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April 2023

Reassessment — Notice after four years — Notice should clearly specify material not disclosed by the assessee — Expenditure on account of advertisement and sales promotion allowed by the AO after applying his mind to details furnished by the assessee — No failure on part of the assessee to disclose all material facts truly and fully — Notice under section 148 on the ground that in A. Y. 2015-16, the same has been treated as capital expenditure — Notice unsustainable.

By K. B. Bhujle, Advocate
Reading Time 3 mins
6 Asian Paints Ltd vs. ACIT
[2023] 451 ITR 45 (Bom)
A. Y. 2014-15
Date of order: 9th January, 2023
Sections 147 and 148 of ITA 1961

Reassessment — Notice after four years — Notice should clearly specify material not disclosed by the assessee — Expenditure on account of advertisement and sales promotion allowed by the AO after applying his mind to details furnished by the assessee — No failure on part of the assessee to disclose all material facts truly and fully — Notice under section 148 on the ground that in A. Y. 2015-16, the same has been treated as capital expenditure — Notice unsustainable.


The assessee was a manufacturer and seller. It evolved a marketing strategy or scheme called “colour idea store” which envisaged a specified and designated area in the shops of the dealers for exclusive display of its products. The assessee accordingly entered into agreements with dealers as regards sharing of costs incurred for setting up of the designated area for use and display of its products but the stores continued to belong to the dealers. Such expenditure was claimed as deduction, and advertising and sales promotion expenses. For the A. Y. 2014-15, the AO accepted the assessee’s claim and passed an order under section 143(3) r.w.s. 144C(3) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. On 31st March, 2021, a notice was issued under section 148 to reopen the assessment under section 147 on the basis of assessment proceedin