Govt Revises Application for 12A Registration of Religious or Charitable Trusts

The Central Government, recently revised Rule 17A and Form 10A seeking more details from religious or charitable trust applying for registration under section 12A of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

 A notification issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) prescribed the documents required for making an application under section 12A of the Act. They are, where the trust is created, or the institution is established, under an instrument, the self-certified copy of the instrument creating the trust or establishing the institution; where the trust is created, or the institution is established, otherwise than under an instrument, the self-certified copy of the document evidencing the creation of the trust, or establishment of the institution; self-certified copy of registration with Registrar of Companies or Registrar of Firms and Societies or Registrar of Public Trusts, as the case may be; self-certified copy of the documents evidencing adoption or modification of the objects, if any.

where the trust or institution has been in existence during any year or years prior to the financial year in which the application for registration is made, self-certified copies of the annual accounts of the trust or institution relating to such prior year or years (not being more than three years immediately preceding the year in which the said application is made) for which such accounts have been made up; note on the activities of the trust or institution; self-certified copy of the existing order granting registration under section 12A or section 12AA, as the case may be; and (h) self-certified copy of the order of rejection of the application for grant of registration under section 12A or section 12AA, as the case may be if any.

The notification further mandates the online filing of Form 10A under digital signature, if the return of income is required to be furnished under digital signature or through electronic verification code in other cases. It further said that Form No. 10A shall be verified by the person who is authorized to verify the return of income under section 140, as applicable to the assessee.