Property Tax Can't Be Levied Without Following Statutory Assessment Procedure U/S 233 Of Kerala Municipality Act: High Court

The Kerala High Court stated that property tax can't be levied without following statutory assessment procedure under Section 233 of Kerala Municipality Act, 1994. Section 233 of the Kerala Municipality Act, 1994, deals with the levy of property tax by the Municipality on buildings and lands within its area. This section outlines the process of assessment and collection of property tax, specifying that it should be levied in accordance with the Act and prescribed rules. Justices ...

Customs Act | Adjudicating Authority Can't Decline Refund Of Excess Duty In Presence Of CA's Certificate: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has made it clear that the Customs authority cannot, in absence of some evidence, decline refund of excess duty paid by a trader when the latter furnishes certificates from a qualified chartered accountant in support of its case.A division bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta thus dismissed the Department's appeal against Nokia.Nokia sought refund of excess duty paid on import of mobile handsets. While the goods were exempted by the Central government...

Tax Weekly Round-Up: July 07 - July 13, 2025

HIGH COURTSAllahabad HCMere Absence Of Activity At Principal Place Of Business Doesn't Mean Invoices Issued To Assessee Are Fake: Allahabad High CourtCase Title: S.S. Enterprises v. State of U.P. and AnotherCase no.: WRIT TAX No. - 3026 of 2025The Allahabad High Court has held that merely because there was no activity at the principal place of business of the assessee, it cannot be presumed that the invoices issued in favour of such assessee are fake.Petitioner approached the High Court seeking...

Anti-Dumping Duty Paid By Mistake In Self-Assessment Has No Legal Character Of 'Duty', Must Be Refunded: CESTAT

The New Delhi Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has stated that anti-dumping duty paid by mistake in self-assessment has no legal character of 'duty' and must be refunded. Dr. Rachna Gupta (Judicial Member) stated that the assessee had added the amount of Anti-dumping duty while self-assessing the customs duty liability. Hence the Anti-dumping duty added to the amount of duty while self-assessing the Bill of Entry cannot take the character of duty. ...

Indirect Tax Half-Yearly Digest: January - June, 2025

SUPREME COURTSupreme Court Sets Aside Excise Duty Demand On Oil Marketing Companies For Inter-Supply Of Petroleum ProductsCase Title: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. versus Commissioner of Central Excise Nashik Commissionerate (and connected matters)Case no.: CIVIL APPEAL NO. 5642 OF 2009In a significant relief for Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), the Supreme Court ruled (Jan. 20) that prices under the MoU for inter-supply of petroleum products, designed to ensure smooth nationwide...

S.148 Income Tax Notice Issued After 31.03.2021 Under Old Regime Invalid Despite TOLA Extension: ITAT

The Chennai Bench of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has held that S.148 Income Tax notice issued after 31.03.2021 under old regime invalid despite TOLA [Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation of Certain Provisions) Ordinance, 2020] extension. Section 148 of Income Tax Act, 1961 empowers the Income Tax Department to reopen assessments if there's reason to suspect inaccurate income reporting. George George K. (Vice President) and S.R. Raghunatha (Accountant Member) observed that...

Mere Absence Of Activity At Principal Place Of Business Doesn't Mean Invoices Issued To Assessee Are Fake: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that merely because there was no activity at the principal place of business of the assessee, it cannot be presumed that the invoices issued in favour of such assessee are fake. Petitioner approached the High Court seeking quashing of the penalty order under Section 129(3) of the CGST Act and seeking release of the goods confiscated under Section 129(1)(a) by the Assistant Commissioner Commercial Tax Mobile Unit Khataul, Muzaffarnagar. Petitioner...

Customs | Counter Vailing Duty Not Applicable On Import Of Pan Masala Processing Machines: CESTAT

The New Delhi Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has stated that Counter Vailing Duty (CVD) is not applicable on import of pan masala processing machines. Dr. Rachna Gupta (Judicial Member) and P.V. Subba Rao (Technical Member) stated that the assessee is the manufacture of the PanMasala and has imported the machines for cutting / grinding / sorting of Areca Nuts (Supari/seed), the raw material of the Pan Masala. From the description of the three of...

Direct Tax Half Yearly Digest: January - June, 2025

SUPREME COURTMotor Accident Claims - Tax Returns Can Be Accepted To Determine Income Only If They Are Appropriately Produced : Supreme CourtCase name: New India Assurance Co. Ltd. V. Sonigra Juhi Uttamchand.Case no.: SLP (C) No. 30491 of 2018The Supreme Court, recently (on January 02), while deciding a motor accident compensation claim case, observed that monthly income could be fixed after taking into account the tax returns. However, the details of tax payment must be properly brought into...

No Service Tax On Target-Based Discounts From Maruti Suzuki To Dealers: CESTAT

The New Delhi Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has stated that no service tax on target-based discounts from Maruti Suzuki to dealers. Dr. Rachna Gupta (Judicial) and P.V. Subba Rao (Technical Member) stated that the incentives/ discounts received by the dealers of car manufacturer were not taxable under Auxiliary Service (BAS), as they were the part of a business transaction on a principle-to-principle basis. M/s. Vipul Motors Pvt Ltd. being an...

No CENVAT Credit On Note Sheets And Sanction Orders; Valid Documents With Mandatory Details Required: CESTAT

The New Delhi Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has stated that CENVAT Credit can't be claimed on note sheets and sanction orders and required valid documents with mandatory details. Dr. Rachna Gupta (Judicial Member) and P.V. Subba Rao (Technical Member) stated that it is not open to the assessee to take CENVAT credit on the basis of note sheets or sanction orders or invoices which do not have the essential details. The assessee could take CENVAT...

GST Order Can't Be A Copy-Paste Of Showcause Notice, Independent Reasoning Must Be Present: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court held that a GST order can't be a copy-paste of the show cause notice and that independent reasoning must be present. Justices M.S. Sonak and Jitendra Jain stated that “simply cutting and pasting the allegations in the show cause notice or mechanically reciting them verbatim does not inspire confidence that due consideration has been shown to the cause, and the decision is made after its due consideration. Ultimately, these are aspects of natural justice principles...