<h1>First Year of CSR u/s 135: No Tax Exemptions, But Some Contributions Are Tax-Deductible.</h1> The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) provisions under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, became effective on April 1, 2014. This marks the first year of CSR implementation by companies, with compliance data expected after September 2015 when annual returns are filed. Although no specific tax exemptions are provided for CSR expenses, contributions to certain activities like the Prime Minister's Relief Fund and rural development projects are tax-exempt under the Income Tax Act, 1961. Contributions to initiatives like Swachh Bharat and Clean Ganga currently lack specific tax exemptions. This information was disclosed by the Minister of Corporate Affairs in the Lok Sabha.