M/S ACHARYA PATHAHALA EDUCATIONAL TRUST,BANGALORE vs. DY.D.I.T., BANGALORE

This appeal by the assessee is directed against the order dated 27.01.2015 of the CIT(Appeals)-14, LTU, Bangalore relating to assessment year 2011-12.

The only issue disputed in this appeal is the calculation of the deduction of 15% u/s. 11(1)(a) on net receipts by the AO compared to the calculation on gross receipts by the assessee.

The Assessing Officer computed the accumulation at 15% of the net income of the trust holding that the gross receipts of an educational institution will not be available fully for application to charitable purposes in India since the expenditure for running the educational activities, which are necessary for earning such income, would have to be factored in. The assessee’s claim of accumulation at 15% of gross receipt has not been accepted since the AO held that this method is applicable only to a Trust which is running purely on donations and where no amount has been spent for getting such donations.

Before the CIT(Appeals), the assessee submitted that the AO had not appreciated that the word “income” in section 11 which refers to gross income/receipt and not the commercial meaning of ‘income’ i.e. net of expenses used for earning the receipts. It was pointed out that in the earlier year the 15% calculation of deduction has been made on the gross receipts and hence, there was no reason to make the change in calculation as has been done by the AO. It was submitted that the gross revenue of the assessee was mainly from the fees collected from students, government grants for salaries and a small portion from interest, rent etc. which included interest accrued and rent receivable of Rs.42,79,856. If this amount was reduced from the gross income of Rs.21,10,15,430, the amount available for application was Rs.20,67,35,573. The 85% requirement under the IT Act for application to charitable purposes, when calculated on this net amount was Rs.17,57,26,220 against which the assessee had actually applied Rs.17,77,26,220 i.e., in excess of 85%.

The CIT(Appeals) partly accepted the assessee’s contentions and held as follows:-

Aggrieved, the assessee is in appeal before us on the following grounds :-

The Appellant submits that the investment in immovable property as well as Fixed Deposits is generated out of education income and the net surplus of rental income as well as interest is being utilized for educational activities. Therefore, the learned Commissioner of Income Tax was wrong in stating that the Appellant would be eligible for deduction of 15% of Gross Revenue generated out of other than educational activities.

The ld. counsel for the assessee reiterated the submissions made before the CIT(Appeals) and relied on the following decisions :-

The ld. counsel for the assessee took us through the relevant portion of the judgment in the case of CIT v. Jayashree Charity Trust, 159 ITR 280 (Cal), wherein it was held as under:-

The ld. counsel for the assessee also pointed out that in the immediately preceding year, the AO computed accumulation at 15% of the gross receipt. Further, he also pointed out to page 21 of the assessee’s PB, where application by the trust is 100%.

On appeal by the Assessee, the CIT(A) confirmed the order of the AO. Hence ground No.4 raised by the Assessee before the Tribunal.

The issue to be decided is therefore as to whether for the purpose of computing accumulation of income of 15% under Sec.11(1)((a) of the Act, one has to take the gross receipts or gross receipts after expenditure for charitable purpose i.e., the net receipts. This is issue is no longer res integra and has been decided by the Special Bench Mumbai in the case of Bai Sonabai Hirji Agiary Trust Vs. ITO 93 ITD 0070 (SB). The facts in the aforesaid case were that the assessee was a public charitable trust enjoying exemption under s. 11 of the IT Act. As per the requirement of s. 11(1) of the IT Act, as it prevailed at that point of time, the assessee had to apply 75 per cent of its income for the objects and purposes of the trust and the assessee was permitted to accumulate or set apart up to 25 per cent of its income, which was subject to fulfillment of other conditions. While calculating the aforesaid 25 per cent, the important question which arose was as to whether for this purpose, the gross income earned by the assessee is relevant or the income as computed in accordance with the provisions of IT Act. In other words, whether outgoings from out of gross income which are in the nature of application of income, should be first deducted from the gross income and 25 per cent of only the remaining amount should be allowed to be accumulated or set apart. The Special Bench of the ITAT on the issue held as follows:- “9. Coming to the merits of the issue, we are of the view that the same is clearly covered by the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of CIT vs. Programme for Community Organization (supra). In the decision, their Lordships, after taking note of provisions of s. 11(1)(a), have held as under : "Having regard to the plain language of the above provision, it is clear that a charitable or religious trust is entitled to accumulate twenty-five per cent of its income derived from property held under trust. For the present purposes, the donations the assessee received, in the sum of Rs. 2,57,376, would constitute its property and it is entitled to accumulate twenty-five per cent thereout. It is unclear on what basis the Revenue contended that it was entitled to accumulate only twenty five per cent of Rs. 87,010. For the aforesaid reasons, the civil appeal is dismissed." It is clear from the above that deduction of twenty-five per cent was held to be allowable not on total income as computed under the IT Act. Any amount or expenditure, which was application of income, is not to be considered for determining twenty five per cent to be accumulated. Their Lordships, as noted earlier, affirmed the decision of Kerala High Court in (1997) 141 CTR (Ker) 502 : (1997) 228 ITR 620 (Ker) (supra) wherein it is held as under : "At the outset, the statutory language of s. 11(1)(a) of the IT Act, 1961, relates to the income derived by the trust from property. The trust is required to be wholly for charitable or religious purposes, and the income is expected to have relation to the extent to which such income is applied to such purposes in India. It is thereafter the statutory provision proceeds further that such income is not to be understood to be in excess of 25 per cent of the income from such properties. In other words, the very language of the statutory provision under consideration sets apart 25 per cent of the income from the source of property with reference to the extent to which such income is applied for such purposes, charitable or religious. In other words, for the purpose of s. 11(1)(a) of the Act, the income in terms of relevance would be the income of the trust from and out of which 25 per cent is set apart in accordance with the spirit of the statutory provision." This means that, when it is established that trust is entitled to full benefit of exemption under s. 11(1), the said trust is to get the benefit of twenty-five per cent and this twenty-five per cent has to be understood as income of the trust under the relevant head of s. 11(1). In other words, income that is not to be included for the purpose of computing the total income would be the amount expended for purposes of trust in India. Their Lordships in the above case have emphasized on the clear and unambiguous language of s. 11(1)(a) and decided the matter on the basis of the same. It has been held that as per the statutory language of the above section the income which is to be taken for purpose of accumulation is the income derived by the trust from property. If both the decisions are carefully read, it becomes evident that any expenditure which is in the shape of application of income is not to be taken into account. Having found that trust is entitled to exemption under s. 11(1), we are to go to the stage of income before application thereof and take into account 25 per cent of such income. Their Lordships have pointed that the same has to be taken on "commercial" basis and not "total income" as computed under the IT Act. Their Lordships in the decided case rejected the contention of the Revenue that the sum of Rs 1,70,369 which was spent and applied by the assessee for charitable purposes was required to be excluded for purpose of taking amount to be accumulated. Having regard to the clear pronouncement of their Lordships of the Supreme Court, it is difficult to accept that outgoings which are in the nature of application of income are to be excluded. The income available to the assessee before it was applied is directed to be taken and the same in the present case is Rs. 3,42,174. Twenty five per cent of the above income is to be allowed as a deduction. Similar view has also been taken by the Hon’ble Madhya Pradesh High Court in Parsi Zorastrian Anjuman Trust vs. CIT (supra). No reason whatsoever has been given by the Revenue authorities for deducting Rs. 2,17,126 in this case for purposes of s. 11(1)(a). The decision cited on behalf of the Revenue did not take into account the decision of the Supreme Court referred to above. The circular of CBDT has also been considered by the Hon’ble Kerala High Court in its decision referred to above. Accordingly the question referred to is answered in the affirmative and in favour of the assessee.”

The aforesaid decision clearly supports the plea of the Assessee. Following the same, we hold that the accumulation u/s.11(1)(a) of the Act should be allowed as claimed by the Assessee. Ground No.4 raised by the Assessee is accordingly allowed.”

Following the decision of the co-ordinate Bench of this Tribunal in the case of Jyothy Charitable Trust (supra), we set aside the order of the CIT(A) and hold that the accumulation u/s.11(1)(a) of the Act should be allowed as claimed by the Assessee.

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