ST. JOHN'S EDUCATIONAL TRUST,CHENNAI vs. ITO, EXEMPTIONS, WARD-4, CHENNAI

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ITA 358/CHNY/2018Status: DisposedITAT Chennai11 October 2018AY 2010-114 pages

In favour of the assessee: the assessee's appeal was allowed. From the AI summary of this appeal.

AI SummaryAllowed

What did the Tribunal hold?

The Tribunal held that the first proviso to Section 12A(2), though introduced later, has retrospective effect. Therefore, the assessee should be granted the benefit of registration under Section 12AA for the impugned assessment year.

What were the facts?

The assessee, St.John's Educational Trust, applied for registration under Section 12AA of the Income Tax Act and was granted it from assessment year 2011-12. For assessment year 2010-11, the Assessing Officer denied exemption under Sections 11 & 12 due to lack of prior registration.

What were the issues?

Whether the benefit of Section 12AA registration can be applied retrospectively to an assessment year preceding the grant of registration, based on the proviso to Section 12A(2).

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 12AA,Section 11,Section 12,Section 12A(2)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, ‘ C’ BENCH : CHENNAI

Before: SHRI GEORGE MATHAN & SHRI A.MOHAN ALANKAMONY

आदेश / O R D E R PER GEORGE MATHAN, JUDICIAL MEMBER

1.

This is an appeal filed by the assessee against the order of the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals)-17, Chennai in dated 24.08.2017 for the assessment year 2010-11.

2.

Mr.N.Devanathan represented on behalf of the Assessee and Mr.Clement Ramesh Kumar represented on behalf of the Revenue. formed on 19.12.2007 and runs schools. It was a submission that the assessee had applied for registration u/s.12AA of the Act, and was granted registration from the assessment year 2011-12. It was a submission that when the assessment for assessment year 2010-11 was taken up, the ld. Assessing Officer on the ground that the assessee-trust was not registered u/s.12AA of the Act, refused to give the assessee the benefit of exemption under section 11 & 12 of the Act. It was a submission that in view of the proviso to section 12A(2), though the said proviso had been introduced with effect from 01.10.2014, the same has been held to be retrospective in operation by the Co-ordinate bench of Kolkata in the case of Sree Sree Ramkrishna Samity Vs. DCIT in to 1685/Kolkata/2012 dated 09.10.2015 wherein para 6.8 of the order, it has been held as follows:-

“ 6.8. It will be relevant to get into the Explanatory Notes to the Provisions of the Finance (No. 2), 2014 as given in CBDT Circular No. 01 / 2015 dated 21.1.2015 in reference F.No. 142/13 /2014-TPL which is reproduced herein below for the sake of convenience :-

Para 8 - Applicability of the registration granted to a trust or institution to earlier years Para 8.2 Non-application of registration for the period prior to the year of registration caused genuine hardship to charitable organizations. Due to absence of registration, tax liability is fastened even though they may otherwise be eligible for exemption and fulfill other substantive conditions. However, the power of condonation of delay in seeking registration was not available. This clearly goes to prove that the first proviso to section 12A(2) was brought in the statute only as a retrospective effect with a view not to affect genuine charitable trusts and societies carrying on genuine charitable objects in the earlier years and substantive conditions stipulated in section 11 to 13 have been duly fulfilled by the said trust. The benefit of retrospective application alone could be the intention of the legislature and this point is further strengthened by the Explanatory Notes to Finance (No. 2) Act, 2014 issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes vide its Circular No. 01 / 2015 dated 21.1.2015. Apparently the statute provides that registration once granted in subsequent year, the benefit of the same has to be applied in the earlier assessment years for which assessment proceedings are pending before the Learned AO, unless the registration granted earlier is cancelled or refused for specific reasons. The statute also goes on to Sree Sree Ramkrsihna Samity provide that no action u/s 147 could be taken by the AO merely for non-registration of trust for earlier years.”

4.

In reply, ld.D.R vehemently supported the orders of ld. Assessing Officer and the Ld.CIT(A). It was a submission that as the ld. Assessing Officer and the Ld.CIT(A) has not considered the provisions of first proviso to Section 12A(2) of the Act, the issue could be restored to the file of ld. Assessing Officer for adjudication.

5.

We have considered the rival submissions. A perusal of the First proviso to Section 12A(2) shows it as follows:-

“Provided that where registration has been granted to the trust or institution u/s.12AA, then, the provisions of the sections 11 and 12 shall apply in respect of any income derived from property held under trust of any assessment year preceding the aforesaid assessment year, for which assessment proceedings are pending before the ld. Assessing Officer as on the date of such registration, and the objects and activities of such trust or institution remain the same for such preceding assessment year.”

A perusal of the decision of the Co-ordinate bench of Kolkata in the case of Sree Sree Ramkrishna Samity Vs. DCIT referred to supra, which has been extracted above, clearly shows that the CBDT Circular No.1 of 2015 also specifies that the said proviso was introduced for assisting the genuine charitable trust carrying on genuine charitable objects, is no more dispute. In view of the fact, the assessee-trust has been granted the benefit of Section 12AA of the Act, respectfully following the principles laid down by the Co-ordinate bench of Kolkata in the case of Sree Sree Ramkrishna Samity Vs. DCIT referred to supra, the ld. Assessing Officer is directed to treat the assessee-trust as having the benefit of registration u/s.12AA of the Act for the impugned assessment year.

6.

In the result, the appeal of the assessee is allowed.

Order pronounced in the open court after conclusion of hearing on 11th October, 2018, at Chennai.

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