CBDT grants tax exemption to NGOs receiving foreign aid but keeps no records, sa

CBDT grants tax exemption to NGOs receiving foreign aid but keeps no records, says Minister



NEW DELHI, AUG 31, 2013: DETAILS of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) exempted from tax with regard to foreign donations received by them is not centrally maintained in Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). However, details of foreign donation disclosed under Foreign Currency Regulation Act (FCRA). 2010 is maintained in public domain ( http://mha.nic.in/fcra.htm ) by Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Government proposes to scrutinize the accounts of NGOs who have received donations from abroad in excess of Rs one crore during the financial year 2011-12.

This is one of the criteria for compulsory manual scrutiny selection guidelines issued by CBDT as per Instruction No. 10/2013.

The process of selection of such cases is currently underway. The details of number of NGOs whose accounts have been scrutinized till date and the findings thereof are not maintained centrally by the CBDT.

In case an NGO is found to have violated the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961, appropriate action as per the provisions of the Income-tax, 1961 is taken by the competent authority.

This was stated by Minister of State for Finance, Mr J.D.Seelam, in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha yesterday.