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2016 (3) TMI 87 - AT - Income TaxIncome from sale and purchase of shares - LTCG/ STCG OR business income - Held that:- Merely because the rate of tax has been reduced in respect of short term capital gains and long term capital gains have been exempt during the year by way of an amendment to the provisions as discussed above, that itself, cannot be a ground for the AO to depart from its consistent stand of treating the assessee as an investor and thereby to charge the income earned by the assessee from share transactions as business income. As discussed above, at the time of purchase of shares even during the year but prior to 01.10.2004, the assessee was not guided or influenced by lower tax rate in case of short term capital gains as the rate for business income and short term capital gains was at par. The assessee, however, was treating himself as an investor and keeping the shares as investments in his account irrespective of the probable tax implication as there were no such tax implications as discussed above. The intention of the assessee, while purchasing the share, is the important and guiding factor as to whether the same was purchased with an intention of investment or for trading. The facts of the case as discussed above, clearly reveal that the assessee had treated the shares as investments in his account. As discussed above, if during the mid of the relevant Financial Year, certain tax benefits have been given in respect of capital gains, that cannot, in any way, lead to an assumption or presumption that the intention of the assessee at the time of purchase of shares was that of a trader and not of an investor. The treatment of the investment in the account books of the assessee was also a relevant guiding factor. The AO has also not pointed out as to in what manner the activity of the assessee for the year under consideration had been changed from investor to that of a trader especially when the department had consistently been treating him as an investor. It is also pertinent to mention here that as discussed above, in subsequent assessment years the department has again accepted the assessee as an investor. It is for the first time that in this year under consideration i.e. A.Y. 2005-06 the assessee had been treated as a trader because of certain tax benefits granted to an investor in securities by way of amendment in the relevant provisions of the Income Tax Act and subsequently for the A.Ys 2006-07 to 2008-09, the assessee was treated as trader.In view of our above discussion of the matter, we are of the view that the assessee is to be treated as an investor for the A.Y. 2005-06 to A.Y. 2008-09 also. We hold accordingly. The AO, therefore, is directed to treat the income from sale and purchase of shares as short term capital gains and long term capital gains according to the period of holding as per the provisions of law for these assessment years also. - Decided against revenue Disallowance under section 14A as per the provisions of rule 8D - Held that:- For the years for which Rule 8D is not applicable and in the event of that the AO is not satisfied with the explanation/working given by the assessee, disallowance under section 14A has to be made on a reasonable basis. We restrict the disallowance u/s 14A in the case of the assessee @ 5% of the tax exempt income earned by the assessee during the year.
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