Open Terrace/Portico Excluded While Computing Built-Up Area To Determine Eligibility For Deduction U/S 80-IB Of IT Act: Telangana High Court

The Telangana High Court stated that open terrace/portico excluded while computing build-up area for determining eligibility for deduction under section 80-IB of Income Tax Act. The Bench consists of Justices P. Sam Koshy and Narsing Rao Nandikonda was addressing the issue of whether the terrace / balcony that is in the form of open to sky or portico / porch area without walls could be added while computing the built-up area for the purpose of determining the eligibility for deduction...

Disallowance U/S 143(1)(a) Of Income Tax Act Inapplicable When Issue Involved Is Pending Before Supreme Court: Chhattisgarh High Court

The Chhattisgarh High Court has held that an Assessing Officer (AO) cannot apply Section 143(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (the 1961 Act), to disallow a claim where the issue involved, such as the deductibility of employees' contributions to EPF/ESI under Section 36(1)(va), was pending consideration before the Supreme Court in Checkmate Services Pvt. Ltd. v. CIT [(2023) 6 SCC 451].In this regard, a Division Bench of Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal and Justice Deepak Kumar Tiwari held,“…we are of...

Indo-Swiss DTAA | Period Of Reference Can't Be Excluded From Limitation U/S 153B Income Tax Act If Reference Is Invalid: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has made it clear that Clause (ix) of the Explanation to Section 153B of the Income Tax Act 1961 cannot be invoked to exclude the period of reference under the Indo-Swiss DTAA, if the reference itself is invalid.A division bench of Justices Vibhu Bakhru and Tejas Karia observed,“On a plain reading of Clause (ix) of the Explanation to Section 153B of the Act, the exclusion of time taken for obtaining the information (or one year) for completion of the assessment under Section...

Income Tax Act Doesn't Contemplate Hiatus Between Handing Over & Receipt Of Documents By AO Of Non-Searched Entity: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court made it clear that Section 153C of the Income Tax Act, 1961 “does not contemplate a hiatus” between handing over and receipt of information or documents pertaining to a non-searched entity.For context, Section 153C allows the Revenue department to proceed against a party other than the person who is being searched, if incriminating articles belonging to the other person are found during the search.In terms of proviso to Section 153C, the date of search for non-searched...

Income Tax Act | Bona Fide Belief With Genuineness Of Transaction Constitutes Reasonable Cause U/S 273B; No Penalty Imposable U/S 271E: Chhattisgarh HC

The Chhattisgarh High Court held that bona fide belief coupled with genuineness of transactions constitutes a reasonable cause under section 273B of the Income Tax Act for not invoking Section 271E of the Act. The Division Bench of Justices Sanjay K. Agrawal and Deepak Kumar Tiwari referring to Section 273B of the Income Tax Act stated that the word 'reasonable cause' has not been defined in the Income Tax Act, 1961. Therefore, in the context of the penalty provisions, the words...

Charges Paid For Bandwidth To Overseas Telecom Operators Not Royalty U/S 9(1)(vi) Of Income Tax Act: Delhi HC Rejects Plea Against Airtel

The Delhi High Court has dismissed an appeal preferred by the Income Tax Department claiming that Bharti Airtel should have deducted TDS on payments made to overseas telecom service providers for bandwidth services.A division bench of Justices Vibhu Bakhru and Tejas Karia relied on CIT v. Telstra Singapore Pte. Ltd. (2024) the High Court had held that where those availing services provided by a foreign telecom company were not accorded a right over the technology, infrastructure or any...

Jharkhand HC Quashes ITAT Relief To Assessee For Relying On Overruled Precedent In TDS Default Case, Remands Matter For Fresh Adjudication

The Jharkhand High Court has quashed an order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Circuit Bench, Ranchi, after finding that it was solely based on a precedent that had been overruled by the Supreme Court. The Tribunal had earlier deleted the entire addition made by the Assessing Officer under Section 40(a)(ia) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, on the ground that the payments in question had already been made. The Division Bench comprising Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Rajesh Kumar...

S.10(26) IT Act | Gauhati HC Upholds Refund Of Income Tax Deducted From Scheduled Tribe Officer's Salary, Says He Was Entitled To Exemption

The Gauhati High Court has upheld a single-bench decision asking the Central government to refund the income tax deducted from the salary of a BSF Assistant Commandant belonging to the Scheduled Tribe community.A division bench of Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice N. Unni Krishnan Nair passed the direction in view of Section 10(26) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which prescribes tax exemption to members of recognised Scheduled Tribe communities posted in specified areas.It observed, “It...

Routing Of Funds Through Tax Havens Not Disclosed During Original Proceedings: Bombay HC Confirms Reassessment

Finding that the Petitioner had failed to disclose all material facts necessary for assessment of tax, the Bombay High Court ruled that the circuitous movement of funds through various companies located in tax havens had not been disclosed in the course of the original proceedings.The High Court therefore confirmed the reopening proceedings initiated against the petitioner.A division bench of Justice Jitendra Jain and Justice M.S Sonak observed that “if based on subsequent...

JCIT Not Empowered To Issue Sanction For Reassessment Under Proviso To S.151(1) Of Income Tax Act: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has held that sanction for initiation of reassessment action against an assessee under the proviso to Section 151(1) of the Income Tax Act 1961, cannot be issued by the Joint Commissioner of Income Tax.Section 151(1) contemplates issuance of sanction by JCIT for initiating reassessment action under Section 148 against an assessee who has already undergone scrutiny assessment.The proviso to Section 151(1) however adds that if the reassessment action is sought to be initiated...

Income Escapement | Value Determined At S.148A(d) Stage Relevant To Determine Threshold U/S 149 Of Income Tax Act: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has held that when determining whether a reassessment action meets the ₹50 lakh threshold prescribed under Section 149 of the Income Tax Act 1961, the value of income that allegedly escaped assessment as determined by the Assessing Officer at Section 148A(d) stage is relevant.A division bench of Justices Vibhu Bakhru and Tejas Karia clarified that the value alleged by the AO at Section 148A(b) stage, i.e. before considering the Assessee's stand, is not relevant for the...

Income Alleged To Have Escaped Assessment In Different Years Can't Be Consolidated To Meet ₹50 Lakh Threshold U/S 149 Of Income Tax Act: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has held that an Assessing Officer cannot add income that allegedly escaped assessment in different previous years, to meet the threshold of ₹50 lakh prescribed under Section 149(1)(b) of the Income Tax Act 1961 for initiating reassessment action after lapse of three years.The provision bars issuance of reassessment notice under section 148 if three years have elapsed from the end of the relevant assessment year. Sub-clause (b) thereof adds that reassessment can be initiated...