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2021 (11) TMI 328 - AT - Income TaxPenalty u/s. 271B - non filing the tax audit report - reasonable cause for not obtaining the audit report - HELD THAT:- Whether the explanation offered in response to the show cause notice constitutes a reasonable cause for not obtaining the audit report. The explanation of the appellant is that it was under bona-fide belief that there is no requirement under law to obtain the audit report u/s.44AB as its income was exempt u/s.80P(2) of the Act and its books accounts were subject to audit by Government Auditor. This explanation was not found to be false by the lower authorities. The lower authorities merely rejected the explanation and proceed with levy of penalty. There is nothing on record to doubt the explanation offered by the appellant society. Therefore, when the assessee entertained bona-fide belief that its account were not subject to audit u/s. 44AB, it would certainly constitute reasonable cause for not obtaining the audit report and, therefore, the question of imposing of the penalty u/s. 271B does not arise. Further, we find audit report under the provisions of Maharashtra Co-operative Society was obtained only 27th June, 2017 and, therefore, occasion for filing the tax audit report along with the return of income does not arise. In the circumstances, we find that the lower authorities was not justified in confirming the levy of penalty and accordingly we direct the Assessing Officer to delete the penalty levied u/s. 271B - Decided in favour of assessee.
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