Assessment proceedings commence with filing of return & not when notice is issued for first time under s. 143(2)

Sansthan Shree Eknath Maharaj Vishwastha Mandal Vs ITO (Exemption) (ITAT Pune) There is no dispute on the fact that the assessee filed its return of income on 17.01.2017 for the year under consideration. The approval was granted by the ld. CIT(E) u/s 12AA on 16.05.2017. At this stage, it is relevant to take note of the mandate of sub-section (2) of section 12A granting benefit of exemption to the years prior to the grant of registration, which provides through the second proviso that : `where registration has been granted to the trust or institution under section 12AA or section 12AB, then, th...