No Material To Prove Cheque Paid For Donation Has Been Ploughed Back By Way Of Cash: ITAT

The Mumbai Bench of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has allowed deduction to the assessee as there was no material to prove that the check paid for donation has been ploughed back by way of cash.The bench of Sunil Kumar Singh (Judicial Member) and B.R. Baskaran (Accountant Member) has observed that the AO has not brought any material to disprove the evidence furnished by the assessee with regard to the donations it has made to the institutions. There is also no proof to show that the check paid by the assessee has been ploughed back by way of cash to the assessee. It is a settled proposition that the subsequent withdrawal of recognition granted under Section 35(1)(ii) will not be a bar for granting deductions for the donations paid earlier. The appellant/assessee is in the business of exporting dyes and dye intermediates, chemicals, and allied industrial goods. In the financial year relevant to the assessment year 2015-16, the assessee had given a donation of Rs. 55,00,000/- to M/s. Matrivani Institute of Experimental Research & Education, Kolkata, towards scientific research. The assessee claimed weightage deduction under Section 35(1)(ii) at the rate of 175% of the donation amount, which worked out to Rs. 96,25,000. In the assessment year 2014–15, the assessee donated 75,00,000 to M/s. School of Human Genetics and Population Health, Kolkata, for scientific research and claimed deduction.The Investigation Wing of Kolkata carried out survey operations in the hands of both of the organizations referred to above, and it was found that both of these organizations were providing bogus donation certificates through various brokers in lieu of receiving commission. The assessing officer held that the donations claimed to have been paid by the assessee in both of these years are bogus in nature and the deductions claimed were not to be allowed. The AO disallowed the deduction claimed in both years by the assessee under Section 35(1)(ii). The CIT (A) also confirmed the disallowance made in both years. Hence, the assessee has filed these appeals before the Tribunal.The assessee contended that the assessee has given donations to both of these organizations through the banking channel. The assessee has duly produced the donation receipts along with the recognition certificate for these institutions under Section 35(1)(ii). The assessee has claimed deductions in both years. The AO has not found fault with any of the documents submitted by the assessee.The department contended that the Investigation Wing has conducted survey operations in the hands of both institutions and has clearly brought out the modus operandi adopted by these two institutions in issuing bogus donations in lieu of receiving commission. Since it is found that both of these institutions are involved in issuing bogus donation receipts, the CIT (A) was justified in confirming the disallowance of deductions claimed by the assessee under § 35(1)(ii) of the Act in both years.The tribunal allowed the claim made by the assessee under Section 35(1)(ii) and set aside the orders passed by CIT (A).The tribunal directed the AO to allow the deduction claimed by the assessee under Section 35(1)(ii).Counsel For Appellant: Ridhisha JainCounsel For Respondent: H. M. Bhatt Case Title: Chemstar International Versus DCIT-24(1)Case No.: I.T.A. Nos. 3798 & 3799/Mum/2023Click Here To Read The Order

No Material To Prove Cheque Paid For Donation Has Been Ploughed Back By Way Of Cash: ITAT

Mariya Paliwala

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