[S.151 IT Act] SC Judgment In Rajeev Bansal Doesn't Affirm Authority Of Joint Commissioner To Accord Approvals For Reassessment: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has held that the Supreme Court's decision in Union of India and Ors. vs. Rajeev Bansal (2024) did not affirm the authority of a Joint Commissioner to grant approval under Section 151 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for initiation of reassessment proceedings. The provision precludes the Assessing Officer from issuing notice for reassessment after the expiry of four years from the end of the relevant Assessment Year, unless the Principal Chief Commissioner or...

[S.115JB Income Tax Act] Delhi HC Rejects Dept's Appeals Against Tata Power's Joint Venture With Delhi Govt For Supply Of Electricity

The Delhi High Court has held that Section 115JB of the Income Tax Act, 1961, as it stood prior to its amendment by virtue of Finance Act, 2012, would be inapplicable to an electricity generation company. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma thus dismissed the Department's appeals against Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited, a joint venture of Tata Power with the Delhi government for purposes of power generation and distribution of ...

ITAT Cannot Decide On Grounds Not Addressed By Commissioner Of Income Tax (Appeals): Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court recently said aside an order passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, deciding grounds that did not arise from the impugned order passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals). A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela observed, “The Assessee's challenge to the addition of ₹4,30,00,000/- under Section 68 of the Act had remained unaddressed by the learned CIT(A) but had been affirmed by the learned ITAT, without...

S.149 IT Act | Additions Made During Reassessment Don't Validate Proceedings Initiated For Income Escapement Below ₹50 Lakh Threshold: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has held that the benchmark of minimum Rs. 50 lakh income escapement prescribed under Section 149 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 must be met at the very initiation of reassessment proceedings. A division bench of Justices Yashwant Varma and Dharmesh Sharma observed, “Additions ultimately made in the course of reassessment would not validate the initiation of proceedings if founded on income of INR 46,17,000/- having escaped assessment and thus evidently below the...

Absence Of Formal Communication U/S 148A Of Income Tax Act Not Fatal When Opportunity To Question Reassessment Had Been Provided: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court observed that absence of a formal notice under Section 148A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 was not fatal to reassessment proceedings initiated in the twilight zone when the inquiry provisions were introduced by the Finance Act, 2021. A division bench of Justices Yashwant Varma and Dharmesh Sharma noted that the Department had provided an opportunity to the petitioner-assessee to question the assumption of jurisdiction under Section 148, which was the “underlying...

[Income Tax] Allahabad HC To Examine Whether Proceedings U/S 148A(b) Initiated Prior To 01.09.2024 Would Be Saved After Enforcement Of The Finance (No.2) Act, 2024

The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has sought state response on the question of maintainability of proceedings under Section 148A(b) of the Income Tax Act initiated prior to 01.09.2024, if at all, would be saved after enforcement of the Finance (No.2) Act, 2024 w.e.f. 01.09.2024 especially in view of sub-Section- (4) of Section 152 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 which has been inserted by the said Finance (No.2) Act, 2024. Section 148A has been amended by the Act of 2024....

If Assessee Produces Accounts, AO Must Be Satisfied That Accommodation Entries Exist Before Proceeding U/S 148 Of Income Tax Act: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has held that an Assessing Officer is required to be satisfied that accommodation entries as alleged in show cause notice under Section 148A(b) of the Income Tax Act 1961 exist, particularly where the assessee produces its accounts. In doing so, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma heavily relied on its recent ruling in Sonansh Creations Pvt Ltd. v. Assistant Commissioner Of Income Tax And Anr. where it was held...

Compounding Of Offences Allowed Under IT Act, HC's Inherent Jurisdiction U/S 482 CrPC Cannot Be Invoked For Quashing: Orissa HC

The Orissa High Court has refused to entertain a petition filed for quashing the offence under Sections 276(B) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, stating that the Petitioner-accused should have sought compounding of the offence. Justice Sibo Sankar Mishra observed, “In the present regime, where the compounding of the offence is permissible, the jurisdiction of this Court under Section 482 Cr.P.C. may not be necessarily invoked by the petitioner. In that view of the matter, the petitioner...

Income Tax Act | Reassessment Notice To Merged Entity U/S 148A(d) Not Invalid Merely Because SCN Was Issued In Name Of Ceased Entity: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has made it clear that merely because notice under Section 148A(b) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is issued in the name of an amalgamating company which had ceased to exist, subsequent notice issued under Section 148A(d) in the name of merged entity cannot be declared invalid. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma held, “The nature of proceedings under Section 148A of the Act is to enable the AO to form an opinion...

AO Bound To Ascertain 'Correctness' Of Information Available Against Assessee, 'Decide' Whether It Is Sufficient To Reopen Assessment: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has turned down the contention that an Assessing Officer, at the stage of passing an order under Section 148A(d) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for initiation of reassessment proceedings, is not required to form any opinion as to the genuineness or veracity of the information available against an assessee. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed, “As is clear from the plain language of Section 148A(d) of the...

Delay In Issuing Requisition U/S 132A Of Income Tax Act Due To Investigation By Department Can Be Condoned: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has held that the delay in issuing requisition under Section 132A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, can be condoned if the same is explained by the Authority concerned. The provision contemplates powers to requisition books of account, etc. It stipulates that where a search has already been conducted by any authority under any other law, the Income Tax authority shall authorize the Assessing Officer to make requisition to that authority to deliver books of accounts and...

Income Tax Dept Can Invoke S.159 When Reassessment Notice Was Issued During Lifetime Of Deceased Assessee: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has held that Section 159 of the Income Tax Act can be invoked to proceed against the legal representative of an assessee, only in cases where the reassessment notice was issued to the assessee during his lifetime, not after. When a person dies, the provision makes his legal representative liable to pay any sum which the deceased would have been liable to pay if he had not died. Sub-section (2) thereof clearly stipulates that any proceeding taken against the...