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Showing contexts for: charitable trust objects in M/S Nanak Chand Jain Charitable Trust, ... vs Cit (E), Chandigarh on 9 February, 2018Matching Fragments
3. The grounds of appeal are as under:-
ITA No. 6527/Del/20161. "That the order of Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions), Chandigarh is against law and facts.
2. That on the facts and circumstances of the case of the Appellant, the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) is not justified in denying registration of the trust u/s 12AA of the Act stating that the trust is formed merely for complying the CSR requirements of the settler company ignoring the fact that the Appellant is engaged in carrying out the charitable activity as per the object of the trust."
1. "That the order of Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions), Chandigarh is against law and facts.
2. That on the facts and circumstances of the case of the Appellant, the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) is not justified in denying registration of the trust u/s 12AA of the Act stating that the trust is formed merely for complying the CSR requirements of the settler company ignoring the fact that the Appellant is engaged in carrying out the charitable activity as per the object of the trust."
8. The Ld. DR submits that the Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) rightly rejected the application of the assessee company as the object of the trust were not charitable in nature. The Ld. DR relied upon the Kerala High Court decision in case of Self Employer Service Society Vs. CIT(A) 247 ITR 18 as well as ITAT Agra Bench Decision in case of Shri Agrawal Sabha Vs. CIT 40 Taxman.com 117.
9. We have heard both the parties and perused the material available on record. It is pertinent to note that the reasons (i) and (ii) given by the CIT (exemption) is that the main aim appears to be forming a trust merely for complying to CSR requirements. When a trust is created for the purpose of carrying out CSR activities, the registration under section 12AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961 cannot be denied. Vide notifications dated 27/02/2014 the ministry of Corporate affairs in the rules framed for the purpose of CSR has implicitly provided for forming the dedicated trust under sub rule 2 to rule 4. It has been stated as under:
(iii) given by the CIT (exemption) that the object of trust are to be noted whereby apart from the CSR activities, the Activities in the nature of eradicating hunger and poverty, promotion of education, promoting gender equality etc. are also provided. These activities are in the nature of public charity. Further, the CSR Activities itself are in the nature of public charitable activities. As regards the reasons (iv) given by the CIT (exemption), no activities in sync with the requirement of the Companies Act has taken place in the trust so far. For the purpose of granting registration under Section 12AA only two factors are to be seen by the CIT (E) which are the objects of the trust being charitable in nature and the genuineness of activities. There is no requirement to see where the activities are in sync with Companies Act or not. Reasons (v) given by the CIT (exemption) that the activities so far further show that the trust is relinquished its function as the primary implementation agency and undertaking its own programs to impact direct beneficiary by the transferring its funds to other society. Even the funds given to another charitable society for the purpose of charity are considered as application of income for the purpose of exemption under Section 11 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. At the time of granting the registration under Section 12AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961, the CIT (exemption) need not go beyond two parameters that the object being charitable in nature and activities being genuine. All other activities are the matters to be taken care of by the Assessing Officer at the time of assessment for granted exemption under section 11 of the Act. Reasons (vi) given by the CIT (exemption) that it also militates against the legal principal that social enterprises cannot be a direct recipients of money from corporate as it is a profit making Company. This reasons by the CIT (exemption) is not in conformity with any of the provisions of the Income Tax Act. A profit making Company can grant certain donation to the charitable trust, how can the activities of the trust become not charitable with this act. The fact that the CSR expenditure are not allowable expenditure under section 37 of the Act is relevant only for the taxability of the company incurring such expenditure. From the perception of the assessee trust the amount received as donation whether will be eligible for exemption under section 11 depends on the application of such fund for the charitable activities by the trust only. The CIT is empowered to satisfy himself only about two factors i.e. the objects of the trust and the genuineness of the activities of the trust or institution and such powers does not extend to the eligibility of the trust/ institution for exemption u/s 11 r.w.s 13 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 which falls in the domain of the AO. Once the CIT has not doubted about the genuineness of the activities of the assessee nor doubted its charitable object, his powers under section 12AA end. The case laws relied by the Ld. AR are applicable in the present case. The case laws relied by the Ld. DR are not applicable as the factual matrix in those cases are totally different. Thus, the order passed u/s 12AA and u/s 80G(5)(vi) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 are set aside. We direct the CIT to grant the registration u/s 12AA of the Act and also the approval u/s 80G(5)(vi) of the Act to the assessee.