of addition of Rs. 1,40,00,000/-, being consideration amount mentioned in conveyance deed, executed by late Sunil Kumar, as received, from his wife Bimila Devi, who was alleged purchaser. The ...

S.263 Income Tax Act | Commissioner Cannot Revise Assessment Merely Because Detailed Reasoning Was Not Given: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court stated that the Income Tax commissioner cannot revise an assessment merely because detailed reasoning was not given in the order. Section 263 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, empowers the Commissioner of Income Tax to revise any order passed under the Income-tax Act, 1961, “the Act” which is erroneous insofar as it is prejudicial to the interest of the revenue. Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice Sunder Mohan stated that, "an order cannot be...

Income Tax Act | Rebate U/S 87A Available On Short-Term Capital Gains U/S 111A Under New Regime: ITAT

The Ahmedabad Bench of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has stated that rebate under section 87A available on short-term capital gains under section 111A under new regime. Suchitra R. Kamble (Judicial Member) and Makarand V. Mahadeokar (Accountant Member) stated that on a plain reading of the statutory provisions, there exists no express bar either in section 87A or section 111A for denial of rebate in respect of tax payable on short-term capital gains arising from transfer of...

Income Tax | Sale Proceeds Of Vintage Cars Taxable Unless Assessee Proves That Car Was Used As Personal Asset: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court held that sale proceeds of vintage car taxable unless the assessee proves that the car was used as a personal asset. Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep V. Marne stated that the capability of a car for personal use would not ipso facto lead to automatic presumption that every car would be personal effects for being excluded from capital assets of the Assessee. In this case, the Assessee had purchased a vintage car for a consideration of Rs.20,000/-....