Tax
Illegality Of Search Does Not Make Evidence Gathered Inadmissible In GST Fraud Cases: Karnataka High Court
The High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru has ruled that the legality of search and seizure proceedings does not, by itself, make the material collected during such proceedings inadmissible for initiating action under Section 74 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, so long as such material is relevant to the issues involved.Section 74 of the CGST Act covers cases of tax not paid, short-paid, erroneously refunded, or Input Tax Credit (ITC) wrongly availed due to fraud, wilful...
Gujarat High Court Grants Bail To Accused In ₹42 Crore GST ITC Fraud Case
The Gujarat High Court has granted regular bail to Keyur Dipakkumar Shah, accused of allegedly availing and passing on fraudulent input tax credit (ITC) of around Rs 42 crore under GST laws, noting that he has no criminal antecedents and faces a maximum sentence of five years. “Without discussing the evidence in detail, prima facie, this Court is of the opinion that this is a fit case to exercise the discretion and enlarge the applicant on regular bail,” Justice Nikhil S. Kariel said while...
CESTAT Mumbai Allows CENVAT Credit On GTA Services In FOR Contract, Holds Buyer's Premises As Place Of Removal
The Mumbai Bench of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has allowed CENVAT credit on Goods Transport Agency (GTA) services used for outward transportation, holding that where goods are supplied on FOR (Free on Road) destination basis, the buyer's premises can be treated as the “place of removal." A single-member coram comprising Judicial Member Ajay Sharma dealing with an appeal filed by Gnat Foundry Pvt. Ltd. challenging the denial of CENVAT credit on GTA services...
Gujarat High Court Quashes Reassessment Based On GST Proceedings Set Aside, Finds No Independent Material
The Gujarat High Court has quashed reassessment proceedings initiated against an individual taxpayer, holding that reopening of assessment was uncalled for where it was based on GST proceedings that had already been set aside by the appellate authority and where no independent material existed to indicate escapement of income. “Apart from this, there is no other material which is in possession of the respondent No.1, which could prove that there has been an escapement of income and hence the...
SBI Not In Default For Not Deducting TDS On Employees' LFC In View Of Madras HC Order: ITAT Ahmedabad
The Ahmedabad Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has held that State Bank of India (SBI) cannot be treated as an “assessee in default” for failure to deduct tax at source on Leave Fare Concession (LFC) payments made to its employees, where such non-deduction was in compliance with binding interim orders of a High Court. A coam of Judicial Member Siddhartha Nautiyal and Accountant Member Narendra Prasad Sinha observed that, during the relevant period, the bank was bound by interim orders of...
60% Tax On Unexplained Income Prospective From April 2017, Not Applicable To AY 2017–18: ITAT Ahmedabad
The Ahmedabad bench of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has dismissed the Department's appeal in a dispute over the applicable tax rate on unexplained income, holding that the enhanced 60% tax under Section 115BBE cannot be applied to Assessment Year 2017–18 and that such a change cannot be made through rectification under Section 154.Section 115BBE of the Income Tax Act, 1961, imposes a steep penal tax rate on unexplained income, such as cash credits, investments, or assets found during...
Circular Issued In Delhi Does Not Confer Jurisdiction: Delhi High Court Dismisses Plea On Goods Seized By Customs In Kolkata
The Delhi High Court has recently dismissed a writ petition filed by a steel importer challenging the detention of its goods, holding that the mere issuance of a circular or decision by an authority located in Delhi does not, by itself, confer territorial jurisdiction on the Court.A division bench of Justices Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Ajay Digpaul was dealing with a plea filed by a company engaged in the import of steel products, whose consignments had been detained at ports in Kolkata and...
Vardhman Textiles Cannot Claim Customs Duty Exemption As Bills Of Entry Were Filed Before Notification: CESTAT New Delhi
Ruling that a notification granting nil customs duty on cotton imports cannot be applied to Bills of Entry filed before it came into force, the New Delhi Bench of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has rejected Vardhman Textiles' claim for exemption.A coram comprising Judicial Member Binu Tamta and Technical Member Hemambika R. Priya dismissed the appeal filed by M/s Vardhman Textiles Ltd., affirming the order of the Commissioner (Appeals).The tribunal observed: ...
Delhi High Court Sets Aside ₹45 Lakh GST Demand Against HUF After Revenue Confirms ITC Reversal
The Delhi High Court has recently set aside a GST demand against a Hindu Undivided Family after revenue authorities confirmed before the Court that the disputed input tax credit had been reversed prior to the issuance of the show-cause notice.A Division Bench of Justices Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Ajay Digpaul was hearing a writ petition challenging orders that had disallowed ITC and raised a demand of over Rs 45 lakh for the financial year 2018–19.The demand stemmed from a show cause notice...
ITAT Mumbai Deletes ₹48.97 Lakh Tax Addition Against Zee Entertainment For Failing To Record Reasons
The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) at Mumbai has recently given relief to Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd by deleting a Rs 48.97 lakh tax addition under Section 14A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which deals with expenses linked to earning tax-free income. The Tribunal held that tax officers cannot recalculate such expenses without first clearly explaining why they disagree with the company's own calculation. A coram comprising Judicial Member Anikesh Banerjee and Accountant Member Arun...
Meghalaya High Court Strikes Down Excise Notification Cutting Liquor Retailers' Profit Margin From 20% to 15%
The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday struck down a state excise notification that reduced the maximum profit margin for liquor retailers from 20% to 15%, holding that the move unfairly burdened retailers while leaving other stakeholders unaffected, making it arbitrary and violative of Article 14.The court noted that while retailers' margins were reduced, other stakeholders such as Central Bonded Warehouses and Bonded Warehouses continued at existing margins. A coram comprising...