New Delhi, Sept. 4 -- A Rs.9.6 lakh addition to an individual's taxable income can be burdensome, especially when the amount stems from something as simple as an incorrect entry in an income tax return (ITR). In a recent ruling, the ITAT Mumbai came to the relief of a salaried employee, holding that an EPF amount mistakenly reported in the ITR cannot by itself be treated as taxable income.

The tribunal noted that there was no evidence that the employee had actually received the money from EPFO, withdrawn it from his EPF account or that the amount was credited to his bank account.

The dispute came to light after a Mumbai resident named Manik Pratap Gole, filed his ITR on July 25, 2022, declaring a total salary income of Rs.28.25 lakh. Ho...