September 2018
21. [2018] 194 TTJ (Mumbai) 102 Owais M Husain vs. ITO ITA No.: 4320/Mum/2016 A. Y.: 2006-07 Dated: 11th May, 2018 Section 23(1)(a)- Income from house property –– AO is directed to compute the deemed rent of the house property as per the municipal rateable value and assess the income from house property accordingly instead of estimating the letable value on the basis of the prevailing rate of rent of the building situated in the surrounding areas.
By JAGDISH T. PUNJABI I DEVENDRA JAIN I TEJASWINI GHAG
Chartered Accountants
Reading Time 2 mins
FACTS
- The assesse owned 3 flats
i.e. one at Chennai which is treated as self-occupied property by the AO and
other two properties being flat at Queens Court, Worli and Dhun apartment,
Worli, Mumbai.
- The AO estimated the reasonable let out value of the house
property after taking IT inspector’s report. The report was on the basis of the
local enquiry conducted in the surrounding area of the building situated and
the going rent per square feet of Rs.50.70 per square feet per month. Based on
inspector’s report, the AO estimated the rent per month for each of the flats
at Rs. 75,000 per month. Therefore, the AO worked out ALV of the flat at Dhun
cooperative society, Worli, Mumbai, at Rs. 9 lakh and for the other flat at
Queens Court, Worli, Mumbai at Rs. 9 lakh.
- Aggrieved by the
assessment order, the assessee preferred an appeal to the CIT(A). The CIT(A)
confirmed the action of the AO.
HELD
- The Tribunal while
relying upon the judgement of the Hon’ble Bombay High Court, held that the
municipal rateable value could be accepted as a bona fide rental value
of the property and there could not be a blanket rejection of the same.
- The market rate in the
locality was an approved method for determining the fair rental value but it
was only when the AO was convinced that the case before him was suspicious,
determination by the parties was doubtful that he could resort to enquire about
the prevailing rate in the locality.
- In the result, the
Tribunal directed the AO to compute the deemed rent as per municipal rateable
value and assess the income accordingly.