CBDT Circular No 23 of 2019 : Monetary limits of Appeal will not apply to organised tax evasion activity.

By | September 7, 2019
(Last Updated On: September 7, 2019)

The CBDT has issued circulars from time to time under section 268A for laying down monetary limits and other conditions for filing of departmental appeals before Tribunals and Courts.

It is clarified by the board that the department may file appeal on the merits as an exception to issued circulars in cases where organised tax evasion is involved.

Circular No 23 of 2019

F. No. 279/Misc./M-93/2018-ITJ(Pt.)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board Direct Taxes
Judicial Section

New Delhi, 6th September 2019

Subject: -Exception to monetary limits for filing appeals specified in any Circular issued under Section 268A of the Income-tax Act, 1961-reg

Reference is invited to the Circulars issued from time to time by Central Board of Direct Taxes (the Board) under section 268A of the Income-tax Act,1961 (the Act), for laying down monetary limits and other conditions for filing of departmental appeals before
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITA T), High Courts and SLPs/appeals before Supreme Court.

2. Several references have been received by the Board that in large number of cases where organised tax-evasion scam is noticed through bogus Long-Term Capital Gain (LTCG)/Short Term Capital Loss (STCL) on penny stocks and department is unable to pursue the cases in higher judicial fora on account of enhanced monetary limits.

It has been reported that in large number of cases, ITA Ts and High Court have recognized the unique modus operandi involved in such scam and have passed judgements in favour of the revenue. However, in cases where some appellate fora have not given due consideration to position of law or facts investigated by the department, there is no remedy available with the department for filing further appeal in view of the prescribed monetary limits.

3. In this context, Board has decided that notwithstanding anything contained in any circular issued U/S 268A specifying monetary limits for filing of departmental appeals before Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (IT AT), High Courts and SLPs/appeals before Supreme Court, appeals may be filed on merits as an exception to said circular, where Board, by way of special order direct filing of appeal on merit in cases involved in organised tax evasion activity.
4. Hindi version follows.

(Neetika Bansal)
Director (ITJ)
CBDT, New Delhi

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