Orders passed by the prescribed authority under section sub-clauses (vi) and (via) of clause (23C) of section 10 made appealable before Income-tax Appellate Tribunal

[Admin TMI]

Question - What are proposed changes in Section 253 regarding the appeal provisions in Finance Bill 2015 ?

[Admin TMI]

Orders passed by the prescribed authority under section sub-clauses (vi) and (via) of clause (23C) of section 10 made appealable before Income-tax Appellate Tribunal

Sub-clause (vi) of clause (23C) of section 10 provides that any income received by a person on behalf of any university or other educational institution existing solely for educational purposes and not for purpose of profit and which may be approved by the prescribed authority is not liable to tax. Similarly, sub-clause (via) of clause (23C) of section 10 provides that any income received by a person on behalf of any hospital or other institution for treatment of persons suffering from illness or mental defectiveness or treatment of persons during convalescence or persons requiring medical attention, existing solely for philanthropic purposes and not for the purpose of profit is not liable for tax if such hospital or institution is approved by the prescribed authority.

The existing provisions contained in sub-section (1) of section 253 of the Income-tax specify orders that are appealable before ITAT. Order passed by the prescribed authority under sub-clauses (vi) and (via) of clause (23C) of section 10 is not included in this sub-section.

The decision of the prescribed authority to refuse to grant approval can have significant implications for the educational or medical institution under the Income-tax Act. Further, under a comparable provision an order for refusal to register a charitable trust is appealable before the Appellate Tribunal.

Accordingly, it is proposed to amend the said sub-section (1) of section 253 so as to provide that an assessee aggrieved by the order passed by the prescribed authority under sub-clause (vi) or (via) of section 10(23C) may appeal to the Appellate Tribunal.

This amendment will take effect from 1st day of June, 2015

AI Summary

Appealability of approval orders expanded so refusals by the prescribed authority can be challenged before the Appellate Tribunal. The amendment adds orders passed by the prescribed authority under sub-clauses (vi) and (via) of clause (23C) of section 10 to the list of orders appealable to the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal, permitting an assessee aggrieved by refusal of approval for educational or philanthropic medical institutions to appeal to the Appellate Tribunal.