Tribunals and Commissions judgments

The ITAT Delhi has ruled that denying an applicant an opportunity to be heard before rejecting their Section 12A registration application violates natural justice, regardless of the adequacy of submitted documents. This sets a critical precedent for all charitable entities seeking tax exemption, mandating procedural fairness even when substantive claims appear weak.

The ITAT Delhi has ruled that offshore repair services for aircraft engines, performed outside India, do not trigger taxation as Fees for Technical Services under the India-USA tax treaty because the essential 'make available' requirement - transfer of technical knowledge or expertise to the recipient - remains unfulfilled. This clarifies the boundary between mere physical repair work and taxable technical service, impacting multinational aerospace and aviation service providers operating from offshore locations.

The ITAT Kolkata ruled that when sales are accepted, corresponding purchases cannot be disallowed based solely on uncorroborated WhatsApp chats or suspicions of shell company links. This sets a critical precedent for taxpayers facing revenue scrutiny, reinforcing that mere association with flagged entities is insufficient without concrete, corroborated evidence of fabrication.

The ITAT Delhi has ruled that assessments under Section 153C can only reopen income for six years preceding the date of the satisfaction note, not the search operation. This clarifies jurisdictional limits for non-searched persons and prevents retrospective expansion of assessments beyond the statutory window, offering critical relief to taxpayers caught in delayed post-search proceedings.

The ITAT Bangalore has ruled that an assessee who fully discloses income but disputes its head of assessment cannot be penalized under Section 271(1)(c) for concealment or inaccurate particulars. This clarifies that legal interpretation differences, absent intent to evade, are not tax misconduct - protecting taxpayers from punitive action over bona fide accounting disagreements.

ITAT Bangalore rules that duty drawback income is taxable only upon actual receipt, not mere accrual at export. The tribunal also quashed penalties under Section 270A, holding no misreporting occurred where the assessee followed the cash accounting method. A key precedent for exporters on taxability of export incentives.

ITAT Bangalore rules that the arm's-length price of interest on compulsorily convertible debentures (CCDs) must be determined by analyzing the transaction's economic substance under OECD Guidelines and Rule 10B, not merely by classifying the instrument as debt or equity. The decision impacts multinational enterprises and tax authorities by reinforcing the need for functional analysis in transfer pricing disputes involving hybrid instruments.

CESTAT Allahabad rules that amounts paid under protest, without acceptance of liability, qualify as revenue deposits-not duty-making interest payable on their refund under general principles of equity, not Section 11B. This empowers taxpayers who pay under compulsion to claim interest, reshaping refund strategy in GST disputes where liability is contested.

The ITAT Mumbai ruled that denying foreign tax credit under Section 90/90A solely for delayed submission of US tax documents violates treaty relief principles, provided the taxpayer furnishes complete, verifiable evidence of foreign tax paid before final assessment. This sets a vital precedent for NRIs and cross-border earners facing procedural delays in foreign tax documentation.

The ITAT Bangalore has ruled that charitable trusts offering vocational and skill-based training meet the legal definition of 'education' under Section 2(15), making them eligible for income tax exemption under Section 11. This landmark decision expands the scope of charitable activities eligible for tax relief, directly benefiting NGOs and trusts running skill development programs across India.

ITAT Delhi rules that penalties under Section 272A(1)(d) of the Income Tax Act are automatically deleted when the quantum assessment is remanded for fresh adjudication, as the original proceedings are rendered void. This precedent shields taxpayers from penalties where the underlying assessment is reopened, ensuring procedural fairness in tax disputes.

ITAT Delhi quashed a penalty under Section 271C for AY 2013-14 because the order was passed after the statutory deadline of 31/03/2016 under Section 275(1)(c), affirming that limitation is mandatory and not curable. The ruling reinforces that tax authorities cannot extend penalty timelines, affecting all assessees facing delayed proceedings under Chapter XXI of the Income Tax Act.

ITAT Kolkata rules that executors of an estate cannot be penalized under Section 270A for delayed income tax return filing if the delay stems from probate proceedings. The tribunal affirms that probate delays qualify as a 'bona fide explanation' under Section 270A(6), protecting representative assessees from punitive penalties during estate administration.

ITAT Delhi rules that disallowance under Section 40A(2)(b) cannot be sustained without concrete evidence of excess payment, even if detailed bills are absent. The ruling underscores that genuineness of business expenditure must be established before invoking tax disallowance, impacting corporate tax assessments involving related-party transactions.

CESTAT Allahabad rules that a mere hearsay admission under Section 108 of the Customs Act, without corroborative evidence like foreign markings, cannot establish smuggling under Section 123. The ruling underscores the need for tangible proof beyond oral statements to confiscate goods, impacting customs enforcement and importers' rights.

The ITAT Delhi has ruled that the Supreme Court's Covid-19 limitation extension applies to income tax appeals, condoning a 1523-day delay and directing reassessment based on Form 16A salary figures disclosed by the employer. This sets a precedent for taxpayers relying on official TDS certificates to challenge disputed income assessments, reinforcing procedural fairness during pandemic disruptions.

ITAT Delhi rules that interest paid under Section 28 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, forms part of enhanced compensation and is exempt under Section 10(37) of the Income Tax Act. The decision overturns the CIT(A)'s order, clarifying that such interest cannot be taxed as income from other sources, impacting landowners receiving enhanced compensation.

The ITAT Delhi has ruled that a reassessment notice under Section 148 is void if the mandatory prior approval from the Principal Chief Commissioner or Principal Director General of Income Tax under Section 151(2)(b) is obtained more than three years after the end of the relevant assessment year. This sets a strict temporal limit on procedural compliance, impacting all tax authorities issuing reopening notices and reinforcing the need for timely administrative due process in income tax reassessments.

CESTAT Allahabad rules that customs authorities cannot justify seizure of goods based on post-facto evidence; the 'reasonable belief' of smuggling must exist at the time of seizure under Section 110. The judgment sets a critical precedent for importers and enforcement agencies, requiring contemporaneous evidence to uphold seizures.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Central Zone Bench, took suo moto cognizance of Bhopal's groundwater depletion crisis, directing the Central Ground Water Board to recommend urgent remedial measures to the Madhya Pradesh government. With groundwater exploitation at 79% and the city classified as semi-critical, the NGT emphasized the need for recharge structures and conservation of traditional water sources to prevent escalation to a critical zone.

The Central Administrative Tribunal held that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is not barred by the functus officio doctrine from rectifying errors in recruitment processes, even post-final selection. The ruling underscores that maintaining the sanctity of public employment selections outweighs procedural finality, directly impacting candidates challenging erroneous appointments.

ITAT Ahmedabad holds that co-operative societies remain eligible for Section 80P deduction even if they fail to file income tax returns, remanding the case for fresh assessment. The ruling underscores that procedural non-compliance cannot override substantive tax exemption entitlements for co-operative societies under the Income Tax Act.

ITAT Kolkata rules that late fees under Section 234E of the Income Tax Act cannot be levied for TDS statements filed before June 1, 2015, aligning with Madras, Karnataka, and Kerala High Court judgments. This decision shields taxpayers from retrospective penalties for pre-2015 filings.

CESTAT ruled that manufacturers who do not avail CENVAT credit on inputs used for non-excisable goods are not liable to pay 5-6% of their value under Rule 6(3) of the CENVAT Credit Rules. The decision clarifies that non-excisable goods do not qualify as 'exempted goods' unless explicitly defined, offering relief to manufacturers dealing with by-products.