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2022 (1) TMI 479

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.... as the assessment is reopened beyond four years and on mere change of opinion; 2.1 The CIT(A) ought to have appreciated the fact that the assessment has been reopened after four years but before six years according to Sec.151(1) of the Act. Hence, the reopening of assessment u/s 147 after four years and before six years is valid in law. 2.2 The Id CIT(A) failed to appreciate the fact that there was tangible material to reopen the assessment u/s.147 since the assessee had claimed the post production expenditure under Rule 9A of the Act. This has been considered to be a tangible material for reopening the assessment u/s 147 of the Act. 2.3 The Id CIT(A) ought to have appreciated the fact that reassessment is well within the provisions of sec.147 and Explanation 1 of sec. 147 of the I T Act clarifies that production of account or other evidences before the AO from which material evidence could with due diligence have been discovered, will not necessarily amount to disclosure within the meaning of the proviso to sec. 147. 2.4 The Id CIT(A) ought to have appreciated the fact that , as per clause(c) of Explanation 2, cases where assessment have earlier been made and there is esc....

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....Id CIT(A) failed to appreciated that in para 11 of the CIT(A) order, it could be seen that in respect of the films Boys(Telugu) and Nee Manasu, Naaku Telusu (Telugu) no income has been admitted by the assessee towards realization of pictures. 3.2 The Id CIT(A) ought to have appreciated the fact that nature of expenditure claimed by the assessee relates to publicity expenses, which are post production expenses and the assessee did not admit an realization from pictures. Hence the assessee did not act as a distributor for the above said two films. 3.3 It is submitted that according to Rule 9B, a producer can claim PostProduction Expenses of the film if he also acts as a distributor for thesefilms. In this case the assessee did not act as a distributor and as per Rule 9A, a producer cannot claim post production expenses; 3.4 The Id CIT(A) ought to have appreciated the fact that film producers are covered by the specific provisions Rule 9A and 9B to claim the expenditure incurred on the production of the films and post production expenses are clearly covered by Rule 9B of the Act. 4. The Id CIT(A) erred in deleting the addition made under Rule 9A(3) to the extent of Rs. 64.07 l....

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....tes fresh tangible materials and opined that reopening of assessment for all assessment years is valid in view of specific ratio laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of PVS Beedies Pvt. Ltd. 103 taxmann 294 (SC) and also Rajesh Jhaveri Stock Brokers 291 ITR 500 (SC). The Assessing Officer had also made additions towards disallowance of post production expenses of certain feature films on the ground that when the assessee has acted as only producer without exhibiting those films to public, then post production expenses cannot be allowed as deduction, in view of specific procedure followed for computation of expenses under Rule 9A & 9B of Income Tax Rules, 1962. The Assessing Officer had also made additions towards interest on loans and unsecured loans u/s.68 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. 5. Being aggrieved by the assessment order, the assessee preferred an appeal before the learned CIT(A). Before the learned CIT(A), the assessee has challenged reopening of assessment u/s.147 of the Act, for all three assessment years on the ground that when assessment is reopened after four years and within six years from the end of relevant assessment year, then there should be al....

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....Supreme Court in the case of PVS Beedies Pvt.Ltd. (supra) and also Rajesh Jhaveri Stock Brokers (supra), reopening of assessment for assessment years 2005-06 and 2006-07 are valid and thus, rejected arguments taken by the assessee. 7. As regards additions made by the Assessing Officer towards post production expenses, the learned CIT(A) after considering relevant submissions of the assessee held that since the assessee has released Boys (Telugu) and Nee Manasu Naaku Telusu (Telugu) feature films within 90 days and also earned realizations from the pictures. It is incorrect on the part of the Assessing Officer to apply Rule 9A for computing disallowances in respect of post production expenses. The learned CIT(A) observed that although the Assessing Officer has rightly applied Rule 9A to disallow excess of expenditure over realization from the film, but because assessment proceedings u/s.147 of the Act are held to be void, disallowance also gets nullified and thus, directed the Assessing Officer to delete additions made towards disallowances of production expenses of Kovil, Tamil feature film. As regards additions towards resale of set materials @ 10%, the learned CIT(A) after consi....

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....ses of Rs. 21,86,649/- in respect of Muddula Koduku (Telugu) feature film, the learned CIT(A) held that even though said expenditure is not deductible under Rule 9A, but same can be allowed as deduction u/s.37(1) of the Act, because said expenditure was incurred for purpose of business of the assessee. Insofar as additions made towards disallowance of unsecured loans and consequent interest u/s.68 of the Act, the learned CIT(A) deleted additions made by the Assessing Officer by holding that the assessee has filed detailed statement of loans taken, addresses, PAN of creditors etc. However, the Assessing Officer has disallowed loans and consequent interest u/s.68 of the Act, without any reasons and thus, directed the Assessing Officer to delete additions made towards unsecured loans and consequential interest u/s.68 of the Act. Aggrieved by the learned CIT(A) order, the Revenue is in appeal before us. 10. The first issue that came up for our consideration from ground no.2.1 to 2.9 of revenue appeal for assessment year 2004-05 is validity of reassessment order passed by the Assessing Officer. 10.1 The learned DR submitted that the learned CIT(A) has erred in not appreciating fact th....

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....nly a change of opinion which is not permissible. The learned CIT(A) after considering relevant facts has rightly quashed assessment order and his order should be upheld. 10.3. We have heard both the parties, perused materials available on record and gone through orders of the authorities below. Admittedly, the Assessing Officer formed reasonable belief of escapement of income on the basis of audit objection. As per reasons recorded for reopening of assessment, escapement of income was determined by applying Rule 9A & 9B of Income Tax Rules, 1962, which deals with quantification of expenses allowable in case of film producer and distributor. The assessee being film producer, has claimed certain post production expenses. The Assessing Officer formed reasonable belief of escapement of income on the ground that as per Rule 9A, post production expenses cannot be allowed. If you go through reasons recorded by the Assessing Officer to form belief of escapement of income, we find that said reasons were recorded on the basis of audit note which is further strengthened by legal issue of application of Rule 9A & 9B of Income Tax Rules, 1962. It is well settled position of law by decisions o....

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....duction expenses amounting to Rs. 20.03 lakhs in respect of feature film 7G Brindabhan Colony (Telegu). The Assessing Officer has disallowed post production expenses on the ground that the assessee has acted only as producer, but not a distributor for the film 7G Brindavan Colony (Telugu), which is evident as per financial statement filed by the assessee for relevant assessment year which shows that there is no realization from the above film. Therefore, in terms of Rule 9A & 9B of I.T. Rules, 1962, the Assessing Officer has disallowed post production expenses of feature film 7G Brindabhan Colony for Rs. 20,03,118/-. On appeal, the learned CIT(A) has deleted additions made by the Assessing Officer by holding that the film was released within 90 days from end of the financial year and hence, expenditure is eligible for deduction under Rule 9A. 14. The learned DR submitted that the learned CIT(A) failed to appreciate that in para 16 of the learned CIT(A) order, it could be seen that in respect of film 7G Brindavan Colony (Telugu) no income has been admitted by the assessee towards realization of picture, which clearly shows that the assessee did not act as distributor or exhibitor o....

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....ses of 7G Brindavan Colony (Telugu) on the ground that the assessee does not act as a distributor and uch finding was recorded on the basis of no realization from pictures. As we have already stated in earlier paragraph of this order, Rule 9A / 9B is applicable only in a case where a person acts in a capacity of producer and distributor. In this case, in respect of 7G Brindavan Colony (Telugu), the assessee seems to have acted as a producer and distributor, because there is no realization from picture, it means he has not acted as an exhibitor. Therefore, post production expenses incurred by the assessee is not governed under rule 9A or 9B of I.T.Rules, 1962. Therefore, deductibility of same needs to be considered u/s.37(1) of the Act as expenditure wholly and exclusively incurred for purpose of business of the assessee. This proposition is supported by decision of the Hon'ble Bombay High Court in the case of Dharma Productions Ltd. Vs CIT (2019) 263 taxmann 583, where it was clearly held that where the assessee was engaged in business of production and distribution of films, cost of print as well as publicity and advertisement expenses incurred after production as well as certific....

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....Officer has made addition of Rs. 2,40,000/- towards interest on loans form M/s. Focus Computers on the ground that when the assessee was not able to prove loan taken form said party, same has been treated as unexplained cash credit and added back to total income for the assessment year 2003-04. Since, the assessee has paid interest for the impugned assessment year on said loan, the Assessing Officer has disallowed and added back to total income. Similarly, the Assessing Officer has disallowed interest amounting to Rs. 1,26,000/- in respect of sum of Rs. 7 lakhs being difference in opening balance as per confirmation received from M/s. Rakesh Sarin & Sons and Mr. Rakesh. On appeal, the learned CIT(A) has deleted additions made by the Assessing Officer by holding that when no addition was made towards loans, question of making addition of interest on said loan does not arise. 20. We have heard both the parties, perused material available on record and gone through orders of the authorities below. There is no clarity in the facts brought out by the Assessing Officer in respect of disallowance of loan from M/s. Focus Computers in assessment year 2003-04. Similarly, there is no clarity....

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....his appeal, as well. Therefore, for similar reasons, we direct the Assessing Officer to estimate 5% of total cost incurred for set materials as income from resale of set materials. 25. The next issue that came up for our consideration from ground no. 5 to 5.3 of revenue appeal is deletion of additions made towards unsecured loans amounting to Rs. 9.53 crores and consequent interest thereon at Rs. 1.75 crores. The Assessing Officer has made addition towards unsecured loans and consequent interest thereon for want of evidence. According to the Assessing Officer, although a specific show cause notice was issued calling upon for various details, the assessee has failed to file any evidence to prove identity of the party, genuineness of transaction and creditworthiness of parties, except objecting reopening of assessment. Therefore, the Assessing Officer has made addition towards unsecured loan for want of evidence. The learned CIT(A) has deleted additions made by the Assessing Officer by holding that the assessee has furnished statement of loans taken, addresses, PAN of creditors etc. along with return of income. 26. We have heard both the parties, perused materials available on reco....