Section 12A of the Income Tax Act

Income-tax Act, 2025: ss.332–355

Section 12A of the Income-tax Act, 1961 corresponds to sections 332 to 355 of the Income-tax Act, 2025, the provisions on registered non-profit organisations.

Read the 2025 provisions

Correspondence checked against the ICAI tabular mapping of the two Acts and the BharatTax.co section commentary.

The decision most relied on for Section 12A is CIT v. Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (264 ITR 110), cited in 398 of the 6,064 judgments on BharatTax that turn on this section.

Leading authorities on Section 12A

CIT v. Institute of Banking Personnel Selection
264 ITR 110 · 2003 · High Court
398
citing judgments

Depreciation is allowable on assets for which the cost has been fully allowed as an application of income under Section 11 in previous years, when computing the income of a charitable trust. Charitable trusts are also entitled to carry forward their deficit.

ACIT v. Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority
143 Taxmann.com 278 · 2022 · Supreme Court
390
citing judgments

If activities for the advancement of general public utility are carried on as a business, income from such activities is not exempt under Section 11, even if the profits are utilized for the main charitable object. The argument that profits from general public utility activities can be ploughed back to charity to maintain exemption is not a good law.

Addl. CIT v. Surat Art Silk Cloth Manufacturers Association
121 ITR 1 · 1980 · Supreme Court
328
citing judgments

A charitable institution, whose predominant object is general public utility, can engage in non-charitable activities yielding incidental profits, provided these profits are deployed to achieve the dominant charitable object. A subsidiary object, if ancillary to the primary charitable purpose, does not negate the institution's charitable character.

Sole Trustee, Loka Shikshana Trust v. CIT
101 ITR 234 · 1975 · Supreme Court
323
citing judgments

This case defines 'education' under Section 2(15) of the Income Tax Act as systematic instruction, schooling, or training given to the young for preparation for the work of life. It clarifies that 'education' in this context has a narrow meaning, not extending to every acquisition of further knowledge.

Exide Industries Ltd. v. Union of India
292 ITR 470 · 2007 · High Court
320
citing judgments

The Calcutta High Court held that restricting deduction for leave encashment via Section 43B(f) was arbitrary and contrary to Supreme Court decisions. However, this judgment was later stayed by the Supreme Court.

Escorts Ltd. v. UOI
199 ITR 43 · 1993 · Supreme Court
267
citing judgments

A statute should not be construed to permit double deduction for the same expenditure unless specifically provided by law.

1. AIR 1951 SC 467: HARLA v. THE STATE OF RAJASTHAN. 2
2 SCC 453 · 1997 · Reported
222
citing judgments

When an appeal or revision is filed against an order passed by a subordinate forum, and a superior forum modifies, reverses, or affirms that decision, the order of the subordinate forum merges into the superior forum's decision, which then becomes the sole operative and enforceable order.

CIT v. Shri Plot Swetamber Murti Pujak Jain Mandal
211 ITR 293 · 1995 · High Court
204
citing judgments

A charitable trust can carry forward its excess expenditure from previous years and adjust it against the income of subsequent years, which qualifies as an application of income under Section 11. Additionally, voluntary contributions received for a specific purpose are treated as corpus funds and are not taxable.

CIT v. Gujarat Oil & Allied Industries
201 ITR 325 · 1993 · High Court
195
citing judgments

The requirement to file an audit report along with the income tax return, as specified in provisions like Section 80J(6A) or 80-IA(7), is directory and not mandatory. Substantial compliance is achieved if the audit report is submitted at any time before the assessment is framed or completed, and benefits should not be denied merely due to a delay in furnishing it.

CIT v. Society of the Sisters of St. Anne
146 ITR 28 · 1984 · High Court
195
citing judgments

Depreciation claimed by a charitable trust on its assets is an allowable application of income for computing exemption under Section 11, and this does not constitute a double deduction.

Judgments on Section 12A

Central Charitable Trust, Jafarpur vs. Income Tax Officer, Exemption Ward, Varanasi

In the result, the appeal filed by the assessee is treated as allowed for statistical purposes

ITA 12/VNS/2023[2014-2015]Status: DisposedITAT Varanasi12 Apr 2023AY 2014-2015

Bench: Shri Ramit Kochar & Shri Pavan Kumar Gadalecentral Charitable Trust Vs. Income Tax Officer Jafrapur- 276001, Exemption, Uttar Pradesh. Wardayakarbhawan, Maqboolalam Road, Varanasi 221002 Uttar Pradesh Pan/Gir No. : Aabtc4875G Appellant .. Respondent Appellant By : Shriarvind Shukla, Advocate Respondentby : Shri A.K. Singh, Sr.Dr Date Of Hearing 12.04.2023 Date Of Pronouncement 12.04.2023 आदेश / O R D E R Per Pavan Kumar Gadale Jm: The Assessee Has Filed The Appeal Against The Order Of The National Faceless Appeal Centre (Nfac), Delhi/Cit(A)Passed U/S.250 Of The Income Tax Act, 1961.The Assessee Has Raised The Following Grounds Of Appeal: Central Charitable Trust “1. Because The Learned Cit(A) Has Erred In Law As Well As On Facts In Dismissing The Appeal Of The Trust Running Educational Institution Without Appreciating The Facts & Circumstances Of The Case In The Correct Perspective. 2. Because The Learned Ao As Well As The Learned Cit(A) Have Failed To Appreciate That The Assessee Is Engaged Solely In Running An Educational Institution Having Gross Receipts Below One Crore & Hence No Part Of His Receipts/Income Was Taxable By Virtue Of Clear Unambiguous Provisions Of Section 10(232)(Iiiad). 3. Because The Authorities Below Have Sought To Deny The Benefit Available To The Educational Institution By Clear Provisions Of Section 10(23C)(Iiiad) With Unrelated Provisions Of Section 11/12A When Such Sections Should Not Be Applied To The Facts Of The Case. 4. Because The Authorities Below Have Sought To Deny The Benefit Available To The Educational Institution On The Basis Of Some Inadvertent Technical Errors In Filing Return Without Appreciating The Facts Of The Case. 5. Because The Order Is Bad In Law As Well As On Facts.”

For Appellant: ShriArvind Shukla, AdvocateFor Respondent: Shri A.K. Singh, Sr.DR
Section 10Section 10(232)(iiiad)Section 10ASection 11Section 12ASection 143(1)Section 250

DCIT, Exemption Circle, Patna vs. Bijendra Memorial Society, Patna

In the result, the appeal is allowed

ITA 3/PAT/2021[2015-16]Status: DisposedITAT Patna29 Mar 2023AY 2015-16

Bench: Shri Sanjay Garg & Shri Girish Agrawali.T.A. No.3/Pat/2021 Assessment Year: 2015-16 Dcit (Exemption), Circle-Patna........……….........…..........….…… Appellant Vs. Bijendra Memorial Society….....….....……........…...…...…..…..... Respondent 404 Shyam Centre, Exhibition Road, Patna-800001. [Pan:Aabtb1511G] Appearances By: Shri Soumitra Choudhury, Adv., Appeared On Behalf Of The Appellant. Smt. Rinku Singh, Cit-Dr, Appeared On Behalf Of The Respondent. Date Of Concluding The Hearing : February 01, 2023 Date Of Pronouncing The Order : March 29, 2023 आदेश / Order संजय गग", "या"यक सद"य "वारा / Per Sanjay Garg: The Present Appeal Has Been Preferred By The Revenue Against The Order Dated 28.08.2020 Of The Commissioner Of Income Tax (Appeals)-1, Patna [Hereinafter Referred To As ‘Cit(A)’] Passed U/S 250 Of The Income Tax Act (Hereinafter Referred To As The ‘Act’). 2. The Revenue In This Appeal Has Taken The Following Grounds Of Appeal: “1. The Ld.Cit(A) Has Erred In Law As Well As Facts Of The Case In Deleting The Additions Of Disallowances Towards The Salary/Remuneration Of Rs. 17,40,000/- & Rs.12,60,000/- Paid To Treasurer & Secretary Of The Trust & Rs.3,00,000/- To Shri Kala Choudhary For Hiring Of Bus & Rs.8,40,000/- For Hostel Building Rent To M/S Aadya Bhasker Enterprises Private Limited From The Income Of Trust Which Were Found Excessive & Unreasonable Under Sub-Section (3) Of Section 13 Of The

Section 12ASection 13Section 13(3)Section 143(3)Section 250

Swami Vivekananda Karma Tirtha, Kolkata vs. ITO, Ward-44(1), Kolkata

In the result, the appeal of the assessee stands allowed

ITA 12/KOL/2022[2019-20]Status: DisposedITAT Kolkata14 Mar 2023AY 2019-20

Bench: Shri Sanjay Gargi.T.A. No.12/Kol/2022 Assessment Year: 2019-20 Swami Vivekananda Karma Tirtha......…..........…..................….…… Appellant 46, Camal West Road, Ultadanga, Kolkata - 700004. [Pan:Aawts0391Q] Vs. Ito, Ward-44(1), Kolkata...…..………....……........…...…...…..…..... Respondent Appearances By: Shri Manish Tiwari, Fca, Appeared On Behalf Of The Appellant. Smt. Ranu Biswas, Addl. Cit-Dr, Appeared On Behalf Of The Respondent. Date Of Concluding The Hearing : March 14, 2023 Date Of Pronouncing The Order : March 14, 2023 आदेश / Order The Present Appeal Has Been Preferred By The Assessee Against The Order Dated 19.11.2021 Of The National Faceless Appeal Centre [Hereinafter Referred To As ‘Cit(A)’] Passed U/S 250 Of The Income Tax Act (Hereinafter Referred To As The ‘Act’). 2. The Sole Issue Involved In This Appeal Is Whether The Assessee Is Entitled To Exemption U/S 11 R.W.S 12A Of The Act In Respect Of Assessment Year, The Assessment Proceedings Relating To Which Was Pending Before The Assessing Officer On The Date Of Registration Of The Assessee U/S 12A Of The Act & The Objects & Activities Of Such Trust Or Institution Remained The Same For Such Preceding Assessment Year. In This Case, The Registration Was Granted To The Assessee On 22.01.2020 For Assessment Year 2020-21. However, On The Date Of Grant Of

Section 11Section 12ASection 2Section 250