2010 (5) TMI 34 - HC - Income Tax

Penalty u/s 271(1)(c) – Bonafide mistake - During penalty proceedings, the assessee claimed that it had committed a bona fide mistake and all the facts material to the computation were disclosed. The Assessing Officer was of the view that there was no difference of opinion as regards disallowance of these expenses and the incorrect computation given by the assessee was an act of paying less tax than what was due from it. He was of the view that the assessee was a big company, assisted by a team of Tax Auditors and, therefore, it was a case of concealment of income as well as of furnishing wrong particulars for computation of income. CIT(A) confirmed the penalty but ITAT deleted the penalty

Held that: It is true that mere submitting a claim which is incorrect in law would not amount to giving inaccurate particulars of the income of the assessee, but it cannot be disputed that the claim made by the assessee needs to be bonafide. If the claim besides being incorrect in law is malafide, Explanation 1 to Section 271(1) would come into play and work to the disadvantage of the assessee. - The Court cannot overlook the fact that only a small percentage of the Income Tax Returns are picked up for scrutiny. If the assessee makes a claim which is not only incorrect in law but is also wholly without any basis and the explanation furnished by him for making such a claim is not found to be bonafide, it would be difficult to say that he would still not be liable to penalty under Section 271(1)(c) of the Act. - The explanation offered by the assessee company was not accepted either by the Assessing Officer or by the Commissioner of Income Tax(Appeals). The view of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal regarding admissibility of the deduction on account of written off of certain assets, under Section 32(1)(iii) of the Act is wholly erroneous – Penalty confirmed – ITAT order is not correct – decided in favor of revenue.