TAXVANI

Demonetisation: 80,000 being chased by I-T for large cash deposits

The income-tax department (I-T) is ‘chasing’ 80,000 persons who had deposited cash during demonetisation period which didn’t match their income profile, chairman of central board of direct taxes (CBDT) Sushil Chandra said on Wednesday. He also said that the government would exceed the direct tax collection target of Rs 11.5 lakh crore for the current fiscal.

During the demonetisation (November 8-December 30, 2016), more than 23 lakh people were identified to have deposited suspiciously large sum of cash in bank account. Subsequently, they were sent messages to explain the source of cash. Chandra said that a large number of such persons filed returns following I-T department’s queries.

However, nearly 3 lakh individuals failed to file returns even after initial communication. The I-T department then issued statutory notices to them, which resulted in 2.15 lakh persons filing returns.
“For the 80,000 cases, returns have not been filed; the department is chasing them and the assessment would have to be framed,” Chandra said.

In August, replying to a question on status of I-T department action on persons identified during demonetisation, the government had said that 2.1 lakh non-filers were identified among PAN holders and that these people subsequently paid self-assessment tax of `6,410 crore. Additionally, Chandra said that the direct tax base currently stood at 7.42 crore taxpayers, which include those who filed IT returns and those who paid taxes through deduction at source but didn’t file returns. So far, 6.02 crore IT return have been filed, which is 54% more than during the same period last year.

“We have also identified 80 lakh persons who had filed returns in the last three years but have not filed returns so far. We are communicating with those persons that you had filed IT returns in earlier years which was more than the threshold limit so you should again file,” Chandra said. He was speaking after inaugurating the CBDT pavillion at the India International Trade Fair.

The government would cross budget target of Rs 11.5 lakh crore as the second quarter saw very good advance tax collection due to improved corporate performance, the CBDT chief said. “This year, we have fast-tracked refunds to taxpayers filing returns. Refunds have been disbursed to 2.15 crore assessees amounting to `1.15 lakh crore, and with this most of refunds have been disbursed,” he said.

Refer: www.financialexpress.com

GST REVENUE COLLECTIONS FOR MONTH OF OCTOBER, 2018 CROSSES RUPEES ONE LAKH CRORE

PIB PRESS RELEASE , DATED 1-11-2018

The total gross GST revenue collected in the month of October, 2018 is Rs. 100,710 crore of which CGST is Rs. 16,464 crore, SGST is Rs. 22,826 crore, IGST is Rs. 53,419 crore (including Rs. 26,908 crore collected on imports) and Cess is Rs. 8,000 crore (including Rs. 955 crore collected on imports).

The total number of GSTR 3B Returns filed for the month of September up to 31st October, 2018 is 67.45 lakh.

The Government has settled Rs. 17,490 crore to CGST and Rs. 15,107 crore to SGST from IGST as regular settlement. Further, Rs .30,000crore has been settled from the balance IGST available with the Centre on provisional basis in the ratio of 50:50 between Centre and States. The total revenue earned by Central Government and the State Governments after regular and provisional settlement in the month of October, 2018 is Rs. 48,954 crore for CGST and Rs. 52,934 crore for the SGST.

The Revenue collected in October, 2018 of Rs. 100,710 crore is higher by 6.64% as compared to September, 2018 collection of Rs. 94,442 crore. The chart shows trends in revenue during the current year. The States which achieved extra ordinary growth in total taxes collected from the State assesses include Kerala (44%), Jharkhand (20%), Rajasthan (14%), Uttarakhand (13%) and Maharashtra (11%).

Sum received on relinquishment of 'right to sue' is non-taxable capital receipt: ITAT

Right to sue is a right in personam which cannot be transferred and, thus, amount received as compensation in lieu of said right is not chargable to tax u/s 45

Refer: [2018] 99 taxmann.com 26 (Ahmedabad - Trib.)

Trust can carry forward excess exp. of earlier year to be adjusted against income of subsequent year

Expenditure incurred for religious and charitable purposes by assessee-trust in an earlier year could be adjusted against income of succeeding year while computing taxable income of succeeding year. Full text of the judgement is provided here under:-

[2018] 98 taxmann.com 307 (Bangalore - Trib.)

IN THE ITAT BANGALORE BENCH 'A'

Income-tax Officer, Ward-1, Mysore

Namma Sangha*

N.V. VASUDEVAN, JUDICIAL MEMBER
AND A.K. GARODIA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER

IT APPEAL NO. 1562 (BANG.) OF 2018
[ASSESSMENT YEAR 2012-13]

SEPTEMBER 24, 2018

Section 11 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 - Charitable or religious trust - Exemption of income form property held under (Application of income) - Assessment year 2012 -13 - Whether expenditure incurred for religious and charitable purposes by assessee-trust in an earlier year could be adjusted against income of succeeding year while computing taxable income of succeeding year - Held, yes [Para 7] [In favour of assessee]

FACTS

■		The assessee was a trust registered under section 12A. For the assessment year 2012-13, the assessee filed a return of income claiming set-off of brought forward expenses of Rs. 1.78 crores and carry forward of current year expenditure of Rs. 1.30 crores incurred in excess of its income for setting off against income of the succeeding years and claimed it as application of income in the succeeding years.
■		According to the Assessing Officer, there was no provision in the Act for carry forward of excess expenditure of earlier year to be adjusted against income of the subsequent year and, therefore, he denied the claim of the assessee.
■		On appeal, the Commissioner (Appeals) allowed the claim of the assessee but he worked out the actual quantum of carry forward that had to be allowed at Rs. 1.80 crores.
■		On appeal:

HELD

■		Section 11(1)(a) does not contain any words of limitation to the effect that the income should have been applied for charitable or religious purpose only in the year in which the income has arisen. The application for charitable purposes as contemplated in section 11(1)(a) takes place in the year in which the income is adjusted to meet the expenses incurred for charitable or religious purposes. Hence, even if the expenses for such purposes have been incurred in the earlier years and the said expenses are adjusted against the income of a subsequent year, the income of such subsequent year can be said to be applied for charitable or religious purposes in the year in which such adjustment takes place. In other words, the set-off of excess of expenditure incurred over the income of earlier years against the income of a later year will amount to application of income of such later year. In CIT v. Institute of Banking Personnel Selection [2003] 264 ITR 110/131 Taxman 386 (Bom.) it was held that in case of charitable trust whose income is exempt under section 11, excess of expenditure in the earlier years can be adjusted against income of subsequent years and such adjustment would be application of income for subsequent years and that depreciation is allowable on the assets the cost of which has been fully allowed as application of income under section 11 in past years. In Govindu Naicker Estate v. Asstt. DIT[2001] 248 ITR 368/[1999] 105 Taxman 719 (Mad.), the Madras High Court held that the income of the trust has to be arrived at having due regard to the commercial principles, that section 11 is a benevolent provision, and that the expenditure incurred on religious or charitable purposes in earlier year or years can be adjusted against the income of the subsequent year.
■		The principle that the loss incurred under one head can only be set off against the income from the same head is not of any relevance, if the expenditure incurred was for religious or charitable purposes, and the expenditure adjusted against the income of the trust in a subsequent year, would not amount to an incidence of loss of an earlier year being set-off against the profit of a subsequent year. The object of the religious and charitable trust can only be achieved by incurring expenditure and in order to incur that expenditure, the trust should have an income. So long as the expenditure incurred is on religious or charitable purposes, it is the expenditure properly incurred by the trust, and the income from out of which that expenditure is incurred, would not be liable to tax. The expenditure, if incurred in an earlier year is adjusted against the income of a later year, it has to be held that the trust had incurred expenditure on religious and charitable purposes from the income of the subsequent year, even though the actual expenditure was in the earlier years, if in the books of account of the trust such earlier expenditure had been set-off against the income of the subsequent year. The expenditure that can be so adjusted can only be expenditure on religious and charitable purposes and no other. [Para 7]
■		In the light of the aforesaid judicial pronouncements on the issue, there is no merit in this appeal by the revenue. Accordingly, the same is dismissed. [Para 8]

CASE REVIEW

CIT v. Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation [1987] 164 ITR 439/[1986] 29 Taxman 476 (Raj.), CIT v. Shri Plot Swetamber Murti Pujak Jain Mandal [1995] 211 ITR 293 (Guj.), CIT v. Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) [2003] 264 ITR 110/131 Taxman 386 (Bom.), Govindu Naicker Estate v. Asstt. DIT[2001] 248 ITR 368/[1999] 105 Taxman 719 (Mad.) and CIT v. Society of Sisters of the ST. Anne [1984] 146 ITR 28/16 Taxman 400 (Kar.) (para 7) followed.

CASES REFERRED TO

CIT v. Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation [1987] 164 ITR 439/[1986] 29 Taxman 476 (Raj.) (para 7), CIT v. Shri Plot Swetamber Murti Pujak Jain Mandal [1995] 211 ITR 293 (Guj.) (para 7), CIT v. Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) [2003] 264 ITR 110/131 Taxman 386 (Bom.) (para 7), Govindu Naicker Estate v. Asstt. DIT [2001] 248 ITR 368/[1999] 105 Taxman 719 (Mad.) (para 7) and CIT v. Society of Sisters of the ST. Anne [1984] 146 ITR 28/16 Taxman 400 (Kar.) (para 7).

Siddappaji R.N., Addl. CIT (DR) (ITAT) for the Appellant.

ORDER

N.V. Vasudevan, Judicial Member - This is an appeal by the Revenue against the order dated 13.10.2017 of the CIT(Appeals), Mysore relating to assessment year 2012-13.

2. The only issue that arises for consideration in this appeal which is projected by the Revenue in grounds of appeal, is as to whether the CIT(Appeals) was justified in holding that assessee, a trust, is entitled to claim set off of brought forward expenses of Rs. 1,78,15,835 and carry forward of current year expenditure of Rs. 1,30,33,485/- incurred in excess of its income for setting off against income of the succeeding years and claim it as application of income in the succeeding years?

3. The assessee is a trust registered u/s. 12A of the Act. For the A.Y. 2012-13, the assessee filed a return of income claiming set off of brought forward expenses of Rs. 1,78,15,835 and carry forward of current year expenditure of Rs. 1,30,33,485/- incurred in excess of its income for setting off against income of the succeeding years and claim it as application of income in the succeeding years. According to the AO, there was no provision in the Act for carry forward of excess expenditure of earlier year to be adjusted against income of the subsequent year and he therefore denied the claim of the Assessee.

4. On appeal by the assessee, the CIT(A) allowed the claim of the Assessee, but he worked out the actual quantum of carry forward that has to be allowed at Rs. 1, 80, 96, 580/-. The following were the relevant findings of the CIT(A) in this regard:—

"3. …………………………… The third ground of appeal pertains to the appellant's claim both for bringing forward the amount of excess of expenditure over application made in the earlier years besides the appellant's claim for the excess of expenditure of the current year to be carried over. This issue is covered in favour of the appellant vide the decision of the Honorable jurisdictional ITAT, Bangalore rendered in ITA No. 124/Bang/2014, dt. 20/10/2015 in the case of Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies v. Dept. of Income-tax. Therefore, after due consideration of the facts of the appellant as per law, the 3rd ground of appeal is allowed."

5. Aggrieved by the order of CIT(A), the revenue has preferred the present appeal before the Tribunal, raising the following grounds:—

(2) On carry forward of excess expenditure/application/deficit/ loss:—

(a)		The CIT (A) has erred in directing the assessing officer to allow set-off of excess expenditure/application pertaining to current asst. year and earlier years against the income of the future asst. year without appreciating the fact that as per the scheme of taxation of charitable or religious trust/institution as codified u/s. 11, 12 and 13, there is no provision for computing loss from property held under trust/institution on account of excess application of income/funds of the trust.
(b)		The CIT (A) has failed to appreciate the fact that the normal computation of income under respective heads as envisaged u/s 15 to 59 are not applicable to the computation of income in respect of charitable trust/institution for the purpose of claiming exemption under sec. 11, 12 and 13 and, therefore, the provisions relating to set-off of loss from one source against the income from another source, set-off of loss from one head against income from another head and carry forward and set-off of loss against the income of subsequent years as envisaged u/s 70 to 79 are also not applicable to the charitable trusts/institutions.
(c)		The CIT (A) has failed to discuss the issue in detail bringing out the facts and applying the relevant provisions of the Act, but came to a conclusion that excess expenditure/excess application shall be allowed to be carried forward and set-off against the income of the future assessment years and, thereby, rendering the order perverse.

6. The learned DR reiterated the stand of the AO that there is no provision in the Act to allow carry forward of excess application of income for set off as application of income in subsequent years. The ld. counsel for the Assessee relied on the order of the CIT(A) and several decisions referred to in the order of the CIT(A) wherein the Tribunal accepted the claim of the Assessee on identical issue on identical facts.

7. We have considered his submission. Section 11(1)(a) does not contain any words of limitation to the effect that the income should have been applied for charitable or religious purpose only in the year in which the income has arisen. The application for charitable purposes as contemplated in section 11(1)(a) takes place in the year in which the income is adjusted to meet the expenses incurred for charitable or religious purposes. Hence, even if the expenses for such purposes have been incurred in the earlier years and the said expenses are adjusted against the income of a subsequent year, the income of such subsequent year can be said to be applied for charitable or religious purposes in the year in which such adjustment takes place. In other words, the set-off of excess of expenditure incurred over the income of earlier years against the income of a later year will amount to application of income of such later year. The above is the position of law as held in the case of CIT v. Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation [1987] 164 ITR 439/[1986] 29 Taxman 476 (Raj.)CIT v. Shri Plot Swetamber Murti Pujak Jain Mandal [1995] 211 ITR 293 (Guj.). In CIT v. Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) [2003] 264 ITR 110/131 Taxman 386 (Bom.) it was held that in case of charitable trust whose income is exempt under s. 11, excess of expenditure in the earlier years can be adjusted against income of subsequent years and such adjustment would be application of income for subsequent years and that depreciation is allowable on the assets the cost of which has been fully allowed as application of income under s. 11 in past years. In Govindu Naicker Estate v. Asstt. DIT [2001] 248 ITR 368/[1999] 105 Taxman 719 (Mad.), the Hon'ble Madras High Court held that the income of the trust has to be arrived at having due regard to the commercial principles, that s. 11 is a benevolent provision, and that the expenditure incurred on religious or charitable purposes in earlier year or years can be adjusted against the income of the subsequent year. The principle that the loss incurred under one head can only be set off against the income from the same head is not of any relevance, if the expenditure incurred was for religious or charitable purposes, and the expenditure adjusted against the income of the trust in a subsequent year, would not amount to an incidence of loss of an earlier year being set off against the profit of a subsequent year. The object of the religious and charitable trust can only be achieved by incurring expenditure and in order to incur that expenditure, the trust should have an income. So long as the expenditure incurred is on religious or charitable purposes, it is the expenditure properly incurred by the trust, and the income from out of which that expenditure is incurred, would not be liable to tax. The expenditure, if incurred in an earlier year is adjusted against the income of a later year, it has to be held that the trust had incurred expenditure on religious and charitable purposes from the income of the subsequent year, even though the actual expenditure was in the earlier years, if in the books of account of the trust such earlier expenditure had been set off against the income of the subsequent year. The expenditure that can be so adjusted can only be expenditure on religious and charitable purposes and no other. The Hon'ble Madras High Court in coming to the aforesaid conclusion placed reliance the decision in the case of CIT v. Society of the Sisters of the ST. Anne [1984] 146 ITR 28/16 Taxman 400 (Kar.).

8. In the light of the aforesaid judicial pronouncements on the issue, we are of the view that there is no merit in this appeal by the revenue. Accordingly, the same is dismissed.

9. In the result, appeal by the Revenue is dismissed.

Refer: www.taxmann.com

I-T to probe use of fake PAN cards in market trading

The Income Tax (I-T) department will seek details of trading worth several thousand crores on commodity and equity exchanges, which were carried out a few years ago using fake PAN (Permanent Account Number) cards.

A preliminary probe carried out by the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) between 2012 and 2015 found several fake PANs had been used, sources following the case told BusinessLine.

According to sources, trading volumes worth more than ₹15,000 crore may have been generated using fake PANs.

Both SEBI and erstwhile commodity regulator FMC had in a 2007 circular mandated unique client code (UCC) for entering any trade on exchange platforms. A UCC cannot be generated without giving PAN details. The exchanges made it compulsory for brokers to give the PAN details of clients for trading. However, for many years they did not cross-verify the details.

MCX started imposing heavy penalties on brokers who delayed submitting PAN details for know-your-client verification, but some of them protested that many others had submitted fake PANs but had been let off.

Sometime between 2012 and 2015, the MCX conducted a probe headed by its former regulatory official Narendra Ahlawat, and found that PAN details submitted by several brokers were either inaccurate or fake. The matter was taken to an internal committee. All the exchanges now have a system in place to cross-verify PAN details with the I-T database, but that came into place only two years ago.

“Not much of regulatory action has happened as the FMC and SEBI were about to be merged after the NSEL scam. A few brokers who had fake PAN cards surrendered their membership. But the file containing trading volumes and details of fake PAN cards still remains with the exchanges. The I-T department is eager to get it and has initiated the process,” the sources said.

Email queries sent to the MCX, the NCDEX and the NSE did not receive any response.

The MCX sent across a few regulatory circulars on how cross-verification of PAN card with the I-T database and mobile number was mandatory for exchanges, but did not reply to specific questions. The BSE said it had received a list of duplicated as well as invalid PANs from the I-T in 2016, and based on it, the exchange had barred trading on those cards.

Refer:www.thehindubusinessline.com

ICAI Allows Students To Submit Observation On CA Question Paper For November Exam

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has notified the candidates appearing in the CA examination in November will be able to submit observations on the question paper, if any. Candidates will be able to submit their observations by way of email or letter. The observations should be submitted to the Examination department.

Candidates appearing for the CA examination in November will be able to submit their observations on the question paper by email on examfeedback@icai.in. Those who wish to send their observations by way of letter can send their observations through Speed Post on the following address:

The Joint Secretary (Exams)
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
ICAI Bhawan
Indraprastha Marg
New Delhi 110 002

The observations should reach ICAI office by November 26, 2018.

Students sending their observations should make sure that they mention their name, registration number, roll number, email id, and mobile number along with their observation on the question paper.

The CA Final examination began on November 1 for Group 1. The exam for CA Intermediate began on November 2 while the exam for Foundation course is set to begin on November 11. While the dates remain the same as notified in July, ICAI has postponed the CA Final Group I exam scheduled on November 3 to November 19 for exam centres in Bellary and Shimoga in Karnataka.

Refer:www.ndtv.com

Refund couldn't be rejected on ground that it was adjusted against tax arears in absence of sec. 156 notice

Where assessee's claim for refund was rejected on ground that amount of refund had been adjusted against tax demand relating to subsequent assessment years, in view of fact that notice of demand under section 156 for subsequent years was never served on assessee, impugned order was to be set aside and a direction was to be issued to grant refund to assessee along with applicable rate of interest.

Refer:[2018] 98 taxmann.com 454 (Bombay)

Sec. 54 relief couldn't be disallowed merely because new house was purchased by taking housing loan

Where assessee had purchased new house property within stipulated period of two years from date of transfer of original asset, deduction under section 54 could not be disallowed on ground assessee had utilized housing loan taken for purchase of home

Refer:[2018] 98 taxmann.com 393 (Mumbai - Trib.)

No denial of dep. just because machinery was used only for trial production

Depreciation in respect of machinery to be allowed even if same was used only for trial production; SLP dismissed

Refer:[2018] 98 taxmann.com 368 (SC)

Sum received on renting of terrace for installation of mobile tower taxable as house property income: ITAT

Income earned by assessee from letting out space on terrace for installation of mobile tower/antenna was taxable as 'income from house property' and, therefore, deduction under section 24(a) was available in respect of it

Refer:[2018] 98 taxmann.com 365 (Mumbai - Trib.)