Thursday, October 30, 2014

Mere non-commencement of charitable activities won't lead to denial of trust's registration


Facts:

a)The assessee, a registered trust, applied for registration under section 12AA.

b)The Director of Income-tax (Exemption) (‘DIT(E)’) rejected application on the ground of non-commencement of charitable activities by assessee.

c)The reason behind non-commencement of charitable activity was shortage of funds as no admission fees was received by assessee from its life members and general members and no fund was raised from public.

d)Aggrieved by the order of DIT(E), assessee filed the instant appeal before the Tribunal.

The Tribunal held in favour of assessee as under:

1)There was no dispute about the charitable nature of the objectives of the trust as per the memorandum. 2)The adverse inference had been drawn by DIT(E) on the ground that assessee had no intension to commence charitable activity as no membership fees was received from members and no fund was raised from public for the same.

3)The non-contribution of membership fee by general members and life members could not be a ground for denial of registration to the trust as membership fees may be paid later on by members otherwise rights of membership could not devolve upon them.

4)As far as raising of funds from public is concerned, it is at the discretion of the trust that can be undertaken in due course, may be at the time of issue of section 80G registration which is consequent to section 12AA registration

5)Thus, mere non-carrying of the activities of trust at the time of registration per se could not be detrimental to registration of the trust under section 12AA when the objects were charitable and there was no adverse comment about them.

6)Thus, the order of the DIT(E) was reversed and it was held that the assessee was eligible for registration under section 12AA -SOHAM FOR KIDS EDUCATION SOCIETY CENTRE V. DIT(E) [2014] 49 taxmann.com 493 (Delhi - Trib.)