S. 148 Income Tax Act | Reassessment Based On Mere Change Of Opinion Without Concrete Evidence Not Justified: Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court has reiterated that reopening of income tax assessment under Section 148 of Income Tax Act based on mere change of opinion without concrete material is not justified, when the return has been threadbare examined during initial assessment and approved without failure of disclosure.It noted that as per the AO's own findings he was unsure about the actual escaped income which he had said will be finalized only on completion of proceedings, which the court termed as "vague...

Serious Medical Condition Preventing Assessee From Timely Filing ITR Is 'Genuine Hardship' For Delay Condonation: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court recently condoned the delay by an assessee in filing his Income Tax Return, citing his health condition as 'genuine hardship' under Section 119(2)(b) of the Income Tax Act 1961.A division bench of Justices V. Kameswar Rao and Vinod Kumar observed, “petitioner has highlighted the medical reasons, which prevented him from filing the ITR timely. The medical condition do indicate seriousness, which required surgery for cervical OPLL. Presumption can surely be drawn that the...

Assessment Order Passed Without Awaiting DVD Report Violates S. 50C(2) Income Tax Act: ITAT Ahmedabad

The Ahmedabad Bench of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has held that an assessment order passed without awaiting the DVD (Departmental Valuation Officer) report violates Section 50C(2) of the Income Tax Act.Section 50C(2) of the Income Tax Act provides a mechanism for a taxpayer (seller) to dispute the stamp duty valuation of their immovable property if they believe it is higher than the actual fair market value (FMV)Sanjay Garg (Judicial Member) and Makarand V. Mahadeokar (Accountant...

S. 153C Income Tax Act | Public Info, Unrelated Data Seized From Searched Person Not Enough To Issue Show Cause Notice: Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court has observed that information available in public domain or any unrelated information seized from the searched person without a connection to the assessee is not enough to be the basis of issuing a show cause notice under Section 153C of the Income Tax Act. The court was hearing a plea challenging notice dated 13.10.2021 by the Assessing Officer (AO) for the Assessment Years (AY) 2014-15 to 2020-21 issued to the petitioner.A search under Section 132 of the Act was...

Income Tax Act | S. 153C Proceedings Unsustainable Without Incriminating Material Found In Search: Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court has held that proceedings under Section 153C of the Income Tax Act cannot be initiated unless incriminating material relating to the assessee is found during a search and both the assessing officers (the Assessing Officer of the searched person as well as the Assessing Officer of the person other than the searched person) record the necessary satisfaction.Section 153C of the Income Tax Act contains a special provision relating to the assessment of 'other person', pursuant...

Revisional Power U/S 263 Income Tax Act Cannot Be Upheld By Tribunal On Grounds Not Taken By Commissioner: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that a tribunal cannot travel beyond the grounds not cited by the commissioner while exercising jurisdiction under Section 263 Income Tax Act.Justices A. Muhamed Mustaque and Harisankar V. Menon stated that only one reason was highlighted by the Commissioner for exercising the power under Section 263 of the Act and the Tribunal having found the said reason as not a valid one, the Tribunal should have stopped there rather than making further observations as regards...

Income Tax Act | Payment For IPLC Services Not 'Royalty' U/S 9; Assessee Entitled To Deduction U/S 40(a)(i): Madras High Court

The Madras High Court has held that payment for IPLC (International Private Leased Circuits) Services does not constitute 'royalty' under Section 9 of the Income Tax Act, and that the assessee is entitled to a deduction under Section 40(a)(i) of the Income Tax Act. Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice Sunder Mohan examined whether the payment made by the assessee for IPLC services constitutes 'royalty' under Section 9 of the Income Tax Act, and whether the assessee is...

Income Tax Act | Refund Can't Be Withheld U/S 245 Unless Department Establishes Tax Liability: Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court stated that the Income Tax Department cannot withhold a refund under Section 245 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, unless it establishes tax liability. The Bench of Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury observed that it is true that Section 245 of the said Act authorises the Income Tax Department to set off a refund against remaining tax payable. Unfortunately, in this case, the respondent has not been able to demonstrate that any amount is payable or is due from the...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Directs CBDT To Issue Circular Extending ITR Due Date For Audit Cases To 30.11.2025 For A.Y. 2025-26

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) to issue a circular extending the ITR (Income Tax Return) due date for audit cases to 30.11.2025 for the Assessment Year 2025-2026. Justices Lisa Gill and Meenakshi I. Mehta were addressing a petition filed by the assessee/petitioner seeking a direction to the Central Board of Direct Taxes to extend the due date for filing of tax audit reports for a reasonable period from 30.09.2025 and,...

Income Tax Act | Mechanical 'Rubber-Stamp' Approval U/S 153D Vitiates Entire Search Assessment: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court has held that prior approval under Section 153D of the Income Tax Act is not a mere technical or procedural formality, and that mechanical, en masse sanction without application of mind vitiates the entire assessment under Section 153A. A Division Bench of Justice M.S. Sonak and Justice Advait M. Sethna, while deciding a batch of over 60 Income Tax Appeals filed by the Revenue led by Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax Central 4, dismissed the appeals at the admission...

Income Tax Act | SBI Not 'Assessee In Default' U/S 201 For Not Deducting TDS While Obeying Court's Interim Order: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that the State Bank of India (SBI) cannot be treated as an 'assessee in default' under Section 201 of the Income Tax Act for not deducting Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on Leave Travel Concession (LTC) payments, as it was bound by an interim order which prohibited such deduction. Justices A. Muhamed Mustaque and Harisankar V. Menon examined whether the SBI, having been restrained by an interim order of the High Court from deducting TDS, could be held to be...

'Frivolous Cases Waste Judicial Time' : Supreme Court Raps Income Tax Dept For Filing SLP On Settled Issue

The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up the Income Tax Department for filing yet another Special Leave Petition (SLP) in a matter already settled by the Court, calling it a frivolous exercise that contributes to mounting pendency.A Bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R Mahadevan was hearing an SLP challenging a Karnataka High Court order on tax deduction at source (TDS) liability, an issue the Supreme Court had already decided last year in a case involving Vodafone Idea, holding that...