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Anshu Jain, Jaipur vs Assessee

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal17 April 2015

Ratio decidendi

The rule this decision rests on

The Tribunal, having dismissed the first ground as not pressed, decides the second ground on the following reasoning: Where the assessee's books of account have been rejected under section 145(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and the assessee has not controverted the specific defects pointed out by the Assessing Officer, the estimation of income may properly proceed from the assessee's own past history, applying the principle that the assessee's own case is the best guide for estimating income after rejection of books, as laid down by the jurisdictional High Court in Gotan Lime Khanij Udyog v. CIT. Where the turnover has declined while the net profit rate has not increased in proportion, an estimated net profit rate may be adjusted upward in consonance with the general experience that profit rates improve as turnover declines; on that basis the estimated rate may be fixed at a level between the rates adopted in the Assessing Officer's order and the assessee's declared rate, and any addition must be reasonable in the circumstances, having regard to the defects in the books and the line of business.

Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.

Judgment

As delivered

vk;dj vihyh; vf/kdj.k] t;iqj U;k;ihB] t;iqjIN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, JAIPUR BENCHES, JAIPUR

Jh vkj-ih-rksykuh] U;kf;d lnL; ,oa Jh Vh-vkj-ehuk] ys[kk lnL; ds le{k BEFORE: SHRI R.P. TOLANI, JM & SHRI T.R. MEENA, AM

vk;dj vihy la-@ITA No. 49/JP/2013 fu/kZkj.k o"kZ@Assessment Year : 2008-09

Anshu Jain, cuke A.C.I.T., Circle-1, 1966, Pandit Shivdeen Ka Rasta, Vs. Jaipur. Kishanpole Bazar, Jaipur. LFkk;h ys[kk la-@thvkbZvkj la-@PAN/GIR No.: ADGPJ 3769 G vihykFkhZ@Appellant izR;FkhZ@Respondent

fu/kZkfjrh dh vksj ls@ Assessee by : Shri Mukesh Khandelwal (CA) jktLo dh vksj ls@ Revenue by : Smt. Neena Jeph (JCIT)

lquokbZ dh rkjh[k@ Date of Hearing : 25/03/2015 ?kks"k.kk dh rkjh[k@ Date of Pronouncement : 17/04/2015

vkns'k@ ORDER

PER: T.R. MEENA, A.M.

This is an appeal filed by the assessee against the order dated

15/11/2012 passed by the learned CIT (A)-I, Jaipur for A.Y. 2008-09

The effective grounds of appeal are as under:-

"1 that the ld. CIT(A) erred on facts in sustaining the application of provisions of section 145(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

2 ITA 49/JP/2013_ Anshu Jain Vs. ACIT

2. That the ld. CIT(A) erred on facts in sustaining an NP rate of 18% in the case as against declared NP rate of 14.70% by the appellant."

2. First ground of appeal is not pressed, therefore, we dismiss this

ground of appeal as not pressed.

3. The second ground of appeal is against sustaining the NP rate of

18% against the declared NP rate of 14.70%. The assessee derived

income from business of transportation, capital gain and other sources.

She filed return on 31/10/2008 at Rs. 9,56,930/-. The case was

scrutinized U/s 143(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter

referred as the Act) by the Assessing Officer. The ld. A.O. compared the

G.P., N.P. rate from A.Y. 2005-06 to 2007-08. The ld Assessing Officer

observed that during the assessment proceedings, he noticed that no

record of truck wise receipts of freight had been maintained, no log

book was maintained for plying of truck, many expenses supported by

internal voucher paid in cash and no record of truck wise payment was

maintained. The ld Assessing Officer gave show cause notice on these

deficiencies for rejection of books U/s 145(3) of the Act, which was

replied by the assessee vide letter dated 13/12/2010, which has been

reproduced by the Assessing Officer on pages 2,3, and 4 of the 3 ITA 49/JP/2013_ Anshu Jain Vs. ACIT

assessment order. After considering the assessee's reply, he further

summarized the defects found in the books of account as under:-

a. No record for truck wise receipt of freight and payments were maintained. Hence it was not possible for correlating the profit or loss on a specific truck. The record maintained by the assessee is inadequate and is not a correct method of determining the true profits of the assessee.

b. As admitted by the assessee himself, no log book was maintained for the vehicles and was held to be impracticable. Thus, there was no way to verify the distance traveled by the vehicles, consumption of diesel and repairing expenses.

c. the assessee did not produce any record relating to the day to day transport activity including the vehicles loaded, unloaded and booked for transportation each day. d. An amount of Rs. 2,49,53,835/- was debited as trip expenses in the P&L account. But for the said expenses proper vouchers were not maintained. Therefore, these expenses were not subject to verification satisfactorily. e. Many other expenses were paid in cash and were supported by self made vouchers only and hence not amenable for verification.

f. the rates for specific routes were not fixed and identifiable details were not recorded.

4 ITA 49/JP/2013_ Anshu Jain Vs. ACIT

g. Record of truck wise onward journey and freight received on return journey were not maintained."

On the basis of above defects, the ld Assessing Officer rejected the

book result U/s 145(3) of the Act. Thereafter, he estimated the profit. It

is held that NP rate of 20.19% is reasonable as against 14.70% shown

by the assessee on the receipt of Rs. 2,79,12,589/- subject to

allowability of depreciation on the basis of past history of the assessee's

case. In previous year also, rejection of books of account had been

continuously upheld by the appellate authority and the Hon'ble ITAT,

accepted the NP rate of 20.19% as declared by the assessee for A.Y.

2005-06 on total receipt of Rs. 2,61,45,250/-. By relying on the order of

the Hon'ble Rajasthan High Court in the case Kansara Bearing Pvt. Ltd.

Vs ACIT 270 ITR 235 (Raj. HC), the Assessing Officer estimated the

income by applying NP rate of 20.19% at Rs. 2,79,12,589/-

4. Being aggrieved by the order of the learned Assessing Officer, the

assessee carried the matter before the learned CIT(A), who had allowed

the appeal partly by observing as under:-

"I have carefully perused the order of the A.O., the submissions of the AR and the orders of the Hon'ble ITAT Jaipur filed by the AR of the appellant. In assessment year

5 ITA 49/JP/2013_ Anshu Jain Vs. ACIT

2007-08, the Hon'ble ITAT Jaipur vide its order ITA No. 237/JP/2007 dated 03/09/2010 has upheld the order of the ld. CIT(A) wherein the rejection of books of accounts in the case of the assessee on similar defects has been sustained and a lump sum addition of Rs. 1 lac has been confirmed. Thus, the facts of the case of the appellant are covered by the finding of the Hon'ble ITAT Jaipur in his own case in the previous assessment year. As the AR has not been able to controvert the finding of the Hon'ble ITAT Jaipur regarding the rejection of books of accounts by bringing any new evidence or argument, the rejection of books of accounts by invoking provisions of section U/s 145(3) is sustained. Regarding estimation of income, the Hon'ble ITAT Jaipur has held that the assessee's own case is the best guide for estimating the income after rejection of the books of accounts by placing reliance on the Hon'ble jurisdictional High Court in the case of Gotan Lime Khanij Udyog vs. CIT 256 ITR 253. As per the N.P. rate chart submitted by the appellant, it is seen that the turnover has decreased from Rs. 3,53,30,516/- in the immediately preceding assessment year to Rs. 2,79,12,589/- in this assessment year whereas the n.p. rate subject to depreciation has been confirmed by the Hon'lbe ITAT Jaipur at 13.93% has increased to 14.70%. It is a generally accepted fact that the net profit rate improves with decline in turnover. Therefore, the n.p. rate subject of depreciation is estimated at 6 ITA 49/JP/2013_ Anshu Jain Vs. ACIT

18% as the turnover has declined substantially. Thus, the trading addition of Rs. 9,21,045/- is confirmed."

5. Now the assessee is in appeal before us. The ld AR for the

assessee has submitted that the ld CIT(A) reduced the N.P. rate applied

by the Assessing Officer @ 20.19% to 18% without assigning any

cogent reason. Admittedly few defects are there in the books of the

appellant which are beyond the control of the appellant. There are vast

variations in the NP rate declared by the appellant for which there are a

large number of factors such as increase in diesel price without any

corresponding increase in freight charges, increased in repairing of the

vehicles due to some accidents and timely recession in the

transportation business. In the year under appeal the appellant had

declared a NP rate of 14.70% on a turnover of Rs. 2.79 crores which is

better than a rate of 13.64% on a turnover of Rs. 3.53 crores. In such

circumstances no addition was required to be made. However, the ld

CIT(A) reduced the rate of 18% merely using her estimations and

observing that since the turnover has decreased the profit was required

to be increased.

He also submitted that it has been held by the Hon'ble Rajasthan

High court in the case of Kansara Bearing P. Ltd. Vs. ACIT (supra) that 7 ITA 49/JP/2013_ Anshu Jain Vs. ACIT

past history is the best guide for assessing income of the assessee. For

this purpose past history means immediately preceding year as only

immediately preceding year can given fair idea about existing facts and

circumstances. Therefore, the ld A.O. erred seriously in applying profit

rate for A.Y. 2005-06 while assessing a case for the A.Y. 2008-09 when

the results for next year decided by the higher authorities were

available. Further the ld CIT(A) also erred in applying a profit rate of

18% when in the immediately preceding year the rate applied by this

Hon'ble Bench was merely 13.93%. Since there was no change in the

facts and circumstances for the year under appeal as compared to

immediately preceding year no addition was required to be made in

view of the fact that the assessee herself has declared better profit rate.

He further argued that in past also, similar additions were made

by the Assessing Officer, which has been deleted by the Hon'ble ITAT.

In A.Y. 2005-06, the Assessing Officer made addition of Rs. 12,47,315/-

, which has been reduced by the ld CIT(A) at Rs. 5,36,905/- and finally

the Hon'ble ITAT has deleted the addition confirmed by the CIT(A). In

A.Y. 2006-07, the Assessing Officer applied NP rate of 22% which has

been reduced by the ld CIT(A) to 11.89%, which has been confirmed by

the Hon'ble ITAT. In A.Y. 2007-08, the ld CIT(A) confirmed the addition 8 ITA 49/JP/2013_ Anshu Jain Vs. ACIT

of Rs. 1 lac only as against the addition made by the Assessing Officer

at Rs. 28,63,325/-, which has been confirmed by the Hon'ble ITAT.

Therefore, he prayed to delete the addition confirmed by the ld CIT(A).

6. At the outset, the Ld. DR supported the order of the learned

CIT(A).

7. We have heard the rival contentions of both the parties and

perused the material available on the record. The assessee himself has

accepted the rejection of book result U/s 145(3) of the Act. In past also,

these books results were not accepted by the appellate authorities. The

CIT(A) has estimated the NP rate @ 18% after considering the Hon'ble

Jurisdictional High Court's decisions in the case of Gotan Lime Khanij

Udyog vs. CIT (supra), the assessee's turnover have come dome heavily

and the NP has not increased in proportion. The assessee has not

controverted the defects pointed out by the Assessing Officer in

assessment order. It is a fact that some of the expenses were not

vouched fully and paid in cash, are not verifiable. In past also, similar

additions were made by the Assessing Officer, which has been

confirmed by the ITAT. The ld CIT(A) also confirmed the additions on

the basis of ITAT Bench decision in assessee's own case, but it is clear

from the Coordinate Bench decision that nominal addition has been 9 ITA 49/JP/2013_ Anshu Jain Vs. ACIT

confirmed by the ITAT whereas ld CIT(A) confirmed the addition at Rs.

9,21,045/- in the year under consideration on same turnover.

Therefore, the estimation of income is higher side. Keeping in view the

defects in the books of account and line of business, we confirm the

addition of Rs. 2 lacs in the interest of justice.

8. In the result, the assessee's appeal is partly allowed.

Order pronounced in the open court on 17/04/2015.

Sd/- Sd/- ¼vkj-ih-rksykuh½ ¼Vh-vkj-ehuk½ (R.P.Tolani) (T.R. Meena) U;kf;d lnL;@Judicial Member ys[kk lnL;@Accountant Member

Tk;iqj@Jaipur

fnukad@Dated:- 17th April, 2015 *Ranjan

vkns'k dh izfrfyfi vxzsf'kr@Copy of the order forwarded to:

1. vihykFkhZ@The Appellant- MAnshu Jain, Jaipur

2. izR;FkhZ@ The Respondent- ACIT, Circle-1, Jaipur.

3. vk;dj vk;qDr@ CIT

4. vk;dj vk;qDr¼vihy½@The CIT(A)

5. foHkkxh; izfrfuf/k] vk;dj vihyh; vf/kdj.k] t;iqj@DR, ITAT, Jaipur

6. xkMZ QkbZy@ Guard File (ITA No. 49/JP/2013) vkns'kkuqlkj@ By order,

lgk;d iathdkj@Asst. Registrar

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