2025 (4) TMI 29 - AT - Income Tax

Denial of the set-off of loss under the head House Property against the addition made u/s 69 by applying the provisions of section 115BBE(2) - HELD THAT - It is evident from the record that while assessing the total income of the assessee the AO carried forward the loss declared under the head House Property instead of setting off the same against the income added u/s 69 of the Act by placing reliance upon the provisions of section 115BBE(2). It is the plea of the assessee that the amendment whereby the set-off of any loss is denied against the income inter-alia referred to in section 69 of the Act was brought into the statute with effect from 01/04/2017 and therefore is applicable for the assessment years 2017-18 onwards. We find that a similar issue pertaining to the prospective applicability of the provisions of section 115-BBE(2) of the Act as introduced in the Act with effect from 01/04/2017 came for consideration in Vijaya Hospitality and Resorts Ltd. 2019 (11) TMI 1106 - KERALA HIGH COURT wherein it was held that amendment brought in section 115BBE(2) by Finance Act 2016 whereby set off of losses against income referred to in section 68 was denied would be effective from 01/04/2017. Thus the provisions of section 115-BBE(2) of the Act are applicable only with effect from 01/04/2017 and thus are not applicable to the year under consideration i.e. the assessment year 2014-15. Therefore we direct the AO to allow the set-off of loss declared under the head House Property against the income assessed u/s 69. As a result the grounds raised by the assessee are allowed.

Summary

ISSUES PRESENTED and CONSIDERED

The primary legal question addressed in this judgment is whether the provisions of section 115-BBE(2) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which deny the set-off of losses against income referred to in section 69, are applicable for the assessment year 2014-15. Specifically, the issue is whether the amendment introduced by the Finance Act, 2016, which became effective from 01/04/2017, can be applied retrospectively to deny the set-off of house property loss against the unexplained income treated under section 69 for the assessment year 2014-15.

ISSUE-WISE DETAILED ANALYSIS

Relevant legal framework and precedents:

The core legal framework involves sections 69 and 115-BBE of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Section 69 pertains to unexplained investments, while section 115-BBE deals with the tax treatment of such income. The amendment to section 115-BBE(2) by the Finance Act, 2016, explicitly denies the set-off of losses against income referred to in sections 68, 69, 69A, 69C, and 69D, effective from 01/04/2017.

The Tribunal referenced the decision of the Hon'ble Kerala High Court in Vijaya Hospitality and Resorts Ltd. v/s CIT, which clarified that the amendment to section 115-BBE(2) is prospective and applicable from the assessment year 2017-18 onwards.

Court's interpretation and reasoning:

The Tribunal interpreted that the amendment to section 115-BBE(2) is not applicable to the assessment year 2014-15, as it was introduced to take effect from 01/04/2017. The Tribunal relied on the Kerala High Court's decision, which emphasized that the amendment was intended to avoid litigation by clarifying the non-allowability of set-off for losses against certain types of income, starting from the assessment year 2017-18.

Key evidence and findings:

The Tribunal found that the Assessing Officer (AO) had treated the income declared under "Income from Other Sources" as unexplained investment under section 69 and applied section 115-BBE to compute tax liability. The AO carried forward the house property loss instead of setting it off against the income under section 69, based on the provisions of section 115-BBE(2).

Application of law to facts:

The Tribunal applied the legal principles established by the Kerala High Court, determining that the amendment to section 115-BBE(2) does not apply to the assessment year in question. Consequently, the Tribunal directed the AO to allow the set-off of the house property loss against the income assessed under section 69 for the assessment year 2014-15.

Treatment of competing arguments:

The Tribunal considered the AO's interpretation that section 115-BBE(2) barred the set-off of house property loss against section 69 income. However, it found this interpretation inconsistent with the prospective nature of the amendment as clarified by the Kerala High Court. The Tribunal concluded that the AO's decision was based on a misinterpretation of the applicable law for the relevant assessment year.

Conclusions:

The Tribunal concluded that the provisions of section 115-BBE(2) are not applicable to the assessment year 2014-15, and thus, the set-off of house property loss against income assessed under section 69 is permissible. The appeal filed by the assessee was allowed.

SIGNIFICANT HOLDINGS

The Tribunal held that the amendment to section 115-BBE(2) is prospective and applicable from the assessment year 2017-18 onwards. This interpretation aligns with the legislative intent to avoid litigation by clarifying the non-allowability of set-off for losses against income under sections 68, 69, 69A, 69C, and 69D, starting from the assessment year 2017-18.

Preserve verbatim quotes of crucial legal reasoning:

The Tribunal cited the Kerala High Court's reasoning: "The intention of the legislature in introducing the amendment, as stated in the explanatory note, is to avoid unnecessary litigation and to expressly provide that no set off of any loss shall be allowable in respect of income under section 68."

Core principles established:

The Tribunal reinforced the principle that legislative amendments are generally prospective unless explicitly stated otherwise. It emphasized that taxpayers should not be subjected to retrospective application of tax provisions unless clearly intended by the legislature.

Final determinations on each issue:

The Tribunal directed the AO to allow the set-off of the house property loss against the income assessed under section 69 for the assessment year 2014-15, thereby granting the appeal in favor of the assessee.