Tribunals and Commissions judgments

ITAT Bangalore rules that where an assessee discloses bitcoin investments and corresponding capital losses in tax returns, additions under Section 69 for 'unexplained investments' cannot stand. The ruling underscores that mere non-declaration of capital gains-without concealment of the investment source-does not constitute unaccounted income, offering relief to crypto traders facing reassessment.

ITAT Mumbai ruled that TDS credit must be granted based on Form 16A issued by a deductor, even if the amount is not reflected in Form 26AS due to non-filing of TDS returns. The decision reinforces CBDT Circular 5/2013, ensuring taxpayers receive credit for taxes deducted at source, regardless of administrative lapses by the deductor.

ITAT Delhi rules that an assessment order is void ab initio if the notice under Section 143(2) is issued by an Assessing Officer lacking pecuniary jurisdiction, as mandated by CBDT Instruction No. 1/2011. The ruling reinforces jurisdictional compliance as a non-negotiable prerequisite for valid tax assessments, impacting all pending and future scrutiny cases.

The ITAT Delhi has ruled that a reopening under Section 147 is legally unsustainable if the Assessing Officer records a specific reason to believe income has escaped assessment but makes no corresponding addition based on that reason. This establishes that mere suspicion, without quantified tax liability, cannot justify reopening - a critical safeguard for taxpayers against arbitrary assessments.

CESTAT Kolkata rules that Cenvat credit cannot be denied to a recipient acting in good faith, even if input service providers are non-existent or tax-evading. The ruling protects businesses from penalization due to supplier fraud, reinforcing the principle of good faith in tax compliance.

ITAT Delhi quashed an assessment order after the Assessing Officer failed to issue a Section 143(2) notice within the statutory six-month period from the end of the relevant previous year. The ruling reinforces strict compliance with CBDT Instruction No. 1/2011, invalidating assessments based on belated notices.

CESTAT Chennai rules that CENVAT credit on input services for expanding an existing manufacturing facility remains admissible even after the deletion of 'setting up' from the definition post-April 2011. The ruling clarifies that expansion does not constitute a new establishment, ensuring continuity in credit eligibility for manufacturers.

ITAT Delhi rules that if sales are accepted but purchases are alleged to be bogus, disallowance under Section 69C must be restricted to the gross profit margin rather than the entire purchase value. The ruling reinforces judicial precedent, protecting assessees from excessive additions where sales legitimacy is not challenged.

ITAT Delhi rules that short-term capital loss from Compulsory Convertible Debentures (CCDs) can be set off against long-term capital gains if the transaction stems from genuine financial distress, rejecting tax authorities' colourable device allegations. The ruling reinforces that commercial substance prevails over mere tax effects for taxpayers facing economic hardship.

CESTAT Chandigarh rules that incentives paid by Computer Reservation Systems/Global Distribution Systems (CRS/GDS) to air travel agents do not constitute taxable 'Business Auxiliary Service' under Service Tax law. The ruling provides relief to travel agents by exempting such payments from tax liability, while also clarifying the treatment of fuel surcharges, abatement, and CENVAT credit rules.

ITAT Delhi sets aside an ex-parte assessment order under Sections 148A and 144 of the Income Tax Act, ruling that non-receipt of the order by the assessee constitutes reasonable cause for delay in filing an appeal. The Tribunal directed a fresh assessment with a fair hearing opportunity, reinforcing natural justice principles in tax proceedings.

CESTAT Delhi clarifies that custodians like CONCOR cannot be held liable for duty on imported goods with mismatched contents unless there is concrete evidence of seal tampering during custody. The ruling sets a key precedent for ICD operators, limiting liability to cases of proven negligence or misconduct.

ITAT Mumbai rules that payments for project-specific architectural and structural design services to Singapore entities do not qualify as Fees for Technical Services under the India-Singapore DTAA, exempting them from TDS under Section 195. The ruling clarifies the scope of FTS, preventing disallowance under Section 40(a)(i) for real estate developers and similar businesses.

ITAT Bangalore rules that the one-month limitation under Section 144C(13) of the Income Tax Act begins from the date DRP directions are uploaded to the ITBA portal, not from the Assessing Officer's actual receipt. The tribunal quashed the assessment order for being time-barred, reinforcing procedural compliance in faceless assessments.

ITAT Delhi rules that bona fide disclosure of foreign contributions under Sections 11/12 of the Income Tax Act cannot be invalidated merely due to clerical errors in return schedules. The tribunal deleted a Rs. 10.3 lakh addition, reinforcing that inadvertent misplacement does not negate substantive compliance, provided the income is duly accounted for in books and computation.

ITAT Delhi rules that where an assessee explains cash deposits during demonetization as past savings, 50% must be accepted as genuine, limiting additions under Section 68. The decision sets a precedent for income tax appeals, shifting the burden of proof on unexplained cash deposits and curtailing arbitrary disallowances.

ITAT Bangalore rules that an appellate order confirming protective additions under Section 56 is invalid if substantive additions remain unexamined. The Tribunal emphasizes due process and burden of proof, setting aside orders where reassessment lacked proper scrutiny of primary income additions.

ITAT Bangalore ruled that failure to submit building safety documents does not permanently bar registration under Sections 12AB and 80G for charitable trusts. The tribunal granted a 120-day window for compliance, emphasizing procedural fairness over rigid disqualification. This sets a precedent for educational trusts facing similar technical non-compliance issues.

The ITAT Bangalore ruled that a trust’s failure to respond to a show-cause notice due to verifiable audit and accounting pressures constitutes a legitimate excuse, entitling it to a fresh hearing. This reinforces natural justice in tax exemptions for religious trusts, ensuring procedural fairness over technical non-compliance.

CESTAT Allahabad rules that service tax demand is invalid if services remain incomplete due to the recipient's bankruptcy, even if invoices were issued. The tribunal set aside penalties and limited demand to only realised amounts, reinforcing that tax liability arises upon service completion, not mere invoicing.

CESTAT Bangalore ruled that inadvertent clerical errors in shipping bill classification do not invalidate duty drawback claims under Section 149 of the Customs Act. The tribunal affirmed substantive justice over procedural non-compliance, allowing exporters to amend shipping bills post-export where inputs suffered duties and remittances were in foreign currency.

ITAT Mumbai rules that education cess is not allowable as a deduction under Section 37 of the Income Tax Act post the retrospective insertion of Explanation 3 to Section 40(a)(ii). The ruling clarifies that cess payments, even if termed as tax, cannot be claimed as business expenditure, impacting corporate tax computations for prior assessment years.

ITAT Bangalore upholds ESOP expenditure as deductible under Section 37(1) of the Income Tax Act, reinforcing Karnataka High Court's binding precedent. The ruling clarifies that ESOP discounts constitute employee remuneration, not notional or capital expenditure, impacting tax assessments for corporations with ESOP schemes.

The ITAT Delhi has ruled that royalty and sponsorship receipts earned by the Wrestling Federation of India are incidental to its charitable objectives under Section 2(15), and therefore not taxable as business income. This preserves the federation’s exemption under Sections 11 and 12, setting a critical precedent for national sports bodies relying on non-commercial funding to sustain public welfare activities.