12AB, 80G, and FCRA Registrations
Three separate registrations decide whether a non-profit can operate tax-free, whether its donors get a deduction, and whether it can legally receive money from abroad. We handle all three, end to end.
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Three registrations, three different jobs
A registered non-profit in India typically needs up to three separate approvals, each doing something different. 12AB registration under the Income Tax Act exempts the organisation’s own income from tax, provided it’s used for charitable or religious purposes. 80G registration is what lets your donors claim a deduction on what they give you — without it, donations are just gifts with no tax benefit attached. FCRA registration, under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, is the separate approval required before the organisation can legally receive any contribution from outside India.
None of the three substitute for each other, and a new organisation usually needs to think about all three at once rather than one at a time.
- 12AB — tax exemption on the organisation’s own income
- 80G — tax deduction for your donors
- FCRA — legal permission to receive foreign contributions
- A designated FCRA bank account once approved
Trusts, societies and Section 8 companies
Registering before fundraising begins
Organisations just formed usually apply for 12AB and 80G together, so the tax position is settled before any donations are sought.
Where 80G matters most
If donor tax deductions are part of your fundraising pitch, 80G registration needs to be in place, not just applied for.
Grants, diaspora giving, foreign CSR
Any organisation expecting money from outside India — a foundation grant, an overseas donor, a foreign CSR contribution — needs FCRA clearance first, not after the money arrives.
Eligibility to approval, across all three
Eligibility review
We confirm which of the three registrations your organisation actually needs, and in what order.
12AB and 80G filing
Applications filed on the Income Tax e-filing portal, with the constitutional documents and activity proof they require.
FCRA application
Filed on the Ministry of Home Affairs FC-MIS portal, with the governance and financial documentation the ministry asks for.
Query response
If any authority comes back with a clarification request, we draft and file the response.
Designated bank account
Once FCRA is approved, we help you open the designated account the law requires foreign contributions to route through.
Renewal tracking
All three registrations need periodic renewal — we track the cycle so none of them lapse unnoticed.
One process, three approvals
We assess eligibility
Confirm which registrations apply to your organisation’s structure and activities.
Documents assembled
Trust deed or MOA, activity reports and financials, organised for each application.
We file and follow up
Applications submitted, and any authority queries handled promptly.
Registrations in place
You’re clear to raise tax-exempt income, offer donor deductions, and accept foreign funds.
Questions companies ask first.
Can a newly formed non-profit apply for all three at once?
Yes. New organisations can apply for 12AB and 80G together early on. FCRA is generally taken up once the organisation has an activity track record, since the ministry looks at that history as part of its review.
Is FCRA registration mandatory to receive any money from abroad?
Yes. Receiving a foreign contribution without FCRA clearance in place is not permitted, regardless of the source or purpose of the funds.
What happens if 12AB or 80G registration isn’t renewed in time?
The organisation loses the tax exemption or the ability to offer donors a deduction until it’s restored, and the gap can create real complications for donors who claimed deductions in the interim. We track renewal timelines so this doesn’t happen.
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