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. 9(1)(vi) : Income deemed to accrue or arise in India-Royalty-Non-resident-Domain name registration services-Registrar not owner of domain names-Receipts not taxable as royalty-Web hosting and allied services-Independent services-Not Fees for Technical Services-“Make available” test-Web hosting and related services-No transfer of technical knowledge-Not Fees for Included Services. DTAA-India-USA.[S.9(1)(vii),Art. 12(3), 12(4)(a), 12(4)(b)]

GoDaddy.com, LLC v. ACIT (IT) (2025) 123 ITR 29 / 170 taxmann.com 408 (Delhi)(Trib.)

S.271D: Penalty-Takes or accepts any loan or deposit –Alleged cash receipt neither loan nor deposit-Quantum addition deleted-Penalty not leviable.[S. 269SS]

Subhash Chander Gupta v. ITO (2025) 124 ITR 247 (Chd.)(Trib.)

S. 263: Commissioner-Revision of orders prejudicial to revenue-Best judgment assessment under section 144-Estimation of income at 2 per cent. of the bank credits-Different opinion of Principal Commissioner not sufficient-Revision invalid-Best judgment assessment-Statutory discretion of Assessing Officer-Cannot be interfered with merely on difference of opinion.[S. 142(1), 144]

Sanjay Umarshi Dand v. Pr. CIT (2025) 124 ITR 399 (Nagpur)(Trib.)

S. 263: Commissioner-Revision of orders prejudicial to revenue-Limitation-Issue arising from intimation under section 143(1) and not reassessment under section 147-Limitation to be reckoned from date of intimation-Revision barred by limitation-Delay of 96 days-Person responsible for filing appeal on leave due to daughter’s marriage-Sufficient cause-Delay condoned.
[S. 143(1), 147, 148, 254(1)]

Shiv Vegpro (P.) Ltd. v. Pr. CIT (2025) 124 ITR 64 (Jaipur)(Trib.)

S. 201: Deduction at source-Failure to deduct or pay-Assessee in default-Notice issued beyond four years-Proceedings barred by limitation-Delay of 218 days-Delay due to illness of authorised representative-Sufficient cause-Delay condoned.[S. 133A(2A), 201(1), 201(IA) 254(1)]

Indoworth India Ltd. v. Asst. CIT (2025) 124 ITR 573 / 176 taxmann.com 426 (Nagpur)(Trib.)

S. 153D: Assessment-Search-Approval-Approval under section 153D-Mechanical approval granted on same day in several cases-Assessment void ab initio-Appellate Tribunal-Additional grounds-Pure questions of law going to root of assessment-Admitted.[S. 132]

Utility Supply (P.) Ltd. v. Dy. CIT (2025) 124 ITR 324 / 174 taxmann.com 250 (Mum.)(Trib.)

S. 153C: Assessment-Income of any other person-Search-Proceedings under section 153C mandatory-Reassessment under sections 147/148 invalid-Loose paper found from third party-Statement of accountant not tested by cross-examination-Addition deleted-Return filed in response to notice under section 148-Notice under section 143(2) mandatory-Assessment invalid.[S. 132, 147, 148]

Subhash Chander Gupta v. ITO (2025) 124 ITR 247 (Chd.)(Trib.)

S. 153A: Assessment-Search-Unabated assessment-No incriminating material found during search-Addition towards unsecured loans and commission deleted–WhatsApp messages found in third person’s mobile phone-Not incriminating material for completed assessment-Addition deleted-Assessment of third person Satisfaction note mandatory-Procedure under section 153C not followed-Assessment unsustainable [S. 68, 69C, 132, 153C]

Gulshan Investment (P.) Ltd. & Others v. Jt. CIT (2025) 124 ITR 649 (Delhi)(Trib.)

S. 153A: Assessment-Search-Unabated assessment-No incriminating material found during search-Addition based on third-party statements recorded outside search-Not sustainable-Conditions for reopening under fourth proviso to section 153A not fulfilled-No seized material representing escaped income in the form of assets-Addition deleted.[S. 68, 69C 131, 132, 142(1)]

Dy. CIT v. Southwinds Project LLP (2025) 124 ITR 292 (Kol.)(Trib.)

S. 148: Reassessment-Notice issued by non-jurisdictional Assessing Officer-Assessment completed by jurisdictional Assessing Officer without fresh notice-Invalid.[S. 147]

Raman Pillai Sivasankara Pillai v. Dy. CIT (2025) 124 ITR 388 (Chd.)(Trib.)