Appeal allowed; impugned order quashed as regulator failed to prove nexus or manipulative scheme; sale genuine - s.12A(a)-(c), Regs 3(a)-(d),4(1),4(2)...
Appellant's ring-back tone service held OIDAR, taxable domestically for 01.07.2012-31.07.2016; liability confirmed, penalties vacated, remanded for re...
Reassessment initiated beyond three years was tested against the statutory precondition in section 149(1)(b) that the AO must have material to form a reasonable belief that income escaping assessment was likely to be ₹50 lakh or more. The tribunal held that "likely to amount" cannot be inferred merely from gross bank transactions without a preliminary analysis of the nature of entries and the taxable component. On the facts, even treating the credits as receipts yielding commission income, the taxable income could not reasonably exceed ₹50 lakh, and the ultimately assessed escaped income was far below the threshold. The reopening was therefore barred by limitation and without jurisdiction; the appeal was allowed. - ITAT
Reassessment initiated beyond three years was tested against the statutory precondition in section 149(1)(b) that the AO must have material to form a reasonable belief that income escaping assessment was likely to be ₹50 lakh or more. The tribunal held that "likely to amount" cannot be inferred merely from gross bank transactions without a preliminary analysis of the nature of entries and the taxable component. On the facts, even treating the credits as receipts yielding commission income, the taxable income could not reasonably exceed ₹50 lakh, and the ultimately assessed escaped income was far below the threshold. The reopening was therefore barred by limitation and without jurisdiction; the appeal was allowed. - ITAT
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