13 January 2011
In the income tax return we claim the income as agricultural income but in the assessment AO deny the such exemption and taxed the whole income and also issue a show cause notice under section 276B, 277 & 278 (i.e. prosecution proceedings)
Now the question is whether AO action is justified?
if no what are the arguments that we can make and if possible mention some case laws also?
Please don't answer like AO is justified IT REALY URGENT..
14 January 2011
The assessing officer has power to invoke those sections. But as far as section 277 is concerned, the department has to unconditionally establish that the assessee has harboured mens rea to sustain prosecution. J.M Shah Vs. ITO (1996) 218 ITR 38 (Mad) may be referred. Also the department should convincingly establish that the accused knew that the return made was false to his knowledge otherwise prosecution will fail as per judgement of MP high court in the case of ITO V. Kaluram (1985) 156 ITR 748.