TaxTMI 
TaxTMI 
TaxTMI 
2023 (4) TMI 815
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.... of the Act by the Assessing Officer on the basis of DVO's report is not a good practice and that is beyond the period of 4 years, considered to be a change of opinion. 3. The learned CIT(Appeals) did not appreciate the fact that the AO cannot challenge and not permissible to make reference or to adopt the value determined by the Departmental Valuation Officer for the purpose of valuation for 1/4/81 in view of sec.55A of the Act for the Asst. Year 2012-13. 4. The learned A.O. as well as CIT (Appeals) did not consider the valuation report obtained by the appellant and considered value as per DVO's report, which is completely wrong for the Asst. Year 2012-13 as per jurisdictional Honorable High Court's, ITAT and other courts ruling. 5. In view of all these and other grounds which may be produced during the hearing of appeal, the appeal may please be allowed and justice rendered. 6. The appellant craves leave to add, to alter, amend, modify, substitute, delete and/or rescind all or any of the grounds of appeal on or before the final hearing, if necessity so arises." 3. When this appeal was called out for hearing, Ld. Counsel for the assessee invited our attention ....
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....able sale instances are only method of valuation as per Central Public Works Department's Manual, the registered valuer has ignored the basis guidelines in arriving the value of property and discussed the relevant factors for adopting rate of land as on 1-4-1981. We find that the assessee sold piece of land on 4-6-2012. There is no dispute about the date of transaction. We are conscious of the fact the amendment to section 55A(a) i.e. substitution of the word "is at variance with the Fair Market Value" were inserted in the Incometax Act w.e.f 1-7-2012 and the same is not applicable retrospectively. Thus, in our considered view the amended provisions of section 55A is not applicable to the facts of the present case. Since the amendment made in the statute is not applicable on the transaction dated 4-6-2012, therefore, the reference made by the AO was invalid. 6. We further find that the ground of appeal raised by the assessee is squarely covered by the decision of Tribunal in Ranchodbhai C. Patel v. ITO [2021] 123 taxmann.com 215/186 ITR 523 (Surat - Trib.), wherein on transaction of sale of land prior to 1-7-2012, the assessee in that case was allowed similar relief by the Tr....
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....relation to a reference made by the Assessing Officer under sub-section (1) of section 16A of that Act. Explanation.-In this section, "Valuation Officer" has the same meaning, as in clause (r) of section 2 of the Wealth-tax Act, 1957 (27 of 1957)." 14. The aforesaid provisions are as amended by the Finance Act, 2012 with effect from 1-7-2012 wherein in clause (a), for "is less than its fair market value" was substituted for "at variance with its fair value". As per the Revenue, the amended provisions of section 55A (a) are applicable for the impugned assessment year 2012-13 and the Assessing officer was well within his jurisdiction to refer the matter to the valuation officer. The assessee's contention is that unamended provisions of section 55A(a) are relevant for the impugned assessment year 2012-13 and the Assessing officer was not having the jurisdiction to refer the matter to the valuation officer. 15. In order to resolve the controversy, let's examine the provisions of section 55A (a). First and foremost, it provides that with a view to ascertaining the fair market value of a capital asset for the purposes of this Chapter, the Assessing Officer may refer the val....
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.... assessee is that the amended provisions have only been brought on the statue books w.e.f 1-7-2012 and the same cannot be invoked in the instant case and therefore, the AO lacks the necessary jurisdiction to refer the matter to the valuation officer. 16. The question is how one should read the amendment in section 55A(a) which has been brought on the statue books w.e.f 1-7-2012. Whether we should read the amendment in the context of transactions which have happened on or after 1-7-2012 and which are liable for capital gains tax and therefore, satisfying the initial condition of reference "for the purposes of this chapter" to the valuation officer. Alternatively, irrespective of period to which the transaction pertains, where the assessment proceedings are initiated by the Assessing officer or pending before the Assessing officer on or after 1-7-2012, given that the Assessing officer has to form an opinion during the course of assessment proceedings, the amended provisions will apply. In this regard, it would be useful to refer to the Memorandum explaining the Finance Bill, 2012 which reads as under: "Under the provisions of section 55A, where in the opinion of the Assessing Off....
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....levant to the Assessment Year 2006-07. The findings of the Hon'ble High Court are as under:- "6. We have considered the rival submissions. We find that the impugned order dated 18 February, 2011 allowing the respondent assessee's appeal holding that no reference to the Departmental Valuation Officer can be made under section 55A of the Act, only follows the decision of this Court in the matter of Daulal Mohta HUF. (supra). The revenue has not been able to point out how the aforesaid decision is inapplicable to the present facts nor has the revenue pointed out that the decision in Daulal Mohta HUF. (supra). has not been accepted by the revenue. On the aforesaid ground alone, this appeal need not be entertained. However, as submissions were made on merits, we have independently examined the same. 7. We find that section 55A(a) of the Act very clearly at the relevant time provided that a reference could be made to the Departmental Valuation Officer only when the value adopted by the assessee was less then the fair market value. In the present case, it is an undisputed position that the value adopted by the respondent assessee of the property at Rs. 35.99 lakhs was much mor....
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....ntirely based upon the decision of the Guwahati High Court in Smt. Amiya Bala Paul (supra). However, the Apex Court in Smt. Amiya Bala Paul (supra) has reversed the decision of the Guwahati High Court and held that if the power to refer any dispute with regard to the valuation of the property was already available under sections 131(1), 136(6) and 142(2) of the Act, there was no need to specifically empower the Assessing Officer to do so in circumstances specified under section 55A of the Act. It further held that when a specific provision under which the reference can be made to the Departmental Valuation Officer is available, there is no occasion for the Assessing Officer to invoke the general powers of enquiry. In view of the above and particularly in view of clear provisions of law as existing during the period relevant to Assessment Year 2006-07, we are of the view that questions (a) and (b) do not raise any substantial question of law." 18. We now refer to the Hon'ble Gujarat High Court decision in case of CIT v. Gauranginiben S. Shodhan Indl. [2014] 224 Taxman 253 wherein it was held section 55A as it stood at the relevant time, has to be seen and emphasis was laid on ....
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.... and the Assessing Officer could not have resorted to clause (b) thereof as held by the Division Bench of this Court in the case of Hiaben Jayantilal Shah v. ITO [2009] 310 ITR 31/181 Taxman 191 (Guj.). In the said decision, it was held and observed as under:- "10. Under clause (a) of sec. 55A of the Act under the Assessing officer is entitled to make the reference to the Valuation Officer in a case where the value of the asset as claimed by the assessee is in accordance with the estimate made by the Registered Valuer, if the Assessing Officer is of the opinion that the value so claimed is less than the fair market value. In any other case, as provided under clause (b) of Sec. 55A of the Act, the Assessing Officer has to record an opinion that (i) the fair market value of the asset exceeds the value of the asset as claimed by the assessee by more than such percentage or by more than such an amount as may be prescribed; or (ii) having regard to the nature of the asset and other relevant circumstances, it is necessary to make such a reference." 23. As we have noted above, the Hon'ble Bombay High Court in case of CIT v. Puja Prints (supra) has held that the Parliament has not ....
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....s of section 55A(a) would not be applicable and one shall be guided by the erstwhile provisions of section 55A(a) of the Act. 26. In order to refer the matter to the valuation officer as per erstwhile provisions of section 55A (a), in the instant case, there is no dispute that the liability towards the capital gains has arisen during the year as the transfer of the land has happened during the year. There is also no dispute that cost of acquisition as substituted by the assessee with fair market value as on 1-4-1981 is based on and in accordance with the estimate made by the registered valuer. The third condition is that the Assessing Officer should form an opinion that the value so claimed by the assessee is less than its fair market value. Therefore, only in a scenario, the value so claimed by the assessee is less than its fair market value in the opinion of the Assessing officer, the matter can be referred to the valuation officer. In a scenario, where the value so claimed by the assessee is more than its fair market value, the matter couldn't be referred to the valuation officer. In the instant case, the value of the land shown by the assessee as on 1-4-1981 based on the ....