Tribunal upholds PCIT decision setting aside AO's order due to cash deposit during demonetization (3)

The Tribunal upheld the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax's decision to set aside the Assessing Officer's order under section 143(3) due to accepting a large cash deposit during demonetization. The Tribunal found the AO's failure to investigate the cash deposit issue rendered the order erroneous, justifying the PCIT's invocation of section 263. The appeal was rejected, affirming the PCIT's stance that the AO's acceptance of the cash deposit without taxation was prejudicial to the Revenue's interest.

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Issues: Delay in filing appeal, Validity of order u/s 263 of the I.T. Act, Cash deposit during demonetization period.

Delay in filing appeal: The appeal was filed with a delay of 277 days, and the assessee submitted a condonation application with reasons for the delay. The delay was condoned after considering the contents of the application and hearing the learned DR.

Validity of order u/s 263 of the I.T. Act: The order u/s 263 was passed by the learned PCIT setting aside the Assessing Officer's order u/s 143(3) due to the acceptance of a large cash deposit during demonetization. The PCIT held that the AO's acceptance of the cash deposit without taxing it was erroneous and prejudicial to the Revenue's interest.

Cash deposit during demonetization period: The assessee deposited Rs. 39,74,500 in demonetized currency, which was accepted from private hospitals. The PCIT found this acceptance to be in violation of demonetization provisions and issued a notice u/s 263. The assessee argued that the cash was accepted due to prevailing circumstances and requested to drop the proceedings.

Judgment: The Tribunal upheld the PCIT's decision, stating that the AO failed to investigate the cash deposit issue, rendering the order u/s 143(3) erroneous. The Tribunal found the PCIT's invocation of section 263 justified, as there was no enquiry into the significant cash deposit during demonetization. The grounds raised by the assessee were dismissed, and the appeal was ultimately rejected.

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