Denial of tax exemption over excessive salary & rent payments overturned due to incorrect rent comparison.

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Full Text of the Document

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....The case pertains to the denial of exemption u/s 11 due to excessive payments made on account of salary and rent to persons specified u/s 13(3). The Assessing Officer (AO) had disallowed the payments made to specified persons. However, upon examination, it was found that the rent paid by the assessee was lower than the prevailing market rates in the same area paid by unrelated parties. The AO had relied on an agreement for a different premise in the same locality, leading to an appreciation of wrong facts. Consequently, the Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) held that the impugned payments were not excessive or unreasonable, deciding the case in favor of the assessee.....