Impact of changes in Definition of CSR Companies

Posted on July 1, 2016 by SRRF

Dear Members,

In terms of the recent amendment to FCRA under the Finance Act, 2016, Indian companies with more than 50% foreign shareholding will no more be considered a foreign source under the FCRA provided that the the nominal value of share capital in such companies is within the limits specified for foreign investment under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999. Therefore, an Indian company with more than 50% foreign shareholding will be able to make contributions/grants/donations to other organizations without the requirement of FCRA approval. Will it impact anyhow on the companies having 100% foreign shareholding private limited companies.

Regards

N K Sinha

Posted in CSR | 3 Comments

Huge relief to FCRA Pentities for late filing of returns

Posted on June 27, 2016 by SRRF

FCRA Dept has come out with a notification No. 1521 dt 16 June 2016 slashing compounding Fees for late filing of the return.

As per the new notification, following are the new slabs for the penalties.

S. No. Offence Penalty amount
1. Non-furnishing of Annual Return for 3 months after 31st December 2% of FC rec’d during the year or Rs 10,000 whichever is less
2. Non-furnishing of Annual Return after 3 months but upto 6 months after 31st December 3% of FC rec’d during the year or Rs 50,000 whichever is less
3. Non-furnishing of Annual Return after 6 months but upto one year after 31st December 4% of FC rec’d during the year or Rs 2 lakh whichever is less
4. Non-furnishing of Annual Return after 1 year but upto 2 years after 31st December 5% of FC rec’d during the year or Rs 5 lakh whichever is less
5. Non-furnishing of Annual Return after 2 year but upto 3 years after 31st December 10% of FC rec’d during the year or Rs 10 lakh whichever is less

It may be noted that the major reduction in penalties is due to replacing of phrase ‘whichever is more’ to ‘whichever is less’. This will be a major relief as earlier penalty procedures were amounting to lakhs and lakhs of penalties, even forcing organizations to abandon their organisatons.

The notification also states that in all those cases, where penalties have already been imposed using the old rates, nothing can be done. Once again an arbitrary decision, not based on legal principles.

____________________________________
Socio Research & Reform Foundation (NGO)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in; website: http://www.srr-foundation.org

Posted in FCRA, TAX, LEGAL | 5 Comments

Foreign Trip for government officials and MPs by a FC registered organisation

Posted on June 27, 2016 by SRRF

Background:
We are a foundation established 30 years back and working on health sector on Policy advocacy and knowledge dissemination with women’s right framework being the ultimate motive.

Issue:
As part of Policy advocacy, the foundation interacts with Government officials, select Members of Parliament (champions) and Industry leaders to advocate Family Planning issues and policies at the various meetings that they attend. To make this happen, constant meetings are done with various Government officials in Health Ministry both at Centre as well as State Government level to highlight various methods of Family Planning and also how the existing delivery mechanisms like ANM, ASHA etc. can be best used to increase reach. The Champions normally help the programme in bringing Government’s and people’s attention on Family planning issues at various levels whether it be at consultative committee meetings, forums, media interaction or public meetings. To this extent they are briefed about methods of Family Planning, indicators on FP, expenses committed by State and Central Government on FP and how this can be advocated to people at large.

Industry leaders also help in the same cause by speaking about Family Planning issues in various forums that they participate like various Chambers, public debates, discussions and conferences on Women’s right to delaying marriage, child delivery, spacing between children etc.

The foundation intends, as part of Policy Advocacy and other programmes, to organize a field visit to a foreign country where family planning methods like delayed marriage, spacing, availability of basket of contraceptives have been implemented in a successful manner. The visit would include meetings with development organizations, policy makers, field implementers etc.

The foundation would bear the cost of travel, stay, food and also pay per diem charges of the Government officials, Champions and also for its own staff. Intimation would be given in writing to Government department and MPs with a request to seek requisite approvals from the respective authorities.

Query
As per Section 3(1) of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010, Government servants, member of any legislature inter alia are prohibited from accepting foreign contribution. But it does not clarify if an FC registered organization can spend “foreign contribution” on such persons.

The activity of the foundation is planned under the donor agreement and the cost would be borne out of FCRA grant(foreign contribution).

The following queries emerge:-

  • Is it right to spend FCRA money on exposure tours?
  • Can the foundation pay the per diem charges to the government officials and MPs? If so can we give them Dollars?
  • Should the foundation seek copies of internal approvals of the Government for this tour to support our expenses?
  • Are there any other precautions that the foundation needs to take so that no provision of FCRA is contravened?

Raam Kumar

Posted in FCRA, TAX, LEGAL | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Lokpal Compliance by NGOs

Posted on June 25, 2016 by SRRF

Procedure to be followed by office bearers of NGOs to comply with latest amendments under The Lokpal & Lokayuktas Act 2013

The Lokpal & Lokayuktas Act 2013 was one of the last legislation enacted by UPA Government  before demitting office in 2014, under pressure from the anti-corruption movement spearheaded by Shri Anna Hazare at the time.

The Act is to provide a constitutional body for probing corruption in the Government  including Prime Minister, Minister, legislature and other public servants. S. 14 (g) & (h) identified in what situations officials of NGOs can be covered.

S.14 (g) covered all bodies including NGOs which receive support from the Government for a specified amount. It covered any person who has been a director, manager, secretary or other officer of every society or association of persons or trust, by whatever name called, wholly or partly financed by the Government and the annual income of which exceeds such amounts as the Central Government may by notification, specify. This the Central Government has now by notification[1] has notified to be Rs 1 crores.

While Director, manager, secretary or other officer of every society or association of persons or trust has not been defined, it is clear that it covers persons who are in a position to take day to day decisions, meaning office bearers and key full-time officials of an NGO, such as CEO/ED, etc. are likely to be covered by the Act.

Similarly S. 14 (h) classifies officials of a Voluntary Organisation receiving more than Rs 10 lakh through FCRA in a year as public servants.

For the purposes of monitoring public servants, S. 44 of the Act requires filing of annual return of assets and liabilities (base being 31st March) by 31st July of that year. Assets and liabilities are to include those of spouse and dependent children. The exact provisions are given in the accompanying Box.

post_lokpal

The Government has now come out with a notification[2] appointing the competent authority for the purposes of compliance to S.44[3] by public servants as classified under S.14(g), (organizations receiving support from the government). As per this the Minister Incharge of the Ministry which provides funds to NGOs would be the competent authority. In case of multi-ministries providing the grant, the competent authority would be the Minister Incharge of the ministry providing the largest grant. Notification further clarifies that the competent authority may change from year to year according to the grant amount and the ministry providing the grant. It also states that a copy of annual return filed with the ‘competent authority’ may be filed with other ministries who have given the grant, ostensibly for information only, since the other ministries are not the compliance authority. Return will need to be filed till the grant provided has not been fully exhausted.

Similarly to enable compliance by public servants as classified under S.14 (h), the Central Government  by notification[4] on 20th June 2016 has notified Minister Incharge of Ministry of Home Affairs as the competent body (organizations receiving more than Rs 10 lakh grants under FCRA). The notification also states that the returns will continue to be filed till such time that the donation amount so received is not fully exhausted.

__________________________________
Socio Research & Reform Foundation (NGO)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in; website: http://www.srr-foundation.org

[1] SO 2155 dt 20-6-2016
[2] SO 2154 dt 20-6-2016
[3] Although the notification does not per se mentions S.44, however the purpose of the competent authority to comply with as stated in the notification makes it very clear that it is covering S.44 of this Act.
[4] SO 2156 dt 20-6-2016

Posted in Accountability | 8 Comments

Can same project be funded both by FC and Non-FC Funds?

Posted on June 22, 2016 by SRRF

Dear Sir,

I have been following up srrf dialogue through a friend of mine. I would be glad to be a member of this group.

I am associated with VACHAN, an NGO registered as a society and a trust and functioning in Nasik district, Maharashtra. It is a registered organization under FC(R)A.

We are implementing a community based health program as a partner with a support organization which is providing technical and financial support.

For this project. we were receiving funds from Indian source. However, during FY 2016-17, we have been intimated that some parts or whole line items of the budget would be sourced as FOREIGN CONTRIBUTION.

Now, this raise some doubts which require your expert opinion:

Query 1: Is it allowed under the amended Foreign Contribution Rules and Regulations, 2010, to receive Indian and Foreign contribution for the same project?

The donor has inserted a clause about distribution of the funds, this includes Foreign Contribution which this donor has received and is re-transferred

“The fund requisition format for 6 months duly signed by the head of the organization and accompanied by the latest financial report need to be sent. The first installment of funds will be released for 6 months, 2nd installment will be for 3 months and for the remaining 3 months the partners are expected to incur the expenditure and the donor will ” reimburse the expenses as per the year 3 budget)”

This would mean that we would have to provide advance from funds available under the FC account for the remaining three months.

Query 2: Can FC(R)A allow to use FC available for a specific project as advance to another one under FC account? It would be an advance booked in FY 2016-17 and would be reimbursed in FY 2017-18. This is important because balance amount under the FC account (Bank statement) would not match the balance as per Annual FC Returns FC 4.

Thanks and regards

Dhruv Mankad
5 Gokul Apartments
Usha Kiran Society
Trimbak Road
NASIK 422002

Posted in FCRA, TAX, LEGAL | 9 Comments

List of foreign donors on Prior Permission of FCRA Dept

Posted on June 21, 2016 by SRRF

FCRA Dept has further increased number of foreign organisations on Prior Permission List, which means that an NGO before receiving funds from these organisations would need to take prior permission from the FCRA Dept. It is likely that bankers may also not allow automatic credit from these funding agencies. Following is the current list (20 June 2016) of such organisations.

  1. 350.Org
  2. Avaaz, USA
  3. Bertha Foundation
  4. BIC, USA
  5. Caritas International
  6. Catholic Organisation of Relief and Development Aids (CORDAID)
  7. Climate Work Foundation (CWF), USA
  8. Compassion International, USA
  9. Dan Church Aid (DCA)
  10. Danish Institute of Human Rights (DIHR)
  11. Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA)
  12. Family Federation for World Pease and Unification, South Korea
  13. Greenpeace International
  14. HIVOS, Netherlands
  15. ICCO Stretegische Samenwerking (ICCO), Netherlands
  16. Inter Church Pease Council – Pax Christi (IKV-PC), Netherlands
  17. Mercy Corps, USA
  18. National Endowment for Democracy (NED)
  19. Sierra Club USA
  20. World Movement of Democracy (WMD)
  21. Open Society Foundation

We give credits to Accounts Aid Team for bringing the above info to our attention.
_______________
Socio Research & Reform Foundation (NGO)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in

Posted in FCRA, TAX, LEGAL | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Applicability of IFRS to S.8 Company

Posted on June 4, 2016 by SRRF

Dear Madam/Sir

We are registered under Sec25 of companies act 1956. Kindly let us know whether sec25 company (NGO’s) have to follow internal financial reporting system (IFRS)?

If yes, then can you share some format relating to IFRS reporting.

Thanks & Regards

—
Trupti Nahar

Posted in FCRA, TAX, LEGAL | 3 Comments

Backward Integration – Is it really CSR?

Posted on June 3, 2016 by SRRF

Dear All,

Over a million hectare of Tribal lands are in virtual occupation of ITC in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and elsewhere. They are doing this under CSR ? This backward integration is part of business and is being pushed under the carpet of CSR. Is this fair? Morally? Ethically?Legally?

I got laughter bursting as I read the following in their Web Site. How cunning it is? This fraud upon our Constitution, on our Adivasi communities is an open secret.

Here’s how ITC’s social outreach programme works

The biggest reason for ITC’s CSR success is the way almost all the major sustainability initiatives have been wedded to the company’s core business, either providing an input source for a business or backward integration. As a result, divisional chief executives and their teams lead each of the initiatives, making them something more than just another CSR programme.

For instance, the famed e-Choupal initiative led by the agri-business division is a major sourcing base for the company’s packaged food and FMCG business, while its social forestry programme supports the paper and paperboard business. ITC has, in the last few years, undertaken massive animal husbandry initiatives covering ten lakh milch animals which will form the base for the proposed foray into the dairy business early next year.

There’s more to ITC’s CSR initiatives than these backward linkages. In the last few years, the company has spent considerable money on developing renewable energy infrastructure. And now, renewable energy meets almost 38% of ITC’s total energy requirements which is indeed remarkable considering the huge manufacturing base and hotels. The target is to increase this to 50% over the next five years. All the premium luxury hotels are certified green buildings making ITC the greenest luxury hotel chain in the world.

ITC has consciously chosen the path less travelled. A path that has led it to create sustainable livelihoods for 5 million people. For ITC this is an expression of a commitment beyond the market. Of a conviction that country must come before corporation. Of a true pride in being Citizen First.

What is ‘Corporate Citizenship’
Corporate citizenship is the extent to which businesses are socially responsible for meeting legal, ethical and economic responsibilities placed on them by shareholders. The aim is for businesses to create higher standards of living and quality of life in the communities in which they operate, while still preserving profitability for stakeholders.

BREAKING DOWN ‘Corporate Citizenship’
As demand for socially responsible corporations increases, investors, consumers and employees are now more willing to use their individual power to punish companies that do not share their values. For example, investors who find out about a company’s negative corporate citizenship practices could boycott its products or services, refuse to invest in its stock or speak out against that company among family and friends.

V.B.Chandrasekaran,
Chatti Mahatma Gandhi Aashramam,
Chatti Post, Chinthur Mandal,
Khammam District, Andhra Pradesh,
Pin Code: 507129.

Posted in CSR | 1 Comment

Marginal Tax Relief: S.12AA registration not to be cancelled

Posted on June 1, 2016 by SRRF

Most of us are aware that charitable institutions functioning under the remainder clause (i.e. advancement of objects of General Public Utility) are always worried that their income from sources which could be treated as from commerce, trade or business should not cross the lakshman rekha of 20% of total income (earlier this was a fixed monetary limit of Rs 25 lakh). If they crossed this limit, Income Tax officers generally would move application to cancel the registration under S. 12AA of such an entity.

CBDT has now issued instructions to all Income Tax Officers vide a circular[1] that in case a charitable institute crosses this limit, then while its income for that year would not be treated as charitable and would be subjected to taxation, however its registration for that year will not be cancelled. Therefore in case, the next year, the income remains within the permissible limit, the entity will be treated as charitable for that year.

The circular also states that above is important so that such one-time taxation of a charitable institution should not result in unintended taxation on accreted income under S. 115TD[2], which could result in additional tax liabilities.

___________
Socio Research & Reform Foundation (NGO)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in; website: http://www.srr-foundation.org

[1] Circular No. 21/2016 dt 27 May 2016
[2] S. 115TD not only imposes tax liability on accreted income of any charitable agency whose registration is cancelled, etc. but would also need to pay additional penalty if the tax is not paid within 14 days.
Posted in FCRA, TAX, LEGAL | Comments Off on Marginal Tax Relief: S.12AA registration not to be cancelled

Huge reduction in funds under FCRA

Posted on May 30, 2016 by SRRF

As most of the stakeholders associated with Voluntary Sector had been lamenting regarding shrinking of FCRA funds for the Sector. Now this is confirmed. In a press report based on a RTI application filed by NewsLaundry.com, a media portal, it is now confirmed that FCRA funds for FY 2014-15 were only Rs 8756 crores compared to Rs 13,115 crores during FY 2013-14. A reduction of over 33% of funding.

State-wise most states funding has come down, but Delhi, having a large number NGOs’ Head Offices’ used to be the highest FCRA fund receiver, however it has been drastically come down by more than 50%. Tamilnadu and Andhra are the other two states where FCRA funds have declined significantly.

Considering that many religious organisations are likely to continue to receive funds, even if reduced marginally, the impact is likely to be most pronounced on the organizations working in the social development sector and worse off are likely to be the ones predominantly in the advocacy and human rights arena. Several social development organizations fear this trend is likely to continue for the time being.

Source: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/05/20/under-modi-government-foreign-funding-of-ngos-has-come-down/

___________
Socio Research & Reform Foundation (NGO)
512 A, Deepshikha, 8 Rajendra Place, New Delhi – 110008
e-mail: socio-research@sma.net.in; website: http://www.srr-foundation.org
Posted in FCRA, TAX, LEGAL | 6 Comments