5.2 Taxation of certain income of the trusts or institutions under both the regimes at special rate

Following incomes of the trusts or institutions are chargeable to tax, under different provisions of the Act:-

(a) The trusts or institutions under the first or second regime are required not to pass on any unreasonable benefit to the trustee or any other specified person. For the trusts or institutions under the second regime, clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 13 of the Act provides that the entire exemption shall be denied to the trust irrespective of the amount of benefit passed on. For trusts or institutions under the first regime similar provisions is proposed by way of insertion of twentieth proviso to clause (23C) of section 10 of the Act.

(b) It is mandatory for any trust or institution under the first regime, to keep their funds in the specified modes. Third proviso of clause (23C) of section 10 of the Act specifically provides that the funds of such trusts or institutions shall be maintained in these specified modes. For the trusts or institutions under the second regime, clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 13 of the Act provides that the exemption shall be denied to the trust irrespective of the amount of investment in non-specified modes.

(c) Further, the trusts or institutions under both the regimes are required to apply at least 85% of their income during the year. Where the trust is not able to apply 85% of the income, it may accumulate such income for maximum 5 years. Sub-section (3) of section 11 of the Act specifically provides for the trusts or institutions under the second regime that such accumulated income, which could not be applied within the period of accumulation (maximum 5 years), shall be deemed to be the income of the trust. Similarly, for the trusts or institutions under the second regime, there is a specific provision under clause (2) of Explanation 1 to sub-section (1) of section 11 of the Act providing for the accumulation of income for a period of one year. Sub99 section (1B) of section 11 of the Act provides that if the income accumulated under clause (2) of Explanation 1 to sub-section (1) of section 11 of the Act could not be applied within the time allowed; it shall be deemed to be the income of the trust.

(d) The trusts or institutions under thefirst regime are also required to apply at least 85% of their income during the year. Where such trust is not able to apply 85% of its income during the year and does not accumulate such income, entire income of such trust shall be subjected to tax where the trust is approved under the second proviso to clause (23C) of section 10 of the Act since third proviso to clause (23C) of section 10 of the Act mandates minimum 85% application of income unless such income is accumulated.

Denying exemption to the trust, for small amount of income applied in violation to the provisions referred in clause (a) and (b) above creates difficulties to the trusts or institutions under both the regimes as there is ambiguity about the manner of taxation of such income. Further, there is need for special provision to ensure that the income applied in violation is taxed at special rate without deduction. Accordingly, in order to rationalise the provisions, the following amendments are proposed:-

(a) It is proposed to amend clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 13 of the Act to provide that only that part of income which has been applied in violation to the provisions of the said clause shall be liable to be included in total income.

(b) It is also proposed to insert twenty first proviso in clause (23C) of section 10 to specifically provide that where the income of any trust under the first regime, or any part of the such income or property, has been applied directly or indirectly for the benefit of any person referred to in sub-section (3) of section 13, such income or part of income or property shall be deemed to be income of such person of the previous year in which it is so applied. The provisions of sub-section (2), (4) and (6) of section 13 of the Act shall also apply to it.

(c) It is proposed to amend clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 13 of the Act to provide that only the that part of income which has been invested in violation to the provisions of the said clause shall be liable to be included in total income.

(d) It is proposed to insert Explanation 4 in third proviso to clause (23C) of section 10 of the Act to specifically provide that income accumulated which is not utilised for the purpose for which it is so accumulated or set apart shall be deemed to be the income of such person of the previous year being the last previous year of the period, for which the income is accumulated or set apart.

(e) All the above income are also required to be taxed at special rate. Hence, it is proposed to insert new section 115BBI in the Act providing that where the total income of any assessee being a trust under the first or second regime, includes any income by way of any specified income, the income-tax payable shall be the aggregate of-

(i) the amount of income-tax calculated at the rate of thirty per cent on the aggregate of specified income; and

(ii) the amount of income-tax with which the assessee would have been chargeable had the total income of the assessee been reduced by the aggregate of specified income referred to in clause (i).

(f) The sub-section (2) of this new section seeks to provide that no deduction in respect of any expenditure or allowance or set off of any loss shall be allowed to the assessee under any provision of the Act in computing specified income.

(g) Explanation to the proposed section defines "specified income" to mean:-

(i) income accumulated or set apart in excess of fifteen percent of the income where such accumulation is not allowed under any specific provisions of the Act; or

(ii) deemed income referred to in Explanation 4 to third proviso to clause (23C) of section 10 or sub-section (3) of section 11 or sub-section (1B) of section 11;or

(iii) any income which is not exempt under clause (23C) of section 10 on account of violation of the provisions of clause (b) of third proviso of clause (23C) of section 10 or not to be excluded from total income under the provisions of clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 13; or

(iv) any income which is deemed to be income under the twenty first proviso to clause (23C) of section 10 or which is not excluded from total income under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 13; or

(v) any income which is not excluded from total income under clause (c) of subsection (1) of section 11.

These amendments will take effect from 1st April, 2023 and will accordingly apply in relation to the assessment year 2023-24 and subsequent assessment years.

[Clauses 4 , 8 and 28 ]

Special-rate taxation of trust income under new provision: specified breach income taxed separately and no deductions allowed under the rule. Proposed amendments subject defined categories of trust or institution income to a special rate by treating only the part of income improperly applied, invested, accumulated or attributed as taxable specified income; disallow deductions or set-offs against such specified income; deem unutilised accumulated sums to be taxable in the last year of accumulation; and define specified income to include excessive accumulations, deemed income under accumulation rules, income rendered non-exempt for impermissible investments or benefit transfers, and income attributable to beneficiaries.