Now the trust or entities required to apply for fresh registration under section 12AA where there is subsequent adoption or change in the objects.

Ø Requirement of fresh registration

Budget 2017 proposed to amend section 12A so as to provide that where a trust or an institution has been granted registration under section 12AA or has obtained registration at any time under section 12A [as it stood before its amendment by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1996] and, subsequently, it has adopted or undertaken modifications of the objects which do not conform to the conditions of registration, it shall be required to obtain fresh registration by making an application within a period of thirty days from the date of such adoption or modifications of the objects in the prescribed form and manner.

The existing provisions of section 12A of the Act provide for conditions for applicability of sections 11 and 12 in relation to the benefit of exemption in respect of income of any trust or institution.

Further, the provisions of section 12AA of the Act provide for registration of the trust or institution which entitles them to the benefit of sections 11 and 12. It also provides the circumstances under which registration can be cancelled, one such circumstance being satisfaction of the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner that its activities are not genuine or are not being carried out in accordance with its objects subsequent to grant of registration.

However, at present there is no explicit provision in the Act which mandates said trust or institution to approach for fresh registration in the event of adoption or undertaking modifications of the objects after the registration has been granted.

Ø Time -limit of submission of return of income

Budget 2017 proposed to further amend section 12A so as to provide for further condition that the person in receipt of the income chargeable to income-tax shall furnish the return of income within the time allowed under section 139 of the Act.

As per the existing provisions of said section, the entities registered under section 12AA are required to file return of income under sub-section (4A) of section 139, if the total income without giving effect to the provisions of sections 11 and 12 exceeds the maximum amount which is not chargeable to income-tax. However, there is no clarity as to whether the said return of income is to be filed within time allowed u/s 139 of the Act or otherwise.

These amendments are clarificatory in nature.

These amendments will take effect from the previous year 2017-18 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to assessment year 2018-19 and subsequent years.