Tax Compliance and Return Filing for Trusts and NGOs in Bangalore

Tax Compliance and Return Filing for Trusts and NGOs in Bangalore

All Charitable Organizations in Bangalore having income exceeding the minimum exemption limit during the previous year are required to file their return of income. The ‘income’ for the purposes of filing the return should be computed without giving effect to the provisions of sections 11 and 12 of the Act. The return is to be filed as per the provisions of the Act.

It is mandatory for an organization to file return of income electronically with digital signature including an organization liable to get its accounts audited under section 44AB. 

A return filed online must be e-verified. E-verification can be done using an Aadhaar OTP or through net banking. If you are unable to e-verify your return, you can download the return filing acknowledgement i.e. ITR V, print it out, sign it and send the same to CPC, Bangalore for processing of your return. Further, if you are filing a paper return (in case you are not bound to file your return online), you may sign your return of income for verifying it and submit the same in the office of your jurisdictional income.



Charitable Trusts – A brief Introduction

“The word ‘Charity’ connotes altruism in thought and action. It involves an idea of benefiting others rather than oneself” Supreme Court in the case Andhra Chamber of Commerce [1965] 55 ITR 722 (SC).  

Charity is voluntary help either in money or kind to the needy. Collective efforts are always more fruitful. Hence, there are various Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and non-profit entities constantly working on charitable activities by raising funds all over the world by forming either an institution or trust.  

In Bangalore, efforts of such institutions play a significant role in promoting economic development and the social welfare objectives of the Bangalore Government. Their outreach and more localized approach help to identify the needy and lend a supporting hand. For this reason, the Government has provided various tax incentives and exemptions to charitable institutions, 



How should income be applied to be exempt?

In Bangalore, to be exempt, a trust is required to apply at least 85% of its income to charitable or religious purposes in India. As per the definition provided under tax provisions, charitable purpose includes the following:

  • Relief of the poor
  • Education
  • Yoga
  • Medical relief
  • Preservation of environment (monuments or places or objects of artistic or historic interest)
  • Advancement of any other object of general public utility. However, if any activity in the nature of trade, commerce or business, or any activity of rendering any service in relation to any trade, commerce or business, for a cess or fee or any other consideration is not considered to be for charitable purposes, irrespective of the nature of use or application, or retention of the income from such activity unless:
  • such activity of trade/commerce/business is undertaken in the course of the actual carrying out of such advancement of any other object of general public utility and
  • the aggregate receipts from such activity/ activities during the financial year does not exceed 20% of the total receipts of the said trust or institution during that financial year

In addition, income utilized for the purchase of capital assets, repayment of a loan for the purchase of capital assets, revenue expenditure and donation to trust registered under Section 12AA and Section 10(23C) shall also be treated as applied for charitable purposes and hence exempted from tax.

The expression ‘religious purpose’ has not been defined under the Act. Religious purposes are necessarily associated with religion and a matter of faith with individuals or communities. Religious purpose includes the advancement, support or propagation of religion and its tenets. The income of a religious trust or institution is entitled to exemption, though it may be for the benefit of a particular religious community or caste.


Where should accumulated income be invested?

As mentioned already, income not exceeding 15% can be accumulated or set aside for its application in India. Further, one can even accumulate or set aside 85% of the income, not applied for the specified purpose for its application in India. Such accumulations must be through the following modes of investment:

  • Investment in government saving certificate/UTI
  • Deposit in post office savings bank/scheduled bank/co-operative bank
  • Investment in immovable property
  • Investment in any security for money created and issued by the Central or State Government
  • Company debentures fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Central or State Government
  • Investment or deposit in public sector company
  • Deposit with or investment in bonds of a financial corporation or public company (registered in India) engaged in providing long term finance for India’s industrial development. 


Exemption, not to apply in certain cases if,

In Bangalore, No exemption is available to the following incomes of trust/institution:

  • Entire income from property held under trust for private religious purpose which does not benefit the public
  • Entire income of charitable Trust or institution established for the indirect benefit of any particular religious community or caste in Bangalore
  • In Bangalore if entire income, If income (wholly or partly) and property of the charitable or religious trust or institution is used for the benefit of specified person
  • Income of charitable / religious trust is not invested as specified
  • Value of medical or educational services made available by any charitable or religious trust running a hospital medical institution or educational institution to specified person**
  • Any income being profits and gains of business unless business is incidental to the attainment of the objectives of the trust / institution and separate books of account are maintained in respect of such business

Forms and Due Dates

The return of income must be furnished in Form No. ITR-7 and verified in the prescribed manner containing all the prescribed particulars. Such return of income must be furnished by the representative assesse within the time prescribed under section 139(1) electronically under digital signature or otherwise.

The due date of filing of return shall be 31st July or specified by Income tax act, in Bangalore of the assessment year as where the income of a charitable trust, before claiming exemption under section 11 to 12 exceeds the maximum amount chargeable to tax, its accounts are required to be audited. If it does not wish to take exemption under sections 11 and 12 then the due date shall be 31st July of the assessment year. 



Compliance Requirements in Bangalore

1. Registration Requirements
  • Trust Deed Registration
  • PAN
  • TAN
  • FCRA Registration - For accepting foreign contributions.
  • Registration under the Acts.
  • RBI Approval - In case the beneficiary is a non-resident.
  • GST Registration - In case annual turnover exceeds the prescribed limit of Rs. 40 Lakhs.
2. Filing of Income Tax Return

In Bangalore, any Trust with a gross total income of more than the basic exemption limit is required to file income tax returns mandatorily form ITR-5 and some specific trusts are required to file the income tax return, irrespective of their total income. The annual return of income in form ITR-7 is required to be filed every year. Form 10B is to be furnished by a charitable or religious trust or institution that has been registered u/s 12A or who has submitted an application for registration by filing Form 10A.

3. Filing of TDS return and issuance of TDS certificates

Where any Private Trust is deducting tax at source for payment of salaries to the staff or employees (kept for managing the Trust Property), it needs to furnish certificates of TDS to the persons on whose behalf TDS was being collected. It should be done within 1 month from the date of closure of the financial year. Apart from this, quarterly TDS returns are also required to be filed.

4 Publication of accounts in newspaper

If the trust’s annual income or the receipts generated by the trust’s property has exceeded the amount of One Crore Rupees, then it is also essential for the trust to publish the accounts in the newspaper.

6. Filing of GST Returns

If trust is having GSTIN in Bangalore, then it is required to furnish GST returns monthly or quarterly (as may be applicable).

7. Audit of Accounts

Most private trusts are created for transferring benefits. Therefore, there will be income from that trust. So When the total income of a trust or institution is computed without giving effect to Sections 11 and 12 and exceeds the maximum amount not chargeable to income tax in any given financial year, the accounts for the year has to be audited by a CA. This requires, on or before the specified date referred to in Section 44AB, the report of such audit in Form 10B duly signed and verified by the CA.





Created & Posted by Himanshu Shakya
Accountant at TAXAJ

TAXAJ is a consortium of CA, CS, Advocates & Professionals from specific fields to provide you a One Stop Solution for all your Business, Financial, Taxation & Legal Matters under One Roof. Some of them are: Launch Your Start-Up Company/BusinessTrademark & Brand RegistrationDigital MarketingE-Stamp Paper OnlineClosure of BusinessLegal ServicesPayroll Services, etc. For any further queries related to this or anything else visit TAXAJ

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