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2023 (12) TMI 1092 - HC - Income TaxRefund claim with Interest u/s 244A - Withholding of refund without recording an opinion on whether grant of refund would likely affect the revenue adversely u/s 241A - HELD THAT:- As consideration falls short of the requirements under the provisions of Section 241A of the IT Act, which stipulate that the Assessing Officer, having regard to the fact that notice has been issued under sub-section (2) of Section 143, must record in writing an opinion with reasons on how the revenue’s interest would be adversely affected if refund is allowed. The withholding of the refund in the manner as now considered by the Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, ReAC (AU)-1(2)(1), Surat cannot be accepted, and there must be interference by this Court. This Court must record that it is undisputed that the petitioner has claimed refund for the Assessment Years prior to the Assessment Year 2021-22. The Principal Commissioner of Income-tax (AU)-1 has granted approval recording the details of the carry forward losses for the corresponding years, and consequentially, the petitioner is admitted to refund for the Assessment Years 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2000-21 respectively. The petitioner has reported a carry forward loss to the tune of Rs. 3,325.85/- Crores for the present Assessment year. The Revenue as against the principal sum of Rs. 29,35,11,360/- will have to pay interest in excess of Rs. 2,00,00,000/-, imposing a burden on the exchequer, if there is a delay. Further, if indeed a reference to the transfer pricing officer is under investigation, it would suffice for this Court to observe that if the adjudication, after due process, results in a demand, the petitioner will have to answer the demand, but in anticipation of a conclusion for a demand without even recording the reasons, the petitioner cannot be denied the refund. There are overwhelming circumstances as established by the undisputed facts. In the light of the above, the petition must be allowed directing the respondents to refund a sum along with interest as is permissible in law within a timeframe without prejudice to recover demand on the conclusion of the pending proceedings. The petition is allowed. The first and the fifth respondents [National Faceless Assessment Centre through the Commissioner of Income Tax-1 and Central Processing Cell through the Commissioner of Income Tax], are directed to take appropriate action for refund of a sum of Rs. 29,30,46,736/- along with permissible interest under Section 244A.
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