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Date extended for FCRA Annual Return FC4

As we know, last date for filling FCRA return in Form FC4 is 31/12 i.e. after 9 months of financial year end. Thus, for FY 2017-18, last date was 31.12.2018. However, this year, FCRA department has made it compulsory to take DARPAN ID and link it with FCRA department.

But, generating DARPAN ID without any error is a huge task and even after submission to DARPAN ID portal, it takes days and months to get DARPAN ID.

Looking to all this difficulties and representation made by many organizations, it is decided by FCRA department to extend FCRA Annual Return date from 31.12.2018 to 31.03.2019

Read full notification here :

fc_notice_29122018

 

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FCRA registration suspended for another 156 NGO

Central Government vide notice dated 21.12.2017 had directed that all the persons who are either registered or having prior permission shall open their bank account in one or more banks who are linked with PFMS. Also, to change the bank account one month was given. Most of the Banks have started linking with PFMS system and many organisaations have changed their bank account, if their bank was not ready to linked with PFMS.

However, FCRA has issued notice on 6th December, identifying 156 organisation who have not change their Bank Account and still having Bank Account with Non-PFMS Banks. After show cause notice was given on 29.06.2018, FCRA department has decided to suspend their registration for 180 days.

Check the full notice :

fc_order_12102018

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5 Points to keep in mind while operating FCRA Bank Account

There are very strict rules regarding using Foreign Funds under FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act). Also, FCRA department has already cancelled licenses of many organization on the basis of non-compliance of rules and provisions of FCRA.

As per sec 17 of this Act, every NGO who has been registered under FCRA, has to open a separate Bank Account for receiving and utilizing foreign funds. Let us look at some of the 5 points you should keep in mind while operating FCRA Bank Account.

(1) Do not mix FC & NonFC Funds

Do not receive any funds other than foreign funds to your FCRA Bank Account. You can receive funds in Indian Rupees if it comes from foreign source. Utmost care should be taken while depositing cheques or giving bank account numbers to donor.

 

(2) Interest linking of FDs

You need to instruct very clearly to Bank regarding linking of FDs with your Bank Account. Care should be taken that only FDs from FC funds link with your FCRA bank account so as to receive interest in that bank account only.

 

(3) Online Donation

If you are accepting Donation online through your website or crowd funding website, your payment gateway should be capable of transferring FC money to FC Bank Account and NonFC money to NonFC Bank Account.

 

(4) Time Barred Cheques

Your accounting system should be such that at the every month, all the cheques which are time barred will be cancelled and reversed in the books of account automatically. Otherwise, what happen, in FCRA return expenses were reported, while your balance in FC bank accounts not reduced that much.

 

(5) Sub – FC (Utilization) Bank Account

If you have open a Sub-FC Bank Account for project utilization, do not accept funds directly in that bank account. You have to accept FC funds in Main FC account always and then transfer to Sub-FC Bank Account.

 

Hope this will help you in your NGO, if you have any question,  you can ask here or chat with us. Also your comments are welcome on the above subjects.

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List of Banks allowed by FCRA -UPDATED

NEW LIST UPDATED – 46 Banks

https://fcraonline.nic.in/fc_bank_list.aspx

Bank Integration – FCRA

FCRA department has issued a notification dated 22.12.2017, instructing organization to have FCRA Bank Account only with the list of banks mentioned in the attachment.

Purpose

The purpose is to link FCRA Bank Account with PFMS – Public Financial Management System.  However, system of some of the banks are such that account can not be linked with PFMS.

Action

Thus, if your organization having bank account with the bank other than mentioned in the list, you need to change the FC account with the given 32 Banks within a month.
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FCRA makes it compulsory to take DARPAN ID

As per FCRA latest notice, all the NGOs now need to acquire DARPAN Unique ID. This it the portal offered by NITI Aayog in association with National Informatics Center.

Also, it is mentioned in the notice, that all the all FCRA related services like Registration, Renewal, Filling of Return etc.. shall require DARPAN Unique ID.

Public Notice for DARPAN ID

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How to Register for DARPAN ID

Step 1 – Login

http://www.ngodarpan.gov.in/

Click on “Register” button on right corner.

Step 2 – Enter Details

You have to give details of your organization – NAME, MOBILE and EMAIL. OTPs will be sent to given Mobile number and email.

Step 3 – Verify OTPs

Once you submit, OTPs will be send to your email and mobile. Also, here you need to provide PAN of your Organization and Name of mentioned in the PAN.

Step 4 – Create Password

Once your PAN is verified, Unique ID is generated and you need to create your own password for the login. Thereafter, it re-direct you to login page

How to give this Unique ID to FCRA

Once you get the Unique ID, you need to login to your FCRA account, where a pop up form appear, you need to provide Unique ID there. Refer our last blog.

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FCRA Update – Key Functionaries Detail

Recently FCRA department has update the website and now when you login to your account, a page is loaded where it is asking for details regarding key functionaries and Darpan ID. Look at the below screenshot :

Process :

Step 1 – visit https://fcraonline.nic.in/home/index.aspx

Step 2 – Click on “Intimation on Quarterly Receipt” tab.

Step 3 – Give details of your userid and password

Step 4 – A page given in the above image is loaded. Fill all the information regarding members.

  1. Email ID of Member
  2. Mobile of Member
  3. Aadhar of Member
  4. PAN of Member

Step 5 – Fill information regarding Darpan ID

5. Darpan ID

6. PAN of Organization given in Darpan Registration

For more information on what is Darpan ID and how to create it, click below link.

http://ngodarpan.gov.in/

 

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Update – FCRA department has issued show cause notice

Recently, FCRA has issued show cause notice to 5992 NGOs asking for reasons why their FCRA registration may not cancel.

Earlier in this May, FCRA has issued list of organizations, who have not filled FC returns online for previous year or years. And give them opportunities to update the same as early as possible. Also after that, 5992 organizations have not updated their FC returns and thus final show cause notice issued to them.

Download Notice from here.

Download List of 5992 NGOs from here.

It is also mentioned that, these organization have to give their reply in email to fcrarenewal-mha@gov.in within 15 days.

 

 

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How to get CSR Funding for your NGO ?- Program Quality

How to get CSR funding for your NGO? – PART 1

We have seen in last blog here (How to get CSR Funding for NGO?) , what NGO should not do to get CSR funds. Let us see now what NGO should do to get CSR funding. How your should prepared your NGO for CSR funding. One of the important aspect is how effectively your NGO implement the given project i.e. Program Quality.

Program Quality

Obviously, as a Chartered Accountant, I can not suggest about how to implement program effectively, but yes, I can suggest on how to maintain documents in such a manner, so that it can easily draw an idea about NGO working.

Past and Current Programs

Programs, which are completed in last five years should have been documented properly. There has to be proper file for each program containing all the documents starting from agreement, budget, all financial utilization certificates, quarterly reports, photographs and note on impact of the program. I suggest to have a “Program Closure Card”, a brief summary of Program. Please see below example.

This is illustration how Program Closure Card look

This is illustration how Program Closure Card look

 

Future Program

Every company ask full project plan for which you need CSR fund. Thus, NGO should have keep ready such kind of different project plans – mainly divided in two parts, short term plans and long term plans. Many CSR companies even provide funding for ongoing project or contribute in Long Term Project Plan of NGO.

Coming Soon – How to get CSR funding for your NGO? – PART 3

 

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Draft Guidelines providing stringent regulatory mechanism for NGOs

The Centre filed in Supreme Court on Wednesday its draft guidelines providing stringent regulatory mechanism for NGOs. Earlier, in January 2017, famous lawyer for his PILs, Advocate Mr. Manohar Lal Sharma, filled a PIL to regulate the unorganized NGOs ecosystem in the country. SC had asked the Centre to prepare guidelines to regulate NGOs and Voluntary Organisations after finding that nearly 30 lakh of them were operating in India.

In its order, the Court noted that substantial funding is allowed for NGOs and voluntary organisations. Further, Rules 210-212 of the General Financial Rules, 2005 provide for a regulation mechanism for NGOs, though the respondents are not aware of the same. The court noted,

“There are 32 lakh NGOs out of which nearly 3 lakh are filing balance sheets. The respondents are not aware of the responsibility of audit in the General Financial Rules…There can be no doubt that the funds disbursed by CAPART [to NGOs] is public money and needs to be accounted.”

It, therefore, directed the Centre to complete the exercise of audit and submit a report by March 31 this year. It was directed,

“In case of non-compliance, it is essential to initiate civil and criminal action immediately after the completion of the exercise.”

Most importantly, the Court also directed the Centre to lay down guidelines/rules for accreditation of NGOs, the manner in which they shall maintain accounts and auditing of the same.

Centre proposes stringent guidelines for NGOs and VOs requiring all existing ones to register afresh online with Niti Ayog‘s NGO-Darpan. The guidelines submitted by additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta to a bench headed by CJI J S Khehar required them to register afresh if they wish to get govt grants.
It said NGOs will be provided unique ID and subjected to income tax act and foreign contribution regulations act. Centre’s draft guidelines say NGOs/VOs past track record and performance will be put under scrutiny before grant of accreditation. The NGOs and VOs getting govt funds are required to execute a bond to refund the amount with 10% interest if work not done.

However, detailed draft copies of guidelines not available so that can not comment on in dept detail.

SC asked amicus curiae Rakesh Dwivedi to submit his suggestions on the draft guidelines in two weeks.

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FCRA Update – File FC6 Bank Account Details

Today, FCRA department has issued two lists of the organizations whose Bank Accounts are either not updated with FCRA or not as per Core Banking System format. These organizations are advised to update their Bank Accounts immediately in Form FC6.

As FCRA department is in the process of being paperless department, this is another step to have updated information regarding Bank Accounts of organizations.

List 1 Those NGOs, whose bank account detail is not updated as per core banking format

Before 4-5 years, due to core banking,  Bank Accounts are changed to 10 or 12 digits instead of 4 or 5 digits. However, many NGOs have not intimate this change to FCRA department.

Check out the list and your NGOs name here – List 1

List 2 Those NGOs, whose bank account details are not there with FCRA department

Some of the NGOs have change their bank account after registration and not intimated such change to FCRA department. Or simply, FCRA department do not have any information regarding NGOs bank Account.

Check out the list and your NGOs name here – List 2

Action to be taken

Above NGOs have to update their Bank details immediately by filling online form FC-6.

Watch Tutorial Video – How to update Bank Details in Form  FC6

 

For any further query, write in the below comment box.

 

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