2025 (8) TMI 586 - AT - Income Tax

ITAT rules genuine truck sale receipt under Section 68, no addition for unexplained cash credit made

The ITAT Pune reversed the CIT(A)'s addition under section 68 regarding receipt from the sale of a truck. The tribunal held that the assessee's ... Addition u/s 68 - receipt from sale of truck - assessee could not place any evidence of proof for purchase of the Truck, CIT(A) confirmed the addition u/s 68 HELD THAT:- As assessee entered into genuine transaction of purchase and sale of Truck and the assessee received consideration from sale of Truck of Rs. 10.00 lakh through banking channel, therefore, the said receipt is duly explained and cannot be treated as unexplained cash credit u/s.68 of the Act. Since the purchase details have also been furnished, it shows that the purchase price is more than the sale price and the assessee has finally incurred Short Term Capital Loss, therefore, no addition is called for. Decided in favour of assessee. ISSUES: Whether addition made by the Assessing Officer without issuing any show cause notice violates mandatory guidelines of CBDT.Whether addition of Rs. 10,00,000 under section 68 as 'Unexplained Cash Credit' or as 'Short Term Capital Gain' is justified in the absence of proof of purchase of the asset sold.Whether the receipt of Rs. 10,00,000 from sale of truck constitutes a genuine business receipt or unexplained cash credit under section 68 of the Income-tax Act, 1961.Whether the transaction falls under the presumptive taxation scheme u/s.44AE of the Act and its impact on the addition. RULINGS / HOLDINGS: The ground relating to addition made without issuing any show cause notice is dismissed as 'Not Pressed' by the assessee and hence not adjudicated.The addition of Rs. 10,00,000 as unexplained cash credit under section 68 by the CIT(A) is set aside, as the assessee furnished sufficient evidence including confirmation letter, registration certificate, bank statements, and proof of purchase and sale of the truck, establishing the genuineness of the transaction.The receipt of Rs. 10,00,000 received through banking channel from sale of the truck is a duly explained receipt and cannot be treated as unexplained cash credit under section 68 of the Act.The purchase price of the truck is shown to be higher than the sale price, resulting in a short term capital loss, negating the basis for addition as short term capital gain.Even if the amount is considered as business receipt, it falls under the presumptive taxation scheme u/s.44AE of the Act, and there is no adverse finding by the Revenue authorities to treat it otherwise. RATIONALE: The Court applied the provisions of section 68 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, which deals with unexplained cash credits, requiring the assessee to explain the nature and source of such credits.Evidence such as confirmation letters from agents, registration certificates, bank statements showing payment and receipt through banking channels, and other related documents were considered sufficient to explain the credit entries.The Court relied on the principle that genuine transactions supported by documentary evidence cannot be treated as unexplained cash credits.The presumptive taxation scheme under section 44AE was acknowledged as applicable to the transport business, and no contrary observation was made by the Revenue, reinforcing the genuineness of the business receipts.The Court set aside the CIT(A)'s invocation of section 68, emphasizing that the assessee incurred a short term capital loss rather than gain, thus no addition on capital gains basis was warranted.