{"id":177,"date":"2009-09-25T07:30:57","date_gmt":"2009-09-25T02:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/apartmentadda.com\/blog\/?p=177"},"modified":"2023-11-02T03:41:31","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T03:41:31","slug":"income-tax-for-apartment-owners-associations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/2009\/09\/income-tax-for-apartment-owners-associations\/","title":{"rendered":"Income Tax for Apartment Owners Associations"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">Are Apartment Owners&#8217; Associations in India liable to pay Income tax? Which income categories are taxable and which are exempt? Do they need to file tax returns every year? These are a must-know for every Association Treasurer. Here is an article compiled from reliable sources*, that wishes to be of help.<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">Income Tax laws and the \u201cConcept of Mutuality\u201d<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">Apartment Owners Associations are categorised as Associations of Persons (AOP) under the Income Tax Law.<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">The governing concept for applying income tax laws to the Association of Persons is the &#8220;Concept of Mutuality&#8221;. This concept means that the contributors to a fund and the beneficiaries of the fund &#8211; are identical. This in turn implies that there is no scope for individual profits or gains. Any surplus generated in this fund &#8211; which is income over expenditure &#8211; is held by the association for future utilization to the benefit of the contributors. Complete tax exemption is given to funds\/surplus funds to which the &#8220;Concept of Mutuality&#8221; applies.<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">So, what is taxable and what is not?<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">Income NOT subject to tax:<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">Contribution from Members<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">Maintenance Charges, Electricity charges, Penalties, Interest charged on outstanding Maintenance Charges etc. &#8211; are the typical contribution by members of the Association. The association merely works as an agent that collects these charges and uses them for various common expenses. Any surplus during a fiscal year is carried forward to the next fiscal year, with no tax implications.<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">Interest earned from Co-operative Banks<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">If any investment is made in co-operative banks, the interest earned from such investment qualifies for deduction @ 100% under section 80P(d)<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">Dividend<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">If the Dividend income is received from Indian Companies, the dividend is fully exempt under section u\/s 10 (34). Dividend received from Co-operative Banks qualifies for exemption under 80P(d) is therefore 100% deductible.<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">Rentals received from members for utilizing facilities<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">If common facilities such as community hall, open spaces, terrace etc., are rented out to members for a fees, the income is not taxable, thanks to &#8220;Concept of Mutuality\u201d<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">Income subject to tax:<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">Interest earned on Investments in banks other than co-operative banks.<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">Any interest earned from banks which are not co-operative banks<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">Rental Income from Advertisement Hoardings<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">This is fully taxable under the head Business Income \/ Income from other sources. However expenses which can be directly attributable to earning of this income can be claimed against this income on a proportionate basis. Here the payer is responsible to deduct TDS from the payments made to the association.<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">Rental from Mobile \/ Cable Towers etc<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">Rental from mobile &amp; Cable Towers is taxable under the head Income from House Property; considering the same it is eligible for standard deduction u\/s 24 (a) @ 30 % of the rent. Also if the association has taken loan to build the tower structure, a proportionate deduction can be claimed for interest paid on borrowed capital.<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">Rentals from use of open Spaces \/ Terrace &#8211; received from non members<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">\u201cConcept of Mutuality\u201d does not apply to this Rental and it is fully taxable under the head Income from House Property &amp; may qualify for deductions mentioned in point 3 above.<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">To conclude, it is a must for associations to get PAN registered in the name of the association and file Income Tax Returns regularly. Even if an association does not have taxable income due to deduction available (e.g., investments only in co-operative banks), it is necessary for the society to prove this, which is possible only with a Income Tax return filing.<\/div>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"overflow: hidden; position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px;\">Sources: Our thanks to CAclubindia, The Hindu andeleminds.<\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-178\" title=\"Taxes\" src=\"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/09\/761191_taxes.jpg\" alt=\"Taxes\" width=\"240\" height=\"137\" \/>Are Apartment Owners Associations in India liable to pay Income Tax? Which income categories are taxable and which are exempt? Do they need to file tax returns every year? These are a must-know for every Association Treasurer. Here is an article compiled from various sources*, that wishes to be of help.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Income Tax laws and the \u201cConcept of Mutuality\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\">Apartment Owners Associations are categorised as Associations of Persons (AOP) under the Income Tax Law.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The governing concept for applying income tax laws to the Association of Persons is the &#8220;Concept of Mutuality&#8221;. This concept means that the contributors to a fund and the beneficiaries of the fund &#8211; are identical. This in turn implies that there is no scope for individual profits or gains. Any surplus generated in this fund &#8211; which is income over expenditure &#8211; is held by the association for future utilization to the benefit of the contributors. Complete tax exemption is given to funds\/surplus funds to which the &#8220;Concept of Mutuality&#8221; applies.<\/p>\n<p>So, what is taxable and what is not?<\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Income NOT subject to tax<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\"><strong>a) Contribution from Members<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Maintenance Charges, Electricity charges, Penalties, Interest charged on outstanding Maintenance Charges etc. &#8211; are the typical contribution by members of the Association. The association merely works as an agent that collects these charges and uses them for various common expenses. Any surplus during a fiscal year is carried forward to the next fiscal year, with no tax implications.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\"><strong>b) Interest earned from Co-operative Banks<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\">If any investment is made in co-operative banks, the interest earned from such investment qualifies for deduction @ 100% under section 80P(d).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\">Update on 17-Jan-2013: This is becoming a grey area, especially after the Supreme Court Judgment on 14-Jan-2013, in the <a href=\"http:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/2013\/01\/is-income-tax-applicable-for-society-fds\/\">case of Bangalore Club vs. CIT.<\/a><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p>This is applicable if The Housing Society \/ Association and the chosen Co-Operative Bank are members of the same cooperative, bringing them under Principle of Mutuality. Please see this for more info: <a href=\"http:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/2013\/01\/is-income-tax-applicable-for-society-fds\/\">http:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/2013\/01\/is-income-tax-applicable-for-society-fds\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\"><strong>c) Dividend<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\">If the Dividend income is received from Indian Companies, the dividend is fully exempt under section u\/s 10 (34). Dividend received from Co-operative Banks qualifies for exemption under 80P(d) is therefore 100% deductible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>d) Rentals received from <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">members<\/span> for utilizing facilities<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If common facilities such as community hall, open spaces, terrace etc., are rented out to members for a fees, the income is not taxable, thanks to &#8220;Concept of Mutuality\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Income subject to tax<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\"><strong>a) Interest earned from banks other than co-operative banks<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>If investments are made in banks which are not co-operative banks, interest earned from such investments are subject to Income Tax<\/p>\n<p><strong>b) Rental Income from Advertisement Hoardings<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is fully taxable under the head Business Income \/ Income from other sources. However expenses which can be directly attributable to earning of this income can be claimed against this income on a proportionate basis. Here the payer is responsible to deduct TDS from the payments made to the association.<\/p>\n<p><strong>c) Rental from Mobile \/ Cable Towers etc<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Rental from mobile &amp; Cable Towers is taxable under the head Income from House Property; considering the same it is eligible for standard deduction u\/s 24 (a) @ 30 % of the rent. Also if the association has taken loan to build the tower structure, a proportionate deduction can be claimed for interest paid on borrowed capital.<\/p>\n<p><strong>d) Rentals received from <\/strong><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">non members<\/span><\/strong><strong> for utilizing facilities<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cConcept of Mutuality\u201d does not apply to this Rental and it is fully taxable under the head Income from House Property &amp; may qualify for deductions mentioned in point 3 above.<\/p>\n<p>To conclude, it is a must for associations to get PAN registered in the name of the association and file Income Tax Returns regularly. Even if an association does not have taxable income due to deduction available (e.g., investments only in co-operative banks), it is necessary for the society to prove this, which is possible only with a Income Tax return filing.<\/p>\n<p><em>Sources: Our thanks to CAclubindia, The Hindu and Feeleminds.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Note: The Accounting Applications in ADDA &#8211; Maintenance Fee Tracker and Expense Tracker are tightly integrated with the residents database, making it very convenient to track taxable and non-taxable income. For more information please see the <a href=\"https:\/\/adda.io\/association\/erpfeatures\">features<\/a> page.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are Apartment Owners&#8217; Associations in India liable to pay Income tax? Which income categories are taxable and which are exempt? Do they need to file tax returns every year? These&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2024,2019],"tags":[186,214,1239,166,192,215],"class_list":["post-177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adda-community-accounting","category-adda-india-housing-society-apartment-management","tag-apartment-accounting-software","tag-home-owners-association","tag-income-tax","tag-society-accounting-software","tag-society-accounting","tag-society-tax"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=177"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9754,"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177\/revisions\/9754"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=177"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}