2025 (6) TMI 1939 - AT - Income Tax

Unaccounted cash found from the premises during search and survey proceedings - sale receipts from tyres business - taxable at normal rates OR 60% - HELD THAT - As admitted position of fact that during the course of search survey this receipt of Rs.36 lakhs has not been found mentioned in the books of the assessee. Assessee has not even disclosed this while filing the original return which has been filed much after the date of search and survey. It is pertinent to note that neither in survey nor in search proceedings at the premises of third party any cogent material has been recovered which would show that the source of this amount is the sale receipts of tyres. Therefore we see no hesitation in confirming the view of the AO to tax this amount at 60%. So far as the judgements relied upon by the counsel for the assessee in all these cases it is admitted position of fact that the assessee has duly surrendered that amount and offered the same in the return of income in response to the notice u/s 153A 153C of the Act as the case may be. Reliance of the assessee on the CBDT Instruction No.1916 is concerned that instruction has no relevance because that instruction is not related to the gold coins rather related to the jewellery ornaments of the ladies and gents. Therefore we find no reason to disturb the order of ld. CIT(A) and AO. Appeal of the assessee stands dismissed.

Summary

1. ISSUES PRESENTED and CONSIDERED

- Whether the unaccounted cash amounting to Rs.36 lakhs found during search and survey operations can be treated as business receipts and thus taxable at normal rates rather than being subjected to tax at the special rate under section 115BBE of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

- Whether the gold coins of 60 grams found at the assessee's premises can be considered as explained assets and exempted from addition as undisclosed income.

- Whether the assessee's failure to disclose the cash and gold coins in the original return filed after the search and survey, and subsequent disclosure by way of manual revised return, affects the claim of the assessee regarding the source and taxability of these amounts.

- The applicability and relevance of CBDT Instruction No.1916 dated 11.5.1994 in the context of the gold coins found during the search.

2. ISSUE-WISE DETAILED ANALYSIS

Issue 1: Taxability of Rs.36 lakhs cash found during search and survey

Relevant legal framework and precedents: The provisions of the Income Tax Act, particularly sections 132 (search and seizure), 115BBE (special tax rate on undisclosed income), 153A and 153C (return filing and assessment post search), govern the treatment of undisclosed income. The CBDT has issued instructions and circulars to guide the treatment of such undisclosed cash.

Court's interpretation and reasoning: The Court noted that the cash of Rs.36 lakhs was found during search and survey at the premises of a third party but admitted by the assessee as belonging to him. The assessee did not disclose this amount in the original return filed after the search, which was filed on 23.10.2019, well after the date of search and survey (30.4.2018). The assessee's explanation that this amount represented sale receipts from the tyre business was not supported by any cogent evidence or material recovered during the search or survey.

Key evidence and findings: The absence of any mention of this cash in the books of account and the failure to disclose it in the original return were critical factors. No documentary proof was produced to establish the source of the cash as legitimate business income. The statement recorded under section 132(4) confirmed the ownership but not the source.

Application of law to facts: Given that the amount was not disclosed initially and no evidence was furnished to prove its business origin, the Tribunal upheld the application of section 115BBE, which prescribes a special tax rate of 60% on undisclosed income detected during search and seizure operations.

Treatment of competing arguments: The assessee relied on judgments where surrender of undisclosed income in response to notices under sections 153A and 153C led to taxation at normal rates. However, in those cases, the amounts were disclosed in returns filed in compliance with statutory notices, unlike the present case where the original return itself was nondisclosing. The Tribunal distinguished these precedents on this ground.

Conclusions: The Tribunal confirmed the addition of Rs.36 lakhs as undisclosed income and upheld the levy of tax at 60% under section 115BBE.

Issue 2: Treatment of gold coins of 60 grams found at the assessee's premises

Relevant legal framework and precedents: The valuation and addition of unaccounted assets such as gold coins are governed by the provisions of the Income Tax Act and relevant CBDT instructions. CBDT Instruction No.1916 dated 11.5.1994, which deals with valuation and treatment of jewellery and ornaments, was cited by the assessee.

Court's interpretation and reasoning: The Tribunal observed that the CBDT instruction relied upon by the assessee pertains specifically to jewellery and ornaments of ladies and gents and does not extend to gold coins. The assessee's contention that the gold coins should be treated as explained considering the status and family size was rejected due to lack of any credible evidence or explanation.

Key evidence and findings: The gold coins were physically found during the search and their value was assessed at Rs.1,97,600/-. There was no documentary proof or explanation accepted by the authorities to justify the possession of these coins as legitimate assets.

Application of law to facts: Since the gold coins were not satisfactorily explained, the addition as undisclosed income was justified and the special rate of tax under section 115BBE was rightly applied.

Treatment of competing arguments: The assessee's reliance on CBDT Instruction No.1916 was found misplaced as the instruction does not apply to gold coins. The Tribunal did not accept the argument based on family status or size as a ground for exemption.

Conclusions: The addition of gold coins as undisclosed income and levy of tax at 60% under section 115BBE was upheld.

Issue 3: Effect of non-disclosure in original return and subsequent manual revised return

Relevant legal framework and precedents: The law mandates that undisclosed income detected during search must be disclosed in returns filed under sections 153A or 153C. The timing and manner of disclosure affect the tax treatment and applicability of section 115BBE.

Court's interpretation and reasoning: The Tribunal emphasized that the original return filed by the assessee did not disclose the cash or gold coins, despite being filed after the date of search and survey. The subsequent manual revised return disclosing these amounts was considered an afterthought and did not absolve the assessee from the consequences of initial nondisclosure.

Key evidence and findings: The timing of the return filing, the absence of disclosure in the original return, and the lack of supporting evidence for the source of cash were crucial.

Application of law to facts: The Tribunal held that the failure to disclose the amounts in the original return led to the application of section 115BBE, which prescribes a higher tax rate for undisclosed income detected during search.

Treatment of competing arguments: The assessee argued for normal tax rates based on the claim of business receipts, but the Tribunal found this untenable due to nondisclosure and lack of evidence.

Conclusions: The Tribunal confirmed that the manual revised return could not mitigate the consequences of initial nondisclosure and upheld the special tax treatment.

3. SIGNIFICANT HOLDINGS

"It is an admitted position of fact that during the course of search & survey, this receipt of Rs.36 lakhs has not been found mentioned in the books of the assessee. Further, the assessee has not even disclosed this while filing the original return, which has been filed much after the date of search and survey."

"Neither in survey nor in search proceedings at the premises of third party any cogent material has been recovered which would show that the source of this amount is the sale receipts of tyres."

"The CBDT Instruction No.1916 is not related to the gold coins rather related to the jewellery, ornaments of the ladies and gents."

"We see no hesitation in confirming the view of the AO to tax this amount at 60%."

Core principles established include the strict application of section 115BBE to undisclosed income detected during search and seizure when not disclosed in the original return, the necessity of cogent evidence to establish the source of unaccounted cash, and the limited applicability of CBDT instructions concerning jewellery to gold coins.

The Tribunal's final determination was to dismiss the appeal, confirming the addition of Rs.36 lakhs and gold coins valued at Rs.1,97,600 as undisclosed income and upholding the levy of tax at the special rate of 60% under section 115BBE for the assessment year 2019-20.