This Digest of case laws is prepared by KSA Legal and AIFTP from judgements reported in BCAJ, CTR, DTR, ITD, ITR, ITR (Trib), Chamber's Journal, SOT, Taxman, TTJ, BCAJ, ACAJ, www.itatonline.org and other journals
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S.115O: Tax on distributed profits of domestic companies – Tax on distributed income to share holders – Buy back of shares –Capital reduction – Deemed dividend – The consideration paid by the assessee to its shareholders for purchase of its own shares was liable to tax as deemed dividend u/s.2(22)(d) of the Act, and alternatively, u/s.2(22)(a) of the Act, and consequently, the assessee company was liable for payment of Dividend Distribution Tax (in short “DDT”) u/s.115-O of the Act. – DTAA -India – Mauritius . [ S. 2(22)(a),2(22)(d), 10(34), 46A, 115O , Companies Act 1956 , S. 77A, 100, 102, 104 , 391 to 393 , Companies Act , 2013 , 68 , Art. 13 .]

Cognizant Technology- Solutions India Pvt. Ltd v. ACIT(2023) 225 TTJ 873 ( Chennai )( Trib) www.itatonline.org

S. 28(i): Business income – Income from house property – Builder – Stock in trade – Leave and licence – Income from licencing of residential flats assessable as business income and not as income from house property. [ S. 22, 23 ]

Tulsidas V. Patel Pvt Ltd v. Dy.CIT ( Mum) ( Trib) www.itatonline .org

S. 148A: Reassessment – Conducting inquiry, providing opportunity before issue of notice – Beyond limitation – Sanction -Signed by wrong specifying authority – Beyond period of three years – TOLA is not applicable to AY.2015-2016 or any subsequent years- No power to review – Change of opinion – Order is quashed as bad in law . [ S. 147,148 ,148A(b), 148A(d)), 149(1)(b), 151(i), 151 (ii), Art . 226 , Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Act. 2020 ( TOLA S. 3 )

Siemens Financial Services Pvt Ltd v. Dy.CIT (2023) 457 ITR 647/154 taxmann.com 159 / 334 CTR 825 (Bom)( HC) www.itatonline .org

S. 5 : Property held benami liable to confiscation-Benami property- Benami transactions-Benami Transactions-Attachment, adjudication and confiscation-Sections 3 and 5 which deal with criminal offences applicable effective only from 25-10-2016- Provisions are prospective. [S. 2(8), 2(9), 3, 24]

Banamali Das v. Dy. CIT (2023)453 ITR 569 (Gauhati)(HC) Ganesh Chandra Das v. Dy. CIT (2023) 453 ITR 569 (Gauhati)(HC) Ganesh Chandra Das. v. Dy. CIT (2023) 453 ITR 565 (Gauhati)(HC) Salien Das v. Dy. CIT (2023) 453 ITR 569 (Gauhati)(HC)

S. 2(9) : Benami Property Transactions-Amendment of Act in 2016 Provisions are substantive-Not applicable with retrospective effect- The amendments to the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 brought by the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016 do not have retrospective effect.[S. 2(9)(A) (2(9)(C), Art, 20, 136, 226]

ACIT v. Nexus Feeds Ltd (2023)453 ITR 459 (SC) Editorial: Nexus Feeds Ltd v. ACIT (2022) 444 ITR 261 (Telangana) (HC), affirmed.

Interpretation of taxing statutes -Interpretation which effectuates object and purpose of statute preferred.-Amendment by substitution-Rule against retrospectivity. [S. 153C]

ITO v. Vikram Sujitkumar Bhatia (2023)453 ITR 417/ 293 Taxman 4/ 332 CTR 1/ 224 DTR 217 (SC)

S. 88 : Settlement of tax payable – Notice of demand – Petition against notice of demand -No due certificate was issued – Summary dismissal -No dues – Certificate under Kar Vivad Samadhan Scheme – Order of High Court not stating facts or adverting to contentions of parties -Order set aside. [S. 92, ITACT, S. 156, Art. 136, Art, 226]

R. P. Gupta v. CIT (2023)453 ITR 739 (SC) Editorial: Order in R. P. Gupta v. CIT (All)(HC) (WT No. 888 of 2018, WT No.889 of 2018 dt. 25 -7 2018) set aside.

S. 10(1) : Undisclosed Foreign Income or Assets -Interpretation – Fiscal statutes and in determining the tax liability, strict rules of interpretation – Notice issued beyond 30 Days of receiving information- Search and seizure – Response not filed -Enquiry cannot be truncated at stage of issue of notice – Guidelines issued by Central Board Of Direct Taxes -Information and Intelligence -Notice is valid -Writ petition is dismissed.[S. 8(1), 8(2), Income -tax Act, S. 132, 232(4), 153A, Art. 226]

Jitendra Virwani v. JTCIT (NO. 1) (2023)453 ITR 323 / 330 CTR 747/ 220 DTR 445 (Karn)(HC) Editorial : Jitendra Virwani v. Jt.CIT (NO. 2) (2023)453 ITR 342 / 330 CTR 34/ 220 DTR 433 (Karn)(HC), order of single judge reversed.

S. 10(1) : Undisclosed Foreign Income or Assets-No Evidence of undisclosed Foreign income -Notice Issued Under Black Money Act is not valid-High Court can quash a notice if issued without jurisdiction-Interpretation of Taxing Statutes -Strict Interpretation. [S. 8(1), 8(2), Income -tax Act, S. 132, 232(4), 153A, Art. 226] Constitution Of India, Art. 226.

Jitendra Virwani v. Jt.CIT (NO. 2) (2023)453 ITR 342 / 330 CTR 34/ 220 DTR 433 (Karn)(HC) Editorial : Jitendra Virwani v. JTCIT (NO. 1) (2023)453 ITR 323 / 330 CTR 747/ 220 DTR 445 (Karn)(HC).Decision of the single judge reversed.

S. 276C : Offences and prosecutions – Wilful attempt to evade tax –
Application for bail -Time to surrender before Trial court and consider the application for bail -SLP of the assessee is dismissed. [S. 276(2) 278EE, Code Of Criminal Procedure, 1973, S. 482. [Art. 136, 226]

Ramendra v. PCIT (2023) 453 ITR 751 /294 Taxman 77 (SC)