Government may consider introducing FAQs for corporate social responsibility spending

NEW DELHI: The government may consider introducting FAQs or guidelines for the mandatory spending of 2 per cent of net profit by companies on corporate social responsibility ( CSR), Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said today.

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, he said the law passed by the Parliament mandates companies to spend 2 per cent of the average post-tax profit or net profit of three years on CSR.

"Now, in the schedule of activities, which have been permitted in Schedule VII, there are several activities that are included in the Income Tax Act as exempted activities. So, if it is spent on those activities, a company under the Income Tax will get an exemption. The exemption provision is under the Income Tax Act and not under the Companies Act," he said.

Jaitley said if there are suggestions from MPs, at a later stage, the Parliament "may decide to expand that list of the income tax exemptions."

"While as on date no specific tax exemption has been extended to expenditure incurred on specified CSR activities, spending on several activities like contributions to Prime Minister's Relief Fund, scientific research, rural development projects, skill development projects, agricultural extension projects etc, which find place in Schedule VII, alredy enjoy such exemptions under the Income Tax Act, 1961," he said.

He said based on nature of queries received in future, "the question of introducing FAQs (frequently asked questions) or guidelines may also be considered."

Companies not spending 2 per cent of their profict on CSR will have to give reasons for that.

The spending on CSR will be part of auditing and form part of company's annual results that they file with regulating department.

The mandatory spending is based on a principle that those who earn from the society should pay back or, at least, give reason for not doing so.

"...the reasons that they mentioned for not having paid back are plausible reasons or not, the Department will certainly look into a mechanism to check this," he added.