Congress Loses Rs 199 Cr Tax Battle As Tribunal Rejects Exemption Claim

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal on Monday dismissed an appeal by the Congress seeking tax exemption on an income of Rs 199 crore for the assessment year 2018-’19, Live Law reported.

The tribunal rejected the party’s claim under Section 13A of the 1961 Income Tax Act, observing that the Congress had filed its tax returns late and violated rules related to cash donation limits.

A bench of Judicial Member Satbeer Singh Godara and Accountant Member M Balaganesh ruled: “The assessee’s return filed on [February 2, 2019] is not within the ‘due’ date to make it eligible for the impugned exemption.”