2014 (7) TMI 383 - AT - Income Tax

Tribunal Upholds Brokerage Fees Decision, Emphasizes Reasonableness

The Tribunal upheld the First Appeal Authority's decision to allow the full brokerage fees claimed by the assessee, emphasizing the reasonableness of the ... Computation of LTCG - Deduction from sale consideration - Brokerage fees paid to M/s Megha Developers (MD) – Held that:- The assessee had claimed expenditure with regard to the sale of a plot of a land, that she made payment to MD - though the AO mentions of local inquiry conducted about the property sold and the distance between the two properties i. e. Shiv Mahal and the plot of land, yet he has not disclosed the source of such inquires - the FAA has given a undisputable finding that only one property was sold during the year under appeal - he had access to a map of the land sold - a glance at the sale deed clearly show that the transaction was about a plot of land and about the property called Shiv Mahal - the stand taken by the AO about sale of two properties is totally baseless. The FAA has analysed the issue in proper prospective - Factors like assessee’s stay in Mumbai, on-going litigation about the property, rendering of services at Baroda by MD, were considered by him before allowing the appeal filed by the assessee - MD had rendered various services to the assessee from identifying customers to settling the deal and getting the documents registered - MD is not a related party to the assessee and the genuineness of the transaction - if the assessee had incurred expenditure @ 4% for paying fees to a professional entity, then there was no justification in partly disallowing it - FAA had rightly allowed the appeal of the assessee – Decided against Assessee. Issues:1. Disallowance of brokerage fees paid to M/s Megha Developers.2. Dispute over the existence of two properties and the reasonableness of expenditure.3. Adequacy of reasoning in the assessment order and the First Appeal Authority's decision.Issue 1: Disallowance of Brokerage Fees:The appellant challenged the CIT(A)'s decision to delete the disallowance of brokerage fees paid to M/s Megha Developers. The Assessing Officer (AO) disallowed a portion of the brokerage fees claimed by the assessee for the sale of a property, considering it excessive and unreasonable. The AO found discrepancies in the details provided by the assessee and concluded that the expenditure was not wholly and exclusively related to the property transfer. The AO allowed only a portion of the claimed fees, leading to the appeal. The First Appeal Authority (FAA) overturned the AO's decision, stating that the charges were for services related to a single property sale, not two properties as alleged by the AO. The FAA considered the genuineness of the payment, the services rendered by M/s Megha Developers, and the circumstances of the transaction. The FAA directed the AO to allow the full expenditure, emphasizing the reasonableness of the payment in relation to the services provided.Issue 2: Existence of Two Properties and Reasonableness of Expenditure:The dispute regarding the existence of two properties arose from the AO's assertion that the property sold and the Shiv Mahal Palace were separate entities, leading to the disallowance of a significant portion of the brokerage fees. However, the FAA found that only one property was sold, supported by evidence such as a map of the land sold. The Tribunal criticized the AO for not disclosing the sources of local inquiries and for not providing the assessee with an opportunity to address the allegations. The Tribunal deemed the AO's decision baseless and upheld the FAA's finding that only one property was involved in the transaction. Regarding the reasonableness of the expenditure, the Tribunal noted that the AO failed to provide adequate reasoning for deeming the fees excessive. The Tribunal emphasized the importance of justifying disallowances to avoid arbitrary decisions and unjust tax liabilities. The FAA's analysis, considering factors like the assessee's location, ongoing litigation, and services provided by M/s Megha Developers, was deemed appropriate. The Tribunal upheld the FAA's decision to allow the full expenditure, citing the genuineness of the transaction and the services rendered.Issue 3: Adequacy of Reasoning in Assessment Order and FAA's Decision:The Tribunal highlighted the necessity for AO's to provide detailed reasoning in their orders to justify conclusions and avoid arbitrary decisions. It criticized the AO for not justifying the disallowance of the expenditure adequately, emphasizing the importance of fair and unbiased assessments. In contrast, the FAA's decision was commended for considering various factors, including the nature of services provided, the location of the assessee, and the genuineness of the transaction. The Tribunal supported the FAA's decision to allow the full expenditure, concluding that the AO's approach lacked justification and fairness. Ultimately, the Tribunal dismissed the AO's appeal, affirming the FAA's decision to allow the full brokerage fees claimed by the assessee.---