PREVIOUS YEAR FOR UNDISCLOSED SOURCES OF INCOME

Previous year for undisclosed sources of income

There are many occasions when the Assessing Officer detects cash credits, unexplained investments, unexplained expenditure etc, the source for which is not satisfactorily explained by the assessee to the Assessing Officer. The Act contains a series of provisions to provide for these contingencies:

(i) Cash Credits [Section 68] : Where any sum is found credited in the books of the assessee and the assessee offers no explanation about the nature and source or the explanation offered is not satisfactory in the opinion of the Assessing Officer, the sum so credited may be charged as income of the assessee of that previous year.

Unexplained Investments [Section 69]:

Where in the financial year immediately preceding the assessment year, the assessee has made investments which are not recorded the books of account and the assessee offers no explanation about the nature and the source of investments or the explanation offered is not satisfactory, the value of the investments are taxed as income of the assessee of such financial year.

(iii) Unexplained money etc. [Section 69A] :

Where in any financial year the assessee is found to be the owner of any money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable article and the same is not recorded in the books of account and the assessee offers no explanation about the nature and source of acquisition of such money, bullion etc. or the explanation offered is not satisfactory, the money and the value of bullion etc. may be deemed to be the income of the assessee for such financial year. Ownership is important and mere possession is not enough.

(iv) Amount of investments etc., not fully disclosed in the books of account [Section 69B]:

Where in any financial year the assessee has made investments or is found to be the owner of any bullion, jewellery or other valuable article and the Assessing Officer finds that the amount spent on making such investments or in acquiring such articles exceeds the amount recorded in the books of account maintained by the assessee and he offers no explanation for the difference or the explanation offered is unsatisfactory, such excess may be deemed to be the income of the assessee for such financial year.

For example, if the assessee is found to be the owner of say 300 gms of gold (market value of which is ` 25,000) during the financial year ending 31.3.2013 but he has recorded to have spent ` 15,000 in acquiring it, the Assessing Officer can add ` 10,000 (i.e. the difference of the market value of such gold and ` 15,000) as the income of the assessee, if the assessee offers no satisfactory explanation thereof.

(v) Unexplained expenditure [Section 69C]:

Where in any financial year an assessee has incurred any expenditure and he offers no explanation about the source of such expenditure or the explanation is unsatisfactory the Assessing Officer can treat such unexplained expenditure as the income of the assessee for such financial year. Such unexplained expenditure which is deemed to be the income of the assessee shall not be allowed as deduction under any head of income.

(vi) Amount borrowed or repaid on hundi [Section 69D] : 

Where any amount is borrowed on a hundi or any amount due thereon is repaid other than through an account-payee cheque drawn on a bank, the amount so borrowed or repaid shall be deemed to be the income of the person borrowing or repaying for the previous year in which the amount was borrowed or repaid, as the case may be.

However, where any amount borrowed on a hundi has been deemed to be the income of any person, he will not be again liable to be assessed in respect of such amount on repayment of such amount. The amount repaid shall include interest paid on the amount borrowed.