Charitable hospital, university or educational institution can appeal before ITAT against order for refusal to register

Orders passed by the prescribed authority under section sub-clauses (vi) and (via) of clause (23C) of section 10 made appealable before Income-tax Appellate Tribunal

Sub-clause (vi) of clause (23C) of section 10 provides that any income received by a person on behalf of any university or other educational institution existing solely for educational purposes and not for purpose of profit and which may be approved by the prescribed authority is not liable to tax. Similarly, sub-clause (via) of clause (23C) of section 10 provides that any income received by a person on behalf of any hospital or other institution for treatment of persons suffering from illness or mental defectiveness or treatment of persons during convalescence or persons requiring medical attention, existing solely for philanthropic purposes and not for the purpose of profit is not liable for tax if such hospital or institution is approved by the prescribed authority.

The existing provisions contained in sub-section (1) of section 253 of the Income-tax specify orders that are appealable before ITAT. Order passed by the prescribed authority under sub-clauses (vi) and (via) of clause (23C) of section 10 is not included in this sub-section.

The decision of the prescribed authority to refuse to grant approval can have significant implications for the educational or medical institution under the Income-tax Act. Further, under a comparable provision an order for refusal to register a charitable trust is appealable before the Appellate Tribunal.

Accordingly, it is proposed to amend the said sub-section (1) of section 253 so as to provide that an assessee aggrieved by the order passed by the prescribed authority under sub-clause (vi) or (via) of section 10(23C) may appeal to the Appellate Tribunal.

This amendment will take effect from 1^st day of June, 2015.