Income Tax Commissioners Must Not Routinely Remand Matters Just Because Assessing Officer Could Not Find Additions: Supreme Court

If the Assessing Officer could not find additions to income, then it can be taken that the assessee's stand was correct.

Courts & SROs Must Report To Income Tax Authorities If Suits/Deeds Mention Cash Transactions Above ₹2 Lakh: Supreme Court

In a significant ruling aimed at combating black money and tax evasion, the Supreme Court today (April 16) directed courts and registration authorities to report cash transactions exceeding ₹2 lakhs to the Income Tax Department. The Court ruled that whenever any suit is filed claiming that a consideration of Rs. 2 Lacs or above is paid towards a transaction, then it becomes obligatory upon the Court to intimate the jurisdictional Income Tax Department for verification whether there's a...

Charitable Trust's Registration For Income Tax Exemption To Be Decided Based On Proposed Activities & Not Actual Activities : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court reiterated that when a charitable trust applies under Section 12-AA of the Income Tax Act (“Act”) for income tax exemptions (under Sections 10 and 11), the tax authorities should decide on the registration based on the charity's "proposed activities" than its actual activities, as stated in the Ananda Social case. The Court, however, clarified that mere registration under Section 12-AA would not entitle a charitable trust to claim exemption under Sections 10 and 11...

Income Tax Act | No Penalty Under S.271AAA If Undisclosed Income Is Admitted, Explained & Tax Paid Even With Delay : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court, while determining a tax matter, observed that the undisclosed income, under Section 271AAA(1) of the Income Tax Act, surrendered by the assessee during the search, is not sufficient to levy the penalty. Essentially, the said provision talks about penalty where a search has been initiated. The explanation reads as: “(a) “Undisclosed income” means— (i) any income of the specified previous year represented, either wholly or partly, by any money, bullion, jewellery or...

Income Tax Act | Offence Committed Before Show-Cause Notice Compoundable As Covered By 'First Offence' In Compounding Guidelines: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on January 7 set aside the Gujarat High Court's judgment dated March 21, 2017, through which the rejection to the compounding application of the Appellant for the assessment year 2013-2014, for having filed the belated income tax return, was upheld on the ground that only for the "first offence" compounding of offence is possible. Since the Appellant had filed delayed income tax for 2011-2012 and his compounding application was accepted, it now cannot be accepted.However,...

Reduction In Share Capital Amounts To Transfer Of Capital Asset Under Income Tax Act : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court (recently on January 02) reiterated that reduction in share capital is covered under Section 2(47) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which talks about transfer of a capital asset. It explained that such reduction would be come under the expression “sale, exchange or relinquishment of the asset” used in the provision.For reference, the concerned portion of Section 2(47) reads as:“transfer' in relation to a capital asset, includes, (i) the sale, exchange or relinquishment of the...

Explained| Why Supreme Court Allowed Benefit Of TOLA In Extending Timelimits For Issuing Income Tax Reassessment Notices

The Supreme Court in its recent decision allowed the revenue authorities to issue notices for reassessment under the Income Tax Act for the period between 01.04.2021 and 30.06.2021 by granting the benefit of time extensions under Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions Act) (TOLA) 2021. Here is a detailed breakdown of the key issue involved and the analysis of the Court in allowing a batch of 727 appeals filed by the Income Tax Department against the various...

TOLA Extends Income Tax Reasssment Timelimit; Notices Can Be Issued After 2021 Under Old Regime : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Thursday (October 3) set aside the judgments of the High Courts which held that the Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions Act) (TOLA) 2021 will not extend the time limit for issuing notices for re-assessment under the Income Tax Act.A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra delivered the judgment allowing a batch of 727 appeals filed by the Income Tax Department against the various orders...

'Technological Impediment Can't Be A Reason To Harass Assessee' : Supreme Court Asks Income Tax Dept, CBDT To Resolve Software Issues

Technological impediment cannot be a reason to harass an assessee, said the Supreme Court while asking the Income Tax Department to upgrade its software to ensure that mistakes do not occur in the future.The Court directed that the Central Board for Direct Taxes should also take necessary steps for rectifying the software.A bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Sandeep Mehta was hearing an appeal filed by an assessee questioning the imposition of surcharge on Rs. 1.57 Crores and demanding...

Income Tax Act | Supreme Court Refuses To Give Retrospective Application To 2022 Amendment To S.80DD Regarding 'Jeevan Adhar' Policies

In a recent case, the Supreme Court refused to give the retrospective operation to the amended Section 80DD of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (“IT Act”) which provided an option to the subscriber the Jeevan Adhar Policy (“Policy”) upon attaining the age of 60 years to discontinue the deposit made under the policy and make use of the money accumulated for the benefit of the disabled person for whom the policy was purchased. It is worthwhile to mention that before amended Section 80DD of the IT Act,...

Interest-Free/Concessional Loans To Bank Employees Taxable As Perquisite : Supreme Court Upholds Rule 3(7)(I) Of Income Tax Rules

The employer's grant of interest-free loans or loans at a concessional rate will certainly qualify as a 'fringe benefit' and 'perquisite", the Court said.

TDS Under S.194-H Income Tax Act Won't Apply To Business Transactions Where Assessee Is Not Responsible For Paying Income : Supreme Court

In a significant development, the Supreme Court recently held that under Section 194-H of the Income Tax Act, 1961, cellular mobile service providers are not liable to deduct tax at source on income/profit component in payments received by their franchisees/distributors from third parties/customers. “…we hold that the assessees would not be under a legal obligation to deduct tax at source on the income/profit component in the payments received by the distributors/franchisees from the...