Union Budget 2023-24 + FINANCE Bill, 2023

Exemption to development authorities etc.

Clause (46) of section 10 of the Act provides exemption to any specified income arising to a body or authority or Board or Trust or Commission, or a class thereof which-

(a) has been established or constituted by or under a Central, State or Provincial Act, or constituted by the Central Government or a State Government, with the object of regulating or administering any activity for the benefit of the general public;

(b) is not engaged in any commercial activity; and

(c) is notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette for the purposes of this clause.

Supreme Court decision in the case of Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority

2. The restriction on undertaking commercial activities by anybody or authority or Board or Trust or Commission notified under clause (46) of section 10 has been a litigated issue.

3. Recently, Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the case of Assistant Commissioner of Income-tax (Exemptions) vs Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority in Civil Appeal No 21762 of 2017 vide its order dated 19.10.2022 held that in sub-clause (b) of clause (46) of section 10 of the Act, “commercial” has the same meaning as “trade, commerce, business” in clause (15) of section 2 of the Act. Therefore, sums charged by such notified body, authority, Board, Trust or Commission (by whatever name called) will require similar consideration – i.e., whether it is at cost with a nominal mark-up or significantly higher, to determine if it falls within the mischief of “commercial activity”.

4. However, the Hon’ble Court has also made a fine distinction in respect of statutory authorities, boards etc. which have been established by the State government or Central governments, for achieving essentially “public functions/services”. In such cases, the court have held that the amounts or any money whatsoever charged for the public services are prima facie to be excluded from the mischief of business or commercial receipts as their objects are essential for advancement of public purposes/ functions.

5. In view of the above, it is proposed to amend the Act so as to exclude income of a body or authority or Board or Trust or Commission, not being a company, from the scope of clause (46) of section 10 of the Act and insert a new clause (46A) in section 10 of the Act for their income.

6. The new clause (46A) proposes to exempt any income arising to a body or authority or Board or Trust or Commission, not being a company, which has been established or constituted by or under a Central or State Act with one or more of the following purposes, namely: -

(i) dealing with and satisfying the need for housing accommodation;

(ii) planning, development or improvement of cities, towns and villages;

(iii) regulating, or regulating and developing, any activity for the benefit of the general public; or

(iv) regulating any matter, for the benefit of the general public, arising out of the object for which it has been created.

7. It is also required to be notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette for the purposes of this clause.

8. Consequential amendment is also proposed in the Explanation to the nineteenth proviso of clause (23C) of section 10 of the Act. Similarly, consequential amendment is also proposed in sub-section (7) of section 11 of the Act.

9. These amendments will take effect from 1st April, 2024 and will accordingly apply to the assessment year 2024-25 and subsequent assessment years.

[clauses 5 & 7]

 

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Full Text:

Union Budget 2023-24 + FINANCE Bill, 2023

Exemption for statutory development authorities expanded to cover non-company bodies providing public services, subject to notification. Income of a body or authority or Board or Trust or Commission, not being a company, established or constituted by Central or State Act for specified public purpose objects (housing, planning/development of settlements, regulating or developing activities for public benefit, or regulating matters arising from their object) is proposed to be exempted under a new clause, subject to Central Government notification in the Official Gazette; consequential statutory amendments follow and the change applies prospectively to the relevant assessment year.