Home Case Index All Cases Income Tax Income Tax + AT Income Tax - 2014 (7) TMI AT This
Forgot password New User/ Regiser ⇒ Register to get Live Demo
2014 (7) TMI 1317 - AT - Income TaxDeduction u/s 80P(2)(a)(i) - whether the Assessee is a co-operative bank or not? - whether the Assessee is hit by the provisions of Sec. 80P(4) which was introduced in the statute by the Finance Act, 2006 w.e.f. 1.4.2007? - HELD THAT:- It is not necessary that the co-operative society should have a banking licence as per the definition under the Income Tax Act for carrying on banking business. If licence is not obtained it may be an illegal banking business under the other statute. What we have to see whether the nature of the business carrying on by the assessee is a banking business or not. The Income Tax in our opinion is not concerned whether the banking business carried on by the assessee is legal or illegal. The income has to be assessed u/s 14 of the Income Tax Act under the same head even if the nature of the business is illegal. If we look into the bye-laws which consists of fund of the society, we noted that the types of the deposits which the assessee has accepted as per bye-laws are the same as are being accepted during the course of the carrying out the banking activities. So far as the second condition is concerned, there is no dispute that the paid up share capital and reserves in the case of the Assessee is more than ₹ 1 lac. Therefore, the Assessee satisfies the second condition. So far as the third condition is concerned, we noted that Sec. 16 of The Karnataka State Co-operative Societies Act, 1959 permits admission of any other co-operative society as a member. From clause 16, it is apparent that the bye-laws of society does not permit the admission of any other co-operative society as member. Thus the third condition for becoming primary co-operative bank is complied with. Since the assessee society does not comply with all the three conditions, therefore, in our opinion the assessee society does not become a primary co-operative bank and in view of explanation (a) of section 80P(4) it has not to be regarded as a co-operative bank and is not hit by section 80P(4). Assessee has not to be regarded to be a primary co-operative bank as all the three basic conditions are not complied with, therefore, it is not a co-operative bank and the provisions of Sec. 80P(4) are not applicable in the case of the Assessee and Assessee is entitled for deduction u/s 80P(2)(a)(i). We, therefore, setaside the order of the CIT(A) not allowing deduction u/s 80P(2)(a)(i) to the assessee and direct the assessing officer to allow deduction to the assessee u/s 80P(2)(a)(i) on the income generated for providing banking or credit facilities to its members. Appeal filed by the assessee is allowed.
|