Tax
Income Tax | Reassessment Cannot Be Initiated On Identical Survey Material Already Accepted In Earlier Proceedings: Calcutta High Court
The Calcutta High Court held that reassessment under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act is impermissible when it is based on the same survey material that the Assessing Officer (AO) has already examined and accepted in earlier proceedings. Justice Om Narayan Rai stated that the reassessment proceeding is clearly impermissible………It would be a clear case of “change...
Customs Act | Mens Rea Mandatory For Penalty U/S 114AA; Assessee Cannot Be Punished On Assumptions: CESTAT Chennai
The Chennai Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) held that a penalty under Section 114AA of the Customs Act cannot be imposed unless the department proves mens rea and a clear act of abetment with cogent evidence. The Tribunal clarified that Section 114 has a penal character of being a penalty in personam, placing the burden squarely on the...
Income Tax Disputes Before HCs Doubled In Value Over Past Four Financial Years: Govt Tells Rajya Sabha
A sharp escalation in the value of income tax disputes pending before High Courts has emerged from fresh data placed before Parliament, with the total disputed amount nearly doubling between FY 2020-21 and FY 2024-25. The figures were disclosed in a reply tabled in the Rajya Sabha by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, capturing year-wise pendency and amounts...
CENVAT Credit Rules | Storage Of Finished Goods Outside Factory Due To Space Constraints Covered Under Rule 2(l); Credit Cannot Be Denied: CESTAT
The Allahabad Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) held that storing finished goods outside the factory premises due to space constraints is connected with the assessee's business operation. Therefore, CENVAT (Central Value Added Tax) credit on 'warehousing services' is admissible as an 'input service' under Rule 2(l) of the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004 and cannot...
Customs | Goods Cannot Be Confiscated Solely On Local Market Survey/Opinion Without Proof Of Smuggling: CESTAT Allahabad
The Allahabad Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) held that goods cannot be confiscated merely on the basis of a local market survey or opinion in the absence of proof of smuggling. The Tribunal observed that the burden to prove that the goods are smuggled lies on the department.P.K. Choudhary (Judicial Member) stated that the Department has not discharged...
LiveLawBiz: Business Law Daily Round-Up: December 11, 2025
TAXRailway Receipts & STTG Certificates Are Valid Documents For Availing CENVAT Credit Before 27.08.2014: CESTAT Kolkata'Did Not Apply Mind': Gujarat High Court Quashes Tax Authority's Order Refusing To Condone Delay In Filing Return Due To COVID Pandemic Customs Act | 'Prohibition Includes Restriction': CESTAT Chennai Holds S.111(d) Covers Both Complete & Partial Restricted...
Bottling Pepsi Doesn't Mean Promoting Pepsi's Goods; No Business Auxiliary Service: CESTAT Quashes Service Tax Demand
In a significant relief to SMV Beverages Pvt. Ltd., the Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), Mumbai has held that incentives received from Pepsi Foods for advertising and promotional activities cannot be taxed under Business Auxiliary Service (BAS). The Tribunal followed a Larger Bench ruling which categorically held that section 65(19) of the Finance Act does not...
Service Tax | Commission Earned From Foreign Suppliers Is 'Export Of Service': CESTAT Mumbai Sets Aside Demand Against Paramount Dyes
The Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), Mumbai has held that commission received in India for facilitating sales of goods for foreign suppliers amounts to “export of service” and cannot be taxed under the category of Business Auxiliary Service (BAS).A Bench comprising S.K. Mohanty (Judicial Member) and M.M. Parthiban (Technical Member) allowed the appeal filed...
Customs | Knitted Ready-Made Garments Fall Under CTH 6102, 10% Drawback Rate Applicable: CESTAT Kolkata
The Kolkata Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has stated that knitted ready-made garments, such as Gents' shirts, Ladies' dresses, and coats, are classifiable under CTH 6102; hence, the exporters are entitled to a 10% drawback rate subject to a maximum of Rs. 45/- per piece. R. Muralidhar (Judicial Member) and K. Anpazhakan (Technical Member)...
Import Of Technical Designs Not 'Design Service'; No Extended Limitation Or Penalty: CESTAT Mumbai
The Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), Mumbai has delivered a significant ruling holding that import of technical know-how, engineering drawings and designs transferred permanently for manufacturing in India cannot be taxed as “Design Services” under the Finance Act, 1994.A Bench comprising S.K. Mohanty (Judicial Member) and M.M. Parthiban (Technical Member)...
Uttarakhand High Court Quashes GST Order After Authorities Ignored Adjournment Request While Assessee Was Abroad
The Uttarakhand High Court has quashed a Goods and Services Tax (GST) demand order passed against an assessee after the department ignored his request for adjournment on the ground that he was abroad at the relevant time. The petitioner had approached the Court challenging an order issued under Section 73 of the CGST/SGST Act, contending that the adjudicating authority proceeded...
Appellate Authority Must Consider Cess-Disclosure In Annual Return, 'No Negative Mandate' For Late-Filing: Calcutta High Court
The Calcutta High Court in a matter concerning non-disclosure of Cess in monthly return GSTR-3B which came to be rectified by filing annual return in GSTR-09, has set aside appellate order. The High Court has directed the Authority to revisit the matter and consider subsequent rectification in GSTR-09 of initial error of non-disclosure. In an order dated November 26, 2025 the...