Comparison of SCHEDULE VIII "INCOME NOT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE TOTAL INCOME OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTORAL TRUSTS" between the Income-Tax Act, 2025 (as passed) and the Income-Tax Bill, 2025 (as originally introduced)

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....s and electoral trusts, and to donors and tax authorities concerned with compliance and reporting. The document does not state an effective date. Not stated in the document. Background & Scope Statutory hook: "See section 12" (SCHEDULE VIII). The Schedule sets out a Table with three columns: (B) Income not to be included in total income, (C) Eligible persons, and (D) Conditions. The Schedule covers two entries: (1) certain incomes (house property, other sources, capital gains, and voluntary contributions) for political parties registered u/s 29(a) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951; and (2) voluntary contributions for electoral trusts. The Schedule contains a Note defining "electoral bond" by reference to the Explanation to sec....

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....under the Representation of the People Act, and, for electoral trusts, distribution and regulatory compliance. The use of cross-references to specific sections of the Representation of the People Act suggests a statutory integration of electoral reporting and income-tax treatment. The Schedule uses prescriptive compliance criteria rather than blanket immunity, signalling a policy to incentivise transparency and traceability of political funding. Exceptions/Provisos Clause (d) caps small-donation anonymity: "no donation exceeding Rs. 2,000 is received ... otherwise than by an account payee cheque ... or through electoral bond." Thus donations <= Rs. 2,000 may be received in other modes; donations > Rs. 2,000 must be through specified finan....

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....or that donation or the party&#39;s entitlement under the Schedule. (Derived from clause (d).) Interplay The Schedule cross-references provisions of the Representation of the People Act (section 29(a); section 29C(3)) and the Reserve Bank of India Act (Explanation to sub-section (3) of section 31). It also requires compliance with section 263(1)(a)(iii) for return furnishing. No other Rules/Notifications/Circulars are cited in the Bill text beyond the general reference that electoral trusts must function as per Central Government rules. The Schedule thus relies on external statutory and regulatory instruments for definitional and compliance content. Specific interaction details (e.g., precedence where Schedule conditions conflict with oth....

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.... due date under that section." The Act requires furnishing "as per the provisions of section 263(1)(a)(iii) and 263(2) on or before the due date referred to in section 263(1)(c)." * Practical impact: The Act adds an additional cross-reference to section 263(2) and specifies the due date provision more precisely (263(1)(c)). This tightens the statutory compliance framework by pointing to an additional subsection and a precise due-date clause, potentially expanding or clarifying filing obligations and consequences for non-compliance. Practical Implications * Compliance and risk areas: Political parties must maintain books of account and documentary records sufficient for an Assessing Officer to determine income; failure may lead to denia....