2010 (12) TMI 640 - HC - Income Tax

Court affirms income estimation based on sales, dismisses appeal due to lack of verifiable rates.

The Court upheld the Tribunal's decision to estimate income at 5% of sales, dismissing the appeal due to the lack of verifiable sales to sister concerns ... Addition - Estimation of net profit - The Tribunal while partly allowing the appeal of the revenue had held that the net profit rate as per books of accounts of the assessee worked out to 0.34% on sales of Rs.58.50 lacs and the books of accounts had rightly been rejected. - Held that: - e assessee was unable to point out any illegality or perversity either in the findings recorded or in the approach of the Tribunal in adopting net profit rate of 5% of the sales made in the facts of the present case, which may warrant interference by this Court. - Appeal dismissed. Issues:1. Determination of net profit rate estimation based on fresh and new base never pleaded by the litigants.Analysis:The case involved the determination of the net profit rate estimation by the Tribunal based on a new base never pleaded by the litigants. The appellant, engaged in the business of purchasing yarn and selling it to wholesalers, filed a return for the assessment year 1989-90. The Assessing Officer rejected the book results, making additions and disallowances. The CIT (A) deleted the additions, but the Tribunal set aside the order, directing a fresh assessment. The Assessing Officer maintained the additions in the fresh assessment order. The CIT (A) later deleted the additions, but the Tribunal partly accepted the revenue's appeal, leading to the present appeal by the assessee.The Tribunal, while partly allowing the revenue's appeal, calculated the net profit rate at 0.34% on sales of Rs.58.50 lacs, rejecting the books of accounts. Due to the failure to produce supporting documents for sales to sister concerns at market rates, the Tribunal estimated income at 5% of sales. The Tribunal found the application of a 17.77% G.P. rate arbitrary, considering it was the first year of business. The Tribunal concluded that estimating income at 5% was fair and reasonable, setting aside the CIT (A) order. The assessee's counsel failed to demonstrate any illegality or perversity in the Tribunal's approach, leading the Court to dismiss the appeal.In conclusion, the Court upheld the Tribunal's decision to estimate income at 5% of sales due to the lack of verifiable sales to sister concerns at market rates and the arbitrary nature of the original G.P. rate. The Court found no grounds for interference with the Tribunal's decision, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal.