ITAT dismisses Congress' appeal against Rs 199 crore tax demand

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has dismissed an appeal by Congress, upholding a Rs 199.15 crore tax demand.

The party had claimed exemption under Section 13A of the Income Tax Act for the assessment year 2018–19.

The exemption is granted to political parties despite filing its return after the statutory deadline and accepting cash donations in violation of legal limits.


The Congress filed its income tax return on February 2, 2019, over a month after the extended deadline of December 31, 2018, under Section 139(1) for that financial year. The return declared nil income after claiming Rs 199.15 crore as exempt under Section 13A.