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Section 56(2)(vii)(b) does not apply where full consideration for acquiring immovable property is paid before AY 2014-15

Section-56-2-vii-b-does-not-apply-where-full-consideration-for-acquiring-immovable-property-is-paid-before-AY-2014-15

Section 56(2)(vii)(b) was amended by the Finance Act, 2013 w.e.f. 01.04.2014 or Assessment Year (AY) 2014-15 to cover inter alia any receipt of immovable property for inadequate consideration as 'gift' income under the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Prior to the amendment, receipt of immovable property without consideration was covered within the ambit of section 56(2)(vii)(b). The condition of 'inadequate transaction' or adequacy of consideration was introduced from the AY 2014-15 and hence cannot be applied to a transaction entered and completed before AY 2014-15.

The amendment w.e.f AY 2014-15 will not apply to a purchase transaction of immovable property for which full consideration is paid before the amendment. 

Mere registration at a later date will not cover a transaction already executed in the earlier years and substantial obligations have already been discharged and a substantive right has accrued to the assessee therefrom.


Read the case details. 

Case Title
Bajrang Lal Naredi vs. Income Tax Officer, Ward-1(3), Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.
Court
ITAT, Ranchi Bench, Ranchi
Appeal No./Citation
ITA No. 327/Ran/2018
Section covered
56(2)(vii)(b),  234A, 234B
Order Result
Appeal allowed. Decided in favour of assessee.
Date of judgment
20.10.2020

Facts of the case:

The assessee is an Individual and registered an immovable property in FY 2013-14 (AY 2014-15). The purchase consideration of the immovable property was Rs.9,10,000/-. The agreement for the purchase was made in FY 2011-12 and accordingly the payment was made at the time of such agreement to the vendor.

The registration was, however, carried out at a belated stage on 17.06.2013 which falls in FY 2013-14.

In the assessment proceedings, the AO applied provisions of Section 56(2)(vii)(b) of the Act and worked out the adjusted purchase consideration at Rs.18,89,350/-. 

The AO accordingly treated the difference of Rs.9,79,350/- as ‘deemed income’ having regard to the provisions of Section 56(2)(vii)(b) of the Act as amended by Finance Act, 2013 and applicable to AY 2014-15 onwards.

No relief was allowed in the first appeal by the CIT(A).

Issues:

Whether the amendment in section 56(2)(vii)(b) will apply to a purchase transaction of immovable property for which full consideration is paid before AY 2014-15?

Arguments of the assessee:

Before the Tribunal, the assessee contended that the purchase transactions of immovable property were carried out in FY 2011-12 for which full consideration was also parted with the seller. Mere registration at later date would not cover a transaction already executed in the earlier years and substantial obligations have already been discharged and a substantive right has accrued to the assessee therefrom.

Arguments of the department:

Before the Tribunal, the Ld. D/R relied upon the decision of the lower authorities.

The Decision:

The Tribunal held that the pre-amended provisions of section 56(2)(vii)(b) will thus apply and therefore the Revenue is debarred to cover the transactions where inadequacy in purchase consideration is alleged and found merit in the arguments argued on behalf of the assessee. 

The Tribunal set aside the order of the CIT(A) the AO is directed to delete the additions made under s. 56(2)(vii)(b) of the Act and restore the position claimed by the assessee.

Analysis:

The decision is in favor of the taxpayer and has explained the amended provisions of law. Section 56(2)(vii)(b), which is replaced by section 56(2)(x) effective from AY 2018-19, will operate at the time of transfer of the immovable property.


Full text of the judgment:

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL
RANCHI BENCH, RANCHI

BEFORE SHRI PRADIP KUMAR KEDIA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER
& SMT. MADHUMITA ROY, JUDICIAL MEMBER

I.T.A. No.  327/Ran/2018
(Assessment Year: 2014-15)

Bajrang Lal Naredi
Chhata Compound, Baralal
Street, Upper Bazar, Near
Ranchi Express, Ranchi -
834001 
Vs
Income Tax Officer
Ward-1(3),
Jamshedpur, Jharkhand 

PAN : ABOPN9645F.
Appellant

Respondent

Appellant by
:
Shri Anand Pasari with Shri Nitin Pasari, Advocates 
Respondent by
:
Smt. Nisha Singhmarr, JCIT 


Date of Hearing
:
05.11.2019
Date of Pronouncement
:
20.01.2020

O R D E R


PER PRADIP KUMAR KEDIA - AM: 

The captioned appeal has been filed at the instance of the assessee against the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), Jamshedpur ('CIT(A)’ in short), dated 09.07.2018 arising in the assessment order dated 31.08.2016 passed by the Assessing Officer (AO) under s. 143(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (the Act) concerning AY 2014-15.

2. As per multiple grounds of appeal, the assessee has essentially raised two grievances; (i) applicability of amended provisions of Section 56(2)(vii)(b) of the Act in the facts and circumstances of the case; & (ii) chargeability of interest under s.234B of the Act on additions made.

3. The assessee in the year under consideration registered in his name, an immovable property on 17.06.2013 against the actual purchase of property on 15.04.2011 in FY 2011-12. The purchase consideration was determined at Rs.9,10,000/- at the time of agreement for purchase in FY 2011-12 and accordingly the payment was made at the time of such agreement to the vendor. As noted, the registration was however carried out at a belated stage on 17.06.2013 on which date the stamp duty valuation stood at a higher figure at Rs.22,60,000/-. The AO noticed the alleged under-valuation in the purchase price of the property qua stamp duty valuation and applied provisions of Section 56(2)(vii)(b) of the Act and worked out the adjusted purchase consideration of Rs.18,89,350/-. The AO accordingly treated the difference of Rs.9,79,350/- as ‘deemed income’ having regard to the provisions of Section 56(2)(vii)(b) of the Act as amended by Finance Act, 2013 and applicable to AY 2014-15 onwards.

4. In the first appeal, the CIT(A) did not give any relief on inapplicability of amended provisions of Section 56(2)(vii)(b) of the Act to the facts of the case as claimed by the assessee.

5. Further aggrieved, the assessee preferred appeal before the Tribunal against the order of the CIT(A).

6. We have carefully considered the rival submissions on the issue. In the instant appeal, the applicability of Section 56(2)(vii)(b) of the Act as amended by Finance Act, 2013 and applicable to AY 2014-15 in question. On a perusal of pre-amended provisions of Section 56(2)(vii)(b) of the Act, we gather that where an individual or HUF receives from any person any immovable property without consideration, the provisions of pre- amended Section 56(2)(vii)(b) of the Act would apply. The aforesaid provisions was however substituted by Finance Act, 2013 and made applicable to AY 2014-15 onwards. As per the amended provisions, the scope of substituted provision was expanded to cover purchase of immovable property for inadequate consideration as well. It is alleged on behalf of the Revenue that the amended provision will apply in view of the fact that registration has been carried out during the FY 2013-14 concerning AY 2014-15 where the amended law came into force. The assessee, on the other hand, seeks to claim that his case would be covered by pre-amended provision in view of the fact that agreement for purchase of the property was entered into with the prospective seller in FY 2011-12 relevant to AY 2012-13 at which time the new law did not come into play. It was claimed that the purchase consideration was duly paid at the time of agreement in FY 2011-12 and the purchase was de facto completed except for the formality of registration. It was thus submitted that the transactions entered prior to the FY 2013-14 would be governed by the pre-amended provision which triggers the applicability of such provision only where there is a total lack of consideration and does not cover a case of inadequacy in purchase consideration.

7. We find merit in such plea advanced on behalf of the assessee. It is not in dispute that purchase transactions of immovable propert y were carried out in FY 2011-12 for which full consideration was also parted with the seller. Mere registration at later date would not cover a transaction already executed in the earlier years and substantial obligations have already been discharged and a substantive right has accrued to the assessee therefrom. The pre-amended provisions will thus apply and therefore the Revenue is debarred to cover the transactions where inadequacy in purchase consideration is alleged. We thus find merit in the issue raised on behalf of the assessee. The order of the CIT(A) is accordingly set aside and the AO is directed to delete the additions made under s. 56(2)(vii)(b) of the Act and restore the position claimed by the assessee.

8. Second issue concerns charge ability of interest under s. 234B of the Act on assessed income qua return income.

8.1 We find that identical issue has come up before the co-ordinate bench of ITAT in ITO vs. M/s. Anand Vihar Construction Pvt. Ltd. ITA No. 335/Ran/2017 order dated 28.11.2018 wherein the issue was dealt with as under:

“16. We have heard d rival submissions and perused the material on record. Prima facie the disputed issue, being charging of interest u/s.234A & 234B as envisaged by ld. AR, is covered by the decision of Hon'ble jurisdictional High Court in the case of Ajay Prakas h Verma in ITA No.38 of 2010 reported in 2013(1) TM I 140. The Hon’ble Court in Para23 &24 held as under:-

“23. Learned counsel for the appellant submitted that it has been ordered by the AO that interest be charged as per rule. Interest can be levied under Section 234A and 234B of the Act. It is submitted that in view of the judgment of Full Bench of Ranchi Bench of Patna High Court delivered in the case of Smt. Tej Kumari Vrs. Commissioner of Income-tax r eported in [ 2001] the interest cannot be levied over the assessed income and it can be levied only on the income declared in the return. The revenue preferred SLP before Hon’ble Supreme Court against the said judgment of the Full Bench of Patna High Court, which was dismissed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court on merits vide order dated 01.08.2000 by saying that there is no merit in the appeal.

24. Learned counsel for the revenue could not dispute this legal position.

Therefore, so far as question of law involved in this appeal that whether the interest could have been levied against the assessed income of the assessee under Sections 234A and 234B is concerned, in view of the Full Bench judgment of Ranchi Bench of Patna High Court delivered in the case of Smt. Tej. Kumari, the revenue can levy the interest only on the total income declared in the returns and not on the income assessed and determined by the AO to that extent. The orders passed by the authorities below are accordingly modified and interest shall be chargeable in the light of the Full Bench judgment, referred above.”

17. Ld. AR also placed reliance on the decision of coordinate bench of the Tribunal in the case of Shri Girdhari Lal Shar ma vs. ITO, Ward- 1(4), Jamshedpur in ITA No. 31/Ran/2013 by an order dated 07.05.2012 in para No. 6 relying upon the above decision of the Hon’ble Jharkhand High Court held:-


”We accordingly following the above decision, direct the Assessing Officer to re-compute the interest under section 2348 on the basis of the total income declared by the assessee in the return filed.”

18. We respectfully following the decision of the jurisdictional High Court and the decision of coordinate bench of the Tribunal direct the AO to recomputed the interest u/s.234B on the basis of total income declared by the assessee in the return filed. This ground of Cross Objection of the assessee is allowed.”

8.2 In consonance with the view expressed by the co-ordinate bench holding that interest under s.234A & 234B of the Act is chargeable with reference to returned income only, we are inclined to adjudicate the legal objection raised by way of additional ground in favour of the assessee.

8.3 In the result, second issue concerning chargeability of interest under s.234B of the Act is allowed.

9. In the result, appeal filed by the assessee is allowed.


This Order pronounced in Open Court on 20/01/2020

Sd/-
(MADHUMITA ROY)
JUDICIAL MEMBER


Sd/-
(PRADIP KUMAR KEDIA)
ACCOUNTANT MEMBER 
Ranchi: Dated 20/01/2020

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