2025 (3) TMI 602 - HC - Income Tax

Validity of reassessment - Reason to believe or suspect - Deduction u/s 10A - tangible material indicating that income had escaped assessment or not? - HELD THAT - It is settled position of law that an error found on reconsideration of the same material which was put to assessment does not give the AO the power to re-open a concluded assessment. However the assessee is required to make a true and full disclosure of primary facts at the time of original assessment. Reasons furnished for re-opening indicates that the material on which reopening is sought is the same material which has undergone assessment and in fact final assessment order is passed. There is no new material or income which was not declared at the time of assessment or scrutiny under Section 143 (2) of 1961 Act. While assessing the income Section 10A deductions were reduced from the claimed amount. Moreover the reasons would not indicate the failure of the petitioner to disclose any information or that he has not disclosed true and full material facts which is one of the ingredients of Section 147 of 1961 Act. Thus it is a change of opinion and on the basis of changed opinion proceedings u/s 147 for re-opening of assessment on the allegation of escaped income is initiated which is not permissible. Decided in favour of assessee.

Summary

ISSUES PRESENTED and CONSIDERED

The core legal question considered by the Karnataka High Court was whether the notice issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for reopening the assessment for the assessment year 2010-11 was justified under the facts and circumstances of the case. Specifically, the Court examined whether the reopening of the assessment was based on a mere change of opinion by the Assessing Officer or if there was tangible material indicating that income had escaped assessment.

ISSUE-WISE DETAILED ANALYSIS

Relevant legal framework and precedents: Section 147 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, empowers the Assessing Officer to reassess income if there is a reason to believe that income chargeable to tax has escaped assessment. The Supreme Court in Commissioner of Income-Tax, Delhi vs. Kelvinator of India Limited clarified that the Assessing Officer could reopen an assessment only if there is tangible material indicating escapement of income, and not merely due to a change of opinion.

Court's interpretation and reasoning: The Court emphasized that the power to reassess is not equivalent to the power to review. The Assessing Officer must have tangible material to justify the belief that income has escaped assessment. The Court noted that the reasons for reopening must have a live link with the formation of such belief.

Key evidence and findings: The petitioner had filed its returns and disclosed all material facts during the original assessment under Section 143(2). The reasons provided for reopening the assessment were based on the same material that was already considered during the original assessment. There was no new material or information that had come to light which could justify the reopening of the assessment.

Application of law to facts: The Court applied the principles established in Kelvinator of India Limited and other precedents to the facts of the case. It concluded that the reopening was based on a mere change of opinion, as the reasons cited for reopening were already considered during the original assessment process.

Treatment of competing arguments: The petitioner argued that there was no new material justifying the reopening and that it was a case of change of opinion. The Revenue contended that the reassessment was justified due to oversight and inadvertence in the original assessment. The Court favored the petitioner, highlighting that oversight or inadvertence does not justify reopening based on the same material.

Conclusions: The Court concluded that the notice issued under Section 148 and the subsequent order rejecting the petitioner's objections were not justified, as they were based on a change of opinion rather than new tangible material.

SIGNIFICANT HOLDINGS

The Court reaffirmed the principle that an assessment cannot be reopened merely on the basis of a change of opinion. It cited the Supreme Court's decision in Kelvinator of India Limited, emphasizing that "reason to believe" cannot be based on reconsideration of the same material.

Core principles established: The judgment reinforced that the Assessing Officer must have tangible material indicating escapement of income to justify reopening an assessment. A change of opinion does not meet this threshold.

Final determinations on each issue: The Court quashed the notice issued under Section 148 and the order rejecting the petitioner's objections, allowing the writ petition. The decision underscored the need for new material to justify the reopening of assessments, thereby protecting taxpayers from arbitrary reassessment based on the same set of facts.