The assessee acquired the customer care parts business by a business transfer agreement dated April 26, 2007. The assessee claimed that it was entitled to depreciation on the vendor and dealer network and the details of depreciation were disclosed in the tax audit report annexed with the return of income. Submissions were made on various dates along with written submissions, which were filed before the AO to justify its claim to depreciation on the vendor and dealer network and goodwill. The assessment was completed under S. 143(3) of the Act . Subsequently there was an audit objection raised by the audit party of the Comptroller and Auditor General regarding the claim for depreciation on the dealer and vendor network and goodwill. The AO issued a notice of reassessment. On a writ allowing the petition the Court held that the AO was justified in holding that the vendor and dealer network rights and the goodwill acquired by the assessee pursuant to the business transfer agreement dated April 26, 2007, would qualify for depreciation under section 32 and the assessment was completed considering the claim for depreciation after seeking for clarification from the assessee. The reasons assigned by the AO to reopen the assessment was nothing but a clear case of change of opinion. It was manifestly clear that the AO had issued the reassessment notice on the ground of direction issued by the audit party. The notice was not valid.( AY. 2010-11)
Mobis India Ltd v. Dy. CIT, LTU-II (2018) 101 CCH 0475 /(2020)421 ITR 463 (Mad)(HC)
S. 147 : Reassessment -Audit objection – Depreciation- -Business or commercial rights of similar nature – Notice of reassessment based solely on audit objection is held to be not valid. [ S. 32 , 148 ]