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“doctrine of mutuality”

Judicial DoctrinesMutualityMutuality75 judgments

The decision most relied on for doctrine of mutuality is Bangalore Club v. CIT (350 ITR 509), cited in 247 judgments on BharatTax.

Leading authorities on doctrine of mutuality

Bangalore Club v. CIT
350 ITR 509 · 2013 · Supreme Court
247
citing judgments

The Supreme Court affirmed the doctrine of mutuality, holding that contributions received from and returned to members for a common purpose do not constitute taxable profits. However, income from transactions with non-members or interest earned from investments in external entities (like cooperative banks) may break the mutuality chain and be taxable under Section 56, falling outside the scope of Section 80P deductions.

CIT v. Bankipur Club Ltd.
226 ITR 97 · 1997 · Supreme Court
125
citing judgments

The doctrine of mutuality applies only when there is complete identity between the contributors to a common fund and the participants in its surplus. Income received from non-members or distinct classes of members who do not share this identity is not covered by mutuality and is taxable.

Chelmsford Club v. CIT
243 ITR 89 · 2000 · Supreme Court
100
citing judgments

Income arising from mutual activities carried out by clubs or associations solely among their members is not assessable for income tax, as it does not constitute income from a trade or business due to the principle of mutuality.

CIT v. Ace Multi Axes Systems Ltd.
88 Taxmann.com 69 · 2017 · Supreme Court
61
citing judgments

Each assessment year constitutes a separate unit of assessment under the Income-tax Act, and findings or decisions for one assessment year do not operate as res judicata for subsequent assessment years.

CIT v. Royal Western India Turf Club Ltd.
24 ITR 551 · 1953 · Supreme Court
32
citing judgments

A mutual concern may be held to carry on a business or trade with its members, even if the surplus from such trade is not considered income or profit. The court adopted a stricter approach in applying the principle of mutuality, emphasizing the identity of contributors and recipients.

Sind Co-operative Housing Society v. ITO
317 ITR 47 · 2009 · High Court
32
citing judgments

The doctrine of mutuality applies to co-operative societies, preventing income derived from members from being taxed as income from other sources. The court affirmed that the principle of mutuality, as accepted by the jurisdictional High Court, should be followed.

CIT v. Common Effluent Treatment Plant (Thane Belapur) Association
328 ITR 362 · 2010 · High Court
25
citing judgments

Interest earned by an association from surplus funds deposited with non-members is taxable and does not fall under the principle of mutuality.

CIT v. Delhi Gymkhana Club Limited
339 ITR 525 · 2011 · Reported
21
citing judgments

The doctrine of mutuality is applicable to interest earned on fixed deposits, provided the interest is used for the maintenance and welfare of members. However, some later judgments have dissented from this view, holding that such interest is taxable.

Judgments citing doctrine of mutuality

Gurgaon One Resident Welfare Association, Gurgaon vs. ITO-Ward 1(5), Gurgaon

In the result appeal of the assessee is allowed

ITA 4145/DEL/2025[2017-18]Status: DisposedITAT Delhi13 Mar 2026AY 2017-18

Bench: Shri S. Rifaur Rahman & Shri Vimal Kumarita No.4145/Del/2025 (Assessment Year 2017-18) Gurgaon One Resident Welfare Income Tax Officer, Association, Ward-1(5), Gurgaon. Sector-22, Mullahera, Vs. Old Delhi Gurgaon Road, Gurgaon-122015, Haryana. Pan-Aaaag5591K (Appellant) (Respondent) Assessee By Shri M.R. Sahu, Ca Shri Manish Gupta, Sr. Dr. Department By Date Of Hearing 09.03.2026 Date Of Pronouncement 13.03.2026 O R D E R Per Vimal Kumar, Jm: The Appeals Filed By The Assessee Are Against Orders Dated 13.06.2025 Of The Learned Commissioner Of Income Tax (Appeals)-Mumbai [Hereinafter Referred To As ‘The Ld. Cit(A)’] Passed U/S 250 Of The Income Tax Act, 1961, [Hereinafter Referred To As ‘The Act’] Arising Out Of Assessment Orders Dated 28.12.2018 & 13.11.2019 Of Ld. Assessing Officer, Ward-1(5), Gurgaon For Assessment Years 2016-17 & 2017-18 Respectively. Gurgaon One Resident Welfare Association Vs. Ito

Section 124(3)(a)Section 142(1)Section 143(2)Section 250Section 57

erred and failed to appreciate that the assessee-appellant is a Resident Welfare Association [RWA] and functioning under the doctrine of mutuality, thus its entire surplus is tax free, accordingly the assessee-appellant prays that the surplus of Rs.20,68,030/- offered to tax by misconception of law may kindly

Gurgaon One Resident Welfare Association, Gurgaon vs. ITO-Ward 1(5)-Gurgaon, Gurgaon

In the result appeal of the assessee is allowed

ITA 4144/DEL/2025[2016-17]Status: DisposedITAT Delhi13 Mar 2026AY 2016-17

Bench: Shri S. Rifaur Rahman & Shri Vimal Kumarita No.4145/Del/2025 (Assessment Year 2017-18) Gurgaon One Resident Welfare Income Tax Officer, Association, Ward-1(5), Gurgaon. Sector-22, Mullahera, Vs. Old Delhi Gurgaon Road, Gurgaon-122015, Haryana. Pan-Aaaag5591K (Appellant) (Respondent) Assessee By Shri M.R. Sahu, Ca Shri Manish Gupta, Sr. Dr. Department By Date Of Hearing 09.03.2026 Date Of Pronouncement 13.03.2026 O R D E R Per Vimal Kumar, Jm: The Appeals Filed By The Assessee Are Against Orders Dated 13.06.2025 Of The Learned Commissioner Of Income Tax (Appeals)-Mumbai [Hereinafter Referred To As ‘The Ld. Cit(A)’] Passed U/S 250 Of The Income Tax Act, 1961, [Hereinafter Referred To As ‘The Act’] Arising Out Of Assessment Orders Dated 28.12.2018 & 13.11.2019 Of Ld. Assessing Officer, Ward-1(5), Gurgaon For Assessment Years 2016-17 & 2017-18 Respectively. Gurgaon One Resident Welfare Association Vs. Ito

Section 124(3)(a)Section 142(1)Section 143(2)Section 250Section 57

erred and failed to appreciate that the assessee-appellant is a Resident Welfare Association [RWA] and functioning under the doctrine of mutuality, thus its entire surplus is tax free, accordingly the assessee-appellant prays that the surplus of Rs.20,68,030/- offered to tax by misconception of law may kindly

The Jyoti Co-Operative Non Agricultural Thrift & Credit Society Ltd., Sirmour vs. ITO, Ward, Nahan

In the result, the assessee is not eligible for deduction on interest on deposits placed with scheduled commercial banks under section 80(P)(2)(a)(i) of the Act and the appeal of the assessee is di...

ITA 162/CHANDI/2023[2013-14]Status: DisposedITAT Chandigarh12 Feb 2025AY 2013-14

Bench: SHRI. VIKRAM SINGH YADAV, AM आयकर अपील सं . / ITA No.160, 161 & 162/ Chd/2023 निर्धारण वर्ष / Assessment Year : 2017-18, 2012-13 & 2013-14 The Jyoti Co-operative Non Agricultural Thrift & Credit Society Ltd. Sirmour, Solan, HP-173025 स्थायी लेखा सं. / PAN NO: AAABT1453G अपीलार्थी/Appellant बनाम The ITO H.P Ward-Nahan, Sirmour प्रत्यर्थी/Respondent निर्धारिती की ओर से/Assessee by : Shri Vishal Mohan, Sr. Advocate with Shri Parveen Sharma, Advocate राजस्व की ओर से / Revenue by : Dr. Ranjeet K

For Appellant: Shri Vishal Mohan, Sr. Advocate with Shri Parveen Sharma, AdvocateFor Respondent: Dr. Ranjeet Kaur, Sr. DR
Section 142(1)Section 80Section 80P(2)Section 80P(2)(a)

various Societies. The Honorable Supreme Court held that "in our opinion, unlike the surplus amount' itself, which is exempt from tax under the doctrine of mutuality, the amount of interest earned by the assessee (Bangalore Club) from the member banks will not fall within the ambit of the mutuality principle