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How to get CSR Funding for your NGO ?- Internal Control System

Why a company having huge CSR funds and want to implement genuine projects, should give funds to your organization ?  This is the question you should ask to yourself and do not indulge into the malpractices as mentioned in this part 1 of this CSR series.

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

Most of the organizations are good at what they are doing in terms of implementing projects and grass root work, but they are not good in maintaining documentations and showing their good work to the world. Read this Part 2 blog, where I mentioned how you should showcase your good work.

How to get CSR Funding for your NGO ?- Program Quality – PART 2

Before we go ahead with Part 3 of this series regarding maintenance of Financial and Internal Control System, look at this latest news regarding spending Rs. 2,80,00,00,00,000 in last three years under CSR by the companies.

Accounting and Financial Control System

When you are approaching companies for CSR funding, it is almost prerequisite that NGO’s Accounting and Financial Control system is matched with the industry standards. You have to remember this:-

  • Regular Accounting (zero backlog)
  • Accurate Accounting
  • High Quality of Supporting (Single rupee spent hast to be  supported by Bills and Vouchers)
  • Strong Internal Control System
  • Watertight Cash Management System
  • Efficient Advance Management System

 

Statutory Compliance

No company will be ready to fund your organization if you have not followed all the Statutory Compliance. As a first step, list down the following compliance and check which  you followed in your organization. For remaining compliance, why you are not following it. Take expert opinion whether it is applicable to your NGO or not.

  • 12A – 80G
  • TDS
  • Income Tax Act
  • GST
  • FCRA
  • PF
  • ESIC
  • Professional Tax
  • Trust and Society Act

 

Governance

How your NGOs working is governing by the members ? Is your NGO is  one man army? Is it look like Proprietorship or Partnership Firm? Whose taking decision and how? These are some of the questions which may be asked at the time or per-scrutiny of project.

  • Authority Matrix
  • Decision Flow
  • Rotation in the Board Members
  • Election or Selection procedure of new board members
  • General Meeting and Executive Body Meetings
  • Maintenance of Minutes of such meetings
  • Intimation of Change in the Board Members

 

Policies

Following policy documents should be prepared and implemented in the NGO

  • Financial Policy
  • HR Policy
  • Accounting Manual
  • General Work Policy
  • Anti Corruption Policy
  • Gender Policy
  • Child Policy, if applicable

Hope the above information will be useful to you in getting CSR funds. We will discuss in next part of this series on how to approach companies for CSR funding.

Part -4 How to approach companies for CSR funds? – Coming Soon

Disclaimer : This blog is purely for the education purpose and author is NOT providing any services to get CSR funding.

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Change in objects of NGO – Whom to intimate?

Every NGO, whether registered as Trust or Society or Sec8 Company has very specific main objects. However, sometimes during the lifespan of trust, it need to change (add or modified) some of the objects already stated in the constitution of the NGO.  The question is to whom NGO should intimate regarding the change.

Registration Authority

Depending upon the entity, NGO should intimate to the authority under which it got registration originally. Suppose, NGO is registered as Trust under the Bombay Public Trust Act and Society Registration Act. Then, intimation should be sent to Charity Commissioner and Society Registrar. It is mandatory to intimate the authority.

FCRA Department

If NGO has FCRA registration, at the time of registration, nature of association is to be mentioned. There are five types of nature of association specified in the Act. They are Religious, Cultural, Economic, Educational, Social. It is advisable to check the registration certificate of FCRA where it is clearly mentioned. If NGO has change its objects and which is not mentioned in the registration certificate, NGO has to file Form FC6 regarding change of objects of the trust.

Income Tax Department

 

After the amendments in Income Tax Rules 2018, Income tax department has notified on 19.02.2018 ,If you are a registered charitable trust, society or a company registered u/s 8 of the Indian Companies Act 2013 and if you have changed or amended the objects of your organization, the Income tax Act 1961 now requires your organization to apply afresh for registration u/s 12A in the new online Form 10A. This must be done within “thirty days from the date of such adoption or modifications of the objects”.

Donor / Funding Agency

It is not mandatory, but advisable to even intimate about change in main objects of the trust to donors and Funding Agency. It is a good practice.

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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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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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Late Filling of old FCRA Return

Have you not filled your organization’s FCRA return or you have filled it in paper format since it is compulsory to file annual return online.

You can file late Return of FCRA by paying penalties.

Penalty for Late filling of FCRA return

As per notification S.O 2133(E) dated 16/06/2016, penalty for late filling of fcra return is as under in the simple manner. (For original notification click here)

Up to 3 from 31/12

2% of FC Amount Received or Rs. 10,000 whichever is less

3 Months to 6 Months from 31/12

3% of FC Amount Received or Rs. 50,000 whichever is less

6 Months to 12 Months from 31/12

4% of FC Amount Received or Rs. 2,00,000 whichever is less

12 Months to 24 Months from 31/12

5% of FC Amount Received or Rs. 5,00,000 whichever is less

24 Months to 36 Months from 31/12

10% of FC Amount Received or Rs. 10,00,000 whichever is less

Procedure for Filling Late FCRA Return

For late filling of FCRA return, you need to write an email to dirfcra-mha@gov.in from registered address of organization. You will most probably get the link to file late return of fcra and need to pay the above penalty.

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Second Chance for FCRA Renewal, if you didn’t get.

Many of the organizations have already received Renewal from FCRA. However, some of the organizations have not apply for renewal or not applied in online format or not paid online fees, may not received FCRA Renewal.

Last date for filling FCRA renewal was 30.06.2016 by online. If your organization fail to do so, your FCRA registration certificate is deemed to have ceased w.e.f. 01.11.2016.

Yesterday, FCRA department has issued a list of total 11319 organizations whose registration certificate is deemed to have ceased w.e.f. 01.11.2016.

Check the list here.

Next Course of Action

These organizations have to apply for renewal –

  1. Login to your account in FCRA website
  2. File Complete FC3 form online
  3. Upload the required documents like Trust Deed and Registration Certificate
  4. Upload a Letter stating reason for not filling renewal earlier
  5. Pay fees online.

No renewal if not filled Annual Returns

It is also mentioned in the notice that renewal shall not be granted if earlier annual returns have not been filled by the organization.

Last date

Last date to file such renewal is 28.02.2017

How to file FC3 Renewal form online ?

Check out this video.

 

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Demonetization and NGO – Dos and Don’ts

We know the current scenario of demonetization of old currency notes of Rs. 1000 and Rs. 500. As every day new news coming in, it is difficult for us to decided what should be the correct step to deposit old notes.

Earlier, Trust and NGOs were already under the radar of the Government before demonetization,  now we can predict that more strict control coming in near future.

Let us discuss today about dos and don’ts by NGOs in a Question Answer Round.

Q – Can old notes be deposited in NGOs Bank Account and what is the time limit?

A – Yes, old notes can be deposited in NGOs Bank Account till December 30.

Q – How much cash can be deposited?

A – As such no limits, but not more than the CASH ON HAND AS ON 8th NOV.

Q – Can we take cash donation in Old notes now?

A – No. After 8th Nov, old Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes are not valid tender.

Q – Can we take donation in cash in back dated and thus create more cash balance as on 8th Nov ?

A – I suggest NO. Just two days back, not confirmed but, IT (Exemption) of Mangalore has issued notices to NGOs to submit authorized copy of cash books as on 8th Nov with denomination.

Q – Can we deposit cash in FC in old notes ?

A – Yes you can deposit old notes in FC account but not more than cash balance of FC books as on 8th Nov. I suggest if the cash balance is not much amount  get it exchange with new notes.

Q – What about staff advance already given before 8th Nov in old notes?

A – Do not take bake the advance and deposit in the Bank. It is advisable to ask staff members to exchange it.

Q – What about Donation boxes lying outside the offices like at airports, malls etc..?

A – Immediately get all the donation boxes back and record its cash on books as donation and keep photographs before and after opening of boxes or record a video at the time of opening of boxes with the current date newspaper. So that later, NGO can prove that the donation boxes open after 8th Nov and there were old notes which were deposited in the bank.

Q – What is advisable regarding taking donations between 8th Nov to 30th Dec..?

A – As a genuine NGO, one should not accept any donation in CASH during this period. If you received donation in new notes, kindly take the proof of the donors and keep the bank deposit slips.

All the above answers are purely my opinion. If you have any further questions, kindly ask in the comment section below this blog.

 

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All you need to know about Income Tax Return of NGO – ITR7

Income Tax Return of NGO

As last date of filling Income Tax Return of NGO is approaching, it is necessary that we should keep in mind some of the points related to Income Tax Return of NGO. Generally, NGOs are exempt from Income Tax and thus any TDS deducted will be given as Refund.

Read this blog – How to get Income Tax Refund of NGO quickly

Form No

Form No is ITR 7

Download Link

You can download ITR7 for Income Tax Return of NGO from here.

Last Date

Last date for filling return is 30th September

Hard Copy or Online

It is now mandatory to file ITR7 only online. NGO need to login to income tax website and fill the form to upload, you can get help form the seis tax relief service.

Signature

This online form is to be digitally signed by the Authorized person. So mostly DSC of managing trustee can work.

Details – Income

In the Income Tax Return of NGO, it is necessary to give information regarding the details of Income of NGO – mostly they are –

  • Voluntary Contribution – Corpus
  • Voluntary Contribution – General
  • Grants – (FC grant separately)
  • Government Grants
  • Other Income like Bank Interest, FC Interest and any other income
  • Business Income if any should shown separately

Details – Application of Funds

Also need to fill details regarding how the above income is used – application of funds

  • Expenditure shown in the Income and Expenditure Accounts
  • Amount set apart or carried forward
  • Depreciation etc..

Details – Others

Many other information are needed to be filled in the Income Tax Return of NGO like

  • All the Registration details, 12A, 80G, 35AC, FC Details
  • PAN and Address of all the Trustees
  • TDS information
  • Investments of NGOs etc..

Conclusion

Mostly, Income Tax Return of NGO filled by their Auditor or CA. However it is necessary for NGO accountant and top management to at least go through all the details of draft ITR7 and only ask CA to upload finally.

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Upload Return of Assets and Liabilities to FCRA under Lokpal

All of you aware about latest compliance requirement by the Individual of the association to under Lokpal & Lokayukt Act.

Public Servant of the applicable organization has to file return of his assets and liabilities with FCRA department. in prescribed forms. (Read full blog here).

Today, FCRA department has provided link to upload the forms.

  1. Download forms, take a print, and fill with blue or black ball pen.
  2. Theses forms to be scanned and create PDF file. (How to scan?)
  3. Upload this PDF in the below shown link.
  4. PDF size should not increase 10 mb.

 

Image 1

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