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2015 (11) TMI 991 - AT - Income TaxPenalty u/s. 271(1)(c) - disallowance of the loss claimed - Held that:- A plain look at the profit and loss account shows that statutory auditor has opined that the assessee has incurred loss for the year ended on 31.03.2010. There cannot indeed be any quarrel with this proposition, but then this Auditors Report does not deal with the provisions of Income Tax Act. As per Income Tax Act expenditure incurred during pre-commencement period cannot be allowed as deduction while computing the income of the assessee. There was thus no reason for assessee to deviate from the provisions of Income Tax Act, when admittedly the assessee has not commenced its business activities in the assessment year under consideration. The onus is on the assessee to prove that the explanation is bonafide but there is nothing from the assessee to even indicate, leave aside proving, that there was any reason to believe that the expenditure is allowable. The Auditor’s report did not deal with this aspect at all. One can perhaps even understand ignorance about a legal provision, but once the assessee is on record not only being aware about this provision but also preparing the income tax return in the light of the said provision, there cannot be any justification about assessee ignoring the clear mandate of the provision. Such an action on the part of the assessee, in our considered opinion, cannot be said to be bonafide. In our humble understanding, the explanation of the assessee is not acceptable and we reject the same. In any case, Auditors report obtained by the assessee cannot override Income Tax provisions and just because the assessee's claim is supported by a chartered accountant's opinion, this fact per se cannot absolve the assessee from penalty under section 271(1)(c). Claim of the assessee towards administrative expenditure and finance charges as business expenditure is not at all admissible as the assessee has not commenced business during the relevant financial year under consideration. The Assessing Officer is of the view that the expenditure is not based on any sound reason as the assessee was fully aware of the facts that it is not revenue expenditure when it had filed its original return of income. Therefore, it cannot be said that the assessee discovered any omission or wrong statement subsequent of filing of original return of income on 14.10.2010. Being so, it cannot be believed that the assessee chose to revise its earlier return consequent upon knowing that there are omissions or wrong statements in the original return of income. The assessee is having full knowledge about the wrong claim made by it and therefore, it cannot take a plea that the error is bonafide and it is to be condoned. Being so in the present case the impugned penalty is not in respect of a bogus claim but in respect of making a claim which is patently inadmissible. In such a situation, it is difficult to understand, much less approve, this plea of the assessee that the assessee as bonafide in claiming the expenditure. In our opinion levy of penalty by Assessing Officer u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act is justified and accordingly, we reverse the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) and restore that of the Assessing Officer. - Decided in favour of revenue
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