2023 (11) TMI 802
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....d together and being adjudicated by a common order. The specific contention of the assessee before us is to the effect that, since, the DRP directions do not contain Document Identification Number (DIN) not only they are invalid but the final assessment orders passed in pursuance thereto are also invalid. 3. This issue of quashing of the order owing to absence of quoting of mandatory DIN by the Officers in their orders stands adjudicated by the Co-ordinate Bench of ITAT in the case of Sh. Rajesh Chaudhary in ITA No. 1615 & 1616/Del/2021 and CO Nos. 151 & 152/Del/2022 vide order dated 18.10.2023. For the sake of ready reference, the said order is reproduced as under: IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, DELHI BENCH: 'H' NEW DELHI BEFORE....
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....sessee without mentioning the Document Identification Number (DIN). Thus, he submitted that the assessment orders without DIN are invalid and have to be quashed. In this regard, he relied upon Circular No.19 of 2019, dated 14th August, 2019 issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). He also relied upon a number of judicial precedents submitted in the legal compilation. 6. Defending the assessment orders, learned Departmental Representative drew our attention to a report dated 09.10.2023 received from the Assessing Officer, wherein, it is stated that, though, the DINs were generated on 30.12.2019, however, manual orders without DIN was uploaded because ITBA Portal was not allowing to generate DIN through ITBA system. 7. Having c....
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.... section 119 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act"), has decided that no communication shall be issued by any income-tax authority relating to assessment, appeals, orders, statutory or otherwise, exemptions. enquiry, investigation. verification of information, penalty, prosecution, rectification, approval etc. to the assessee or any other person, on or after the 1st day of October, 2019 unless a computer generated Document Identification Number (DIN) has been allotted and is duly quoted in the body of such communication. 3. In exceptional circumstances such as, i. when there are technical difficulties in generating/allotting/quoting the DIN and issuance of communication electronically; or ii. when communica....
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....of Income Tax vide number..... dated..... 4. Any communication which is not in conformity with Para-2 and Para3 above, shall be treated as invalid and shall be deemed to have never been issued. 5. The communication issued manually in the three situations specified in para 3-(1). (ii) or (iii) above shall have to be regularized within 15 working days of its issuance, by - i. uploading the manual communication on the System. ii. compulsorily generating the DIN on the System; iii. communicating the DIN so generated to the assessee/any other person as per electronically generated pro-forma available on the System. 6. An intimation of issuance of manual communication for the reasons mentioned in para 3(v) shall be sent to the Princip....
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.... the extant circular states that any communication, which is not in conformity with paragraphs 2 and 3 of the circular shall be treated as invalid and shall be deemed to have never been issued. 10. Thus, keeping in view the clear language of the aforesaid Circular, the assessment orders have to be declared as non-est and deemed to have never been issued. While coming to such conclusion, we find support from various judicial precedents cited before us by learned counsel for the assessee, including the decision of Hon'ble Jurisdictional High Court in case of CIT Vs. Brandix Mauritius Holdings Ltd., 2023 (4) TMI 579, dated 20.03.2023. No contrary decision was brought to our notice by learned Departmental Representative. Further, learned Depa....