2024 (1) TMI 205 - AT - Income Tax

Reassessment u/s 147 valid on Investigation Wing information but additions u/s 68 deleted for lack of cogent evidence beyond suspicions

Barcelona Mercantile Company Pvt. Ltd. Versus Income Tax Officer Ward–12 (1) (3), Mumbai

Barcelona Mercantile Company Pvt. Ltd. Versus Income Tax Officer Ward–12 (1) (3), Mumbai - TMI Issues Involved:1. Reopening of the assessment under Section 148.2. Reliance on the decision of DCIT v. M/s Leena Power Tech Engineers Pvt Ltd.3. Non-consideration of the decision in ITO v. M/s Super Gold Properties Ltd.4. Addition of Rs. 1,50,00,000 under Section 68.5. Treating Minaxi Suppliers Pvt Ltd as a shell company.6. Proving the source of the source of the amount received under Section 68.7. Consideration of the joint venture agreement with Minaxi Suppliers Pvt Ltd.8. Leave to amend grounds of appeal.Summary:1. Reopening of the Assessment under Section 148:The Tribunal upheld the reopening of the assessment under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, based on new and tangible material received from the Investigation Wing, Kolkata. The information indicated that the assessee was a beneficiary of circuitous transactions involving unaccounted money. The Tribunal cited the Supreme Court's decision in ACIT v. Rajesh Jhaveri Stock Brokers (P.) Ltd, affirming that the sufficiency or correctness of the material is not a concern at the stage of recording the reasons for reopening.2. Reliance on the Decision of DCIT v. M/s Leena Power Tech Engineers Pvt Ltd:The learned CIT(A) relied on the decision in DCIT v. M/s Leena Power Tech Engineers Pvt Ltd to uphold the addition of Rs. 1.50 crore under Section 68. However, the Tribunal found that the facts of the present case differed significantly from those in the Leena Power Tech Engineers case. 3. Non-Consideration of the Decision in ITO v. M/s Super Gold Properties Ltd:The assessee argued that the decision in ITO v. M/s Super Gold Properties Ltd, which dealt with similar facts and was in favor of the taxpayer, was not considered by the CIT(A). The Tribunal noted this omission and found it significant.4. Addition of Rs. 1,50,00,000 under Section 68:The Tribunal found that the assessee had provided sufficient documentary evidence to prove the identity, genuineness, and creditworthiness of Minaxi Suppliers Pvt Ltd. The Tribunal cited several judicial precedents, including Lovely Exports P. Ltd and CIT v. Gagandeep Infrastructure Private Limited, to support the view that the assessee had discharged its primary onus under Section 68.5. Treating Minaxi Suppliers Pvt Ltd as a Shell Company:The Tribunal found no substantive evidence to support the AO's and CIT(A)'s conclusion that Minaxi Suppliers Pvt Ltd was a shell company. The assessee had provided sufficient documentation to prove the legitimacy of Minaxi Suppliers Pvt Ltd.6. Proving the Source of the Source of Amount Received under Section 68:The Tribunal reiterated that the requirement to prove the source of the source under Section 68 applies only from the assessment year 2013-14 onwards. Therefore, for the assessment year 2011-12, the assessee was not required to prove the source of the source once the primary onus was discharged.7. Consideration of the Joint Venture Agreement with Minaxi Suppliers Pvt Ltd:The Tribunal found that the joint venture agreement between the assessee and Minaxi Suppliers Pvt Ltd was a valid document and should not have been disregarded by the AO and CIT(A).8. Leave to Amend Grounds of Appeal:The Tribunal allowed the assessee the leave to add, amend, modify, or delete any grounds of appeal.Conclusion:The Tribunal set aside the impugned order passed by the CIT(A) and directed the deletion of the addition made under Section 68 of the Act. The appeal by the assessee was partly allowed.