2020 (1) TMI 983 - AT - Income Tax

Assessing Officer's Transfer Order Deemed Invalid, Tribunal Rules in Favor of Assessee

The Tribunal held that the Assessing Officer's order transferring the case lacked compliance with section 127 of the Income Tax Act, rendering the ... Transfer u/s 127 - validity of Revision order u/s 263 - Assessment framed without having jurisdiction over the assessee - as per assessee case of the assessee was transferred from the jurisdiction of the ITO 12(1), Ahmedabad to Dy.CIT Circle 12, Ahmedabad to the present ITO 2(3), Ahmedabad (the A.O. for short) without following the procedure for the transfer of a case - whether the transfer of jurisdiction of the assessee in the light of the facts and circumstances described above, is within the provisions of law as specified under section 127? - HELD THAT:- Jurisdiction of the assessee from one AO to the other AO can be transferred by Director General, Principle Commissioner or Commissioner only after recording the reason and giving an opportunity of being heard to assessee in pursuance to the provisions specified under section 127 of the Act. However, we note that there was no compliance of the provision of section 127 of the Act for transferring the case of the assessee from ITO ward 12(1) to DCIT-Circle 12 and then further transfer to ITO ward 2(3) of the income tax office. On a question to the learned DR to ascertain whether there was any order passed by the competent income tax authorities under section 127 of the Act for transferring the case of the assessee from one AO to the AO. But he could not make any satisfactory reply. Therefore, we are of the view that the assessment order passed under section 143(3) of the Act dated 27 December 2007 by the DCIT-Circle 12 and consequential assessment order under section 143(3) read with section 263 of the Act dated 7 December 2010 by the AO of ward 2(3) is invalid as such income authorities never had jurisdiction over the assessee in the manner provided under section 127 of the Act. Thus both the orders are liable to be quashed. See AJANTHA INDUSTRIES AND OTHERS VERSUS CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES AND OTHERS [1975 (12) TMI 1 - SUPREME COURT] Order passed by the AO as discussed above is not sustainable in the eyes of law. Accordingly, any addition made to the total income of the assessee in such order cannot be upheld - Decided in favour of assessee. Issues involved:Jurisdictional transfer of case between Assessing Officers under section 127 of the Income Tax Act, 1961.Issue 1: Jurisdictional transfer of case between Assessing OfficersAnalysis:The appeal was filed against the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) by the Assessee concerning the assessment order passed under section 143(3) read with section 263 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for the Assessment Year 2005-06. The Assessee contended that the Assessing Officer (AO) of Ward 2(3) had no jurisdiction to pass the assessment order for the Appellant. The Appellant argued that the case was transferred from the jurisdiction of ITO 12(1) to Dy.CIT Circle 12 to the present ITO 2(3) without following the prescribed procedure under section 127 of the Act. The Appellant relied on judgments of the Supreme Court and High Court to support this contention. On the other hand, the Respondent supported the order of the authorities below, stating that the case was transferred within the permissible jurisdiction. The Tribunal noted that there was no compliance with the provisions of section 127 of the Act for transferring the case of the Assessee between the Assessing Officers. As there was no order passed by the competent income tax authorities under section 127, the assessment orders were deemed invalid, and the income authorities lacked jurisdiction over the Assessee. Citing a Supreme Court judgment, the Tribunal held that the order passed by the AO was not sustainable in the eyes of the law, and any additions made to the total income of the Assessee in such order could not be upheld. Consequently, the Assessee succeeded on technical grounds, and the Tribunal allowed the appeal on this basis without adjudicating the issue on merit.This detailed analysis of the judgment addresses the issues involved in the case concerning the jurisdictional transfer of the case between Assessing Officers under section 127 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Tribunal's decision highlights the importance of complying with the prescribed procedures for transferring cases between Assessing Officers to ensure jurisdictional validity and fairness in assessments.