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2015 (10) TMI 233 - ITAT CHENNAIPenalty u/s.271(1)(c) - ACIT while imposing penalty held that exemption u/s.10(14) in respect of interest on NRE deposits is available only to non-resident Indians. Whereas, the assessee is resident. He further held that ignorance of law cannot be excused. The non-disclosure of income is deliberate on the part of the assessee - Held that:- The assessee has not disclosed interest from Fixed Deposits in his return of income for the AY under consideration. The assessee had made investment in NRE Fixed Deposits from his NRE SB A/c in the year 2002. During that period, the assessee was sent on a particular assignment by the employer company to US. The assessee was allegedly under bonafide impression that since the deposits are made from NRE A/c, the interest income there from is exempt u/s.10(4), even though the assessee had returned to India and was a resident in India. The FERA, 1973 has been repealed and has been replaced with FEMA, 1999. The corresponding provisions contain in section 2(q) defining 'person resident outside India' in FERA, 1973 are contained in section 2(w) of FEMA, 1999. The 'person resident outside India' and 'persons resident in India' as defined under FEMA, 1999. In the present case, we find that the assessee has not offered interest income for tax due to wrong interpretations of the provisions of the Act and not on account of deliberate concealment of income or furnishing inaccurate particulars of such income. The assessee was under bonafide impression that he is a 'person resident outside India' as defined under FEMA. The explanation furnished by the assessee in not disclosing the interest income in the return appears to be quite genuine. We do not agree with the findings of the authorities below that the explanation furnished by the assessee is not covered by Clause(B) of Explanation-1 to Section 271(1)(c) of the Act. After examining chronology of events and documents on record, we are satisfied that the explanation furnished by assessee is bonafide and acceptable. - Decided in favour of assessee.
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