Addl. CIT does not have the authority to grant authorisation for reopening after 4 years.

Fact and Issue of the case

This appeal by the assessee is directed against the order dated 15.10.2019 of the CIT(Appeals)-4, Bengaluru for the assessment year 2008-09 on the following grounds:-

That the Order of the Assessing Officer / CIT Appeals in so far as it is against the appellant is against the law, facts, circumstances, natural justice, equity and all other known principles of law. The total value of fringe benefit computed and the total tax computed is hereby disputed. The notice issued u/s 115WH of the Act and subsequent assessment proceedings consequent to such notice is without jurisdiction, bad in law and barred by limitation. The notice u/s 115WH and the reassessment order are barred by limitation as no reassessment can be made beyond four years from the end of the relevant assessment year.

The reassessment proceedings is not conformity with procedure laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in 259 ITR 19, hence on this ground alone the order requires to be cancelled. The order u/s 115WE (3) r.w.s 115WG of the Act is bad in law, as the appellant had disclosed the primary material facts fully and truly necessary for assessment and mere change of opinion cannot be the basis for making reassessment.

The Learned AO /CIT(A) erred in holding that the sum of Rs. 81,55,514/- being 5% of tour and travel expenses is liable for FBT u/s 115WC(1)(e) without appreciating the fact that such expenses were incurred as a legitimate business expenditure and no element of employee benefit was involved. The Learned AO /CIT(A) erred in treating the sum of Rs. 3,63,562/- as liable for Fringe Benefit Tax u/s 115WB(2)(N) of the Act. The Learned AO /CIT(A) erred in treating the sum of Rs. 97,368/- as liable for Fringe Benefit Tax u/s 115WB(2) (0) of the Act. The Learned AO /CIT(A) erred in withdrawing interest granted u/s 244A of the Act. The appellant denies the liabilities for interest u/s 234D of the Act. No opportunity has been given before the levy of interest u/s 234D of the Act.

The assessee filed its return on fringe benefits for the year under appeal on 30.9.2009 declaring total value of fringe benefits of Rs.1,73,35,689. The AO completed the assessment u/s. 115WE(3) r.w.s. 115WG of the Act assessing income of Rs.2,59,52,133 after making addition of towards fringe benefits of Rs.81,55,514 u/s. 115WC(1)(e), Rs.3,63,562 u/s. 115WB(2)(N) and Rs.97,368 u/s. 115WB(2) of the Act. The total demand raised was Rs.40,26,856.

The ld. AR submitted that assessee raised the issue relating to time limit of passing the order stating that it was time barred before the CIT(Appeals) by way of ground No.3 before CIT(A). However, the CIT(A) failed to address these grounds. He submitted that these grounds being pure legal issues, the issue may be decided by the Tribunal instead of remitting the same to the CIT(Appeals) for his decision. In this regard, he submitted that the original assessment in this case for AY 2007-08 was passed u/s. 115WE(3) of the Act on 24.3.2010. Notice u/s. 115WH of the Act dated 12.11.2013 was issued for reopening the assessment.

The ld. AR submitted that no notice u/s. 115WH(4) could be issued within four years from the end of relevant assessment year with the approval of Chief Commissioner or Commissioner, as the case may be. According to him, in the present case, notice u/s. 115WH was issued on 12.11.2013 which is after four years from the end of relevant assessment year with the approval of Additional CIT, Range 12, Bangalore, as such jurisdiction assumed by the AO is bad in law. Accordingly, the assessment order has to be quashed.

Observation of the Court

We have heard both the parties and perused the material on record. Admittedly, notice for reopening was issued to the assessee on 12.11.2013u/s. 115WH of the Act for the AY 2008-09.

In the present case, approval for reopening has been obtained from the Additional Commissioner of Income Tax. Approval was not granted by the Competent Authority. Being so, the assumption of jurisdiction by the AO is bad in law. This view of ours is fortified by the order of the coordinate Bench of the Tribunal in the case of Hi Gain Investment P. Ltd. v. ITO, 50 CCH 34 (Del Trib.) wherein it was held as under:- “Reopening u/s 148 of the Act was initiated by the AO after obtaining the approval of the Add. Commissioner, Range-12, New Delhi. This fact has been mentioned by the AO in the body of the assessment order at page no.1. However, as per the provision contained in Section 151 of the Act, the reopening after the expiry of four years from the end of the relevant assessment year can be done only after the satisfaction of the Commissioner or Pr. Commissioner or Chief Commissioner or Pr. Chief Commissioner but not on the approval of the Addl. Commissioner as has been done in this case. In the present case also the reopening beyond 4 years has been done by getting the approval of Addl. Commissioner and not from the Commissioner or Pr. Commissioner or Pr. Chief Commissioner. Therefore, the initiation of the proceedings u/s 148 of the Act was invalid.”

In the present case also the reopening beyond 4 years has been done by getting the approval of Addl. Commissioner and not from the Commissioner or Pr. Commissioner or Pr. Chief Commissioner. Therefore, the initiation of the proceedings u/s 148 of the Act was invalid.

The assumption of jurisdiction is improper in the present case so as to reopen the assessment. Accordingly, we quash the reassessment order u/s. 115WE(3) r.w.s. 115WG of the Act.