The income tax department's headline-making notices to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) associated with Kiran Bedi, the ex-police officer who is member of social activist Anna Hazare's team, is part of an extensive national exercise, say officials.
"About 100,000 NGOs have filed tax returns in 2010-11 and the department has started picking up the cases for scrutiny on the basis of certain criteria relating to the type of NGOs and financial activities beyond a specified limit," he added, while declining to provide details.
The charitable activities of NGOs associated with relief to the poor, education, medical relief, protection of the environment and protection of archaeological monuments and any other purpose of general public utility are not taxable.
Commercial activities of NGOs in any other purpose of general public utility, however, are taxable, said the official.
"We are taking action under this provision of the Income Tax Act and this is going to happen on an extensive basis. Notices to Kiran Bedi's NGOs have gone under this exercise," he
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