Introduction

Individuals form trusts for setting a specific part of the assets or the property for the advantage of another person. A Trust is made as a benefit for an additional individual. it’s more of a fiduciary relationship between the trustor, the trustee, and therefore the beneficiary. Hence when an applicant goes through the method of trust registration, they might show a discrepancy parties as a kind of the official document.

A specific asset or a property transferred from the trustor to the trustee for the longer-term advantage of the beneficiary is thought of as trust. The beneficiary is another party (third-party) who could also be associated with the trustor and trustee.

Hence, the link that brings the parties to the trust is crucial to define trust. The Indian Trusts Act of 1882 defines trust as a continuing relationship between the trustor and trustee to provide a defined benefit to the beneficiary.

What is Trust in an Indian Context?

The Indian Trust Act 1882 governs all registered Trusts in India and facilitates the legal provisions for the identical. The Trust is sometimes observed as a legal arrangement where the Trust’s owner transfers the property to the concerned Trustee (aka beneficiary). the article of the Trust is to confirm the seamless transfer of the Trustor’s assets among the beneficiaries as per the clauses cited within the deed of trust.

A trustee, selected by the grantor, is chargeable for administering the Trust & finally distributing his/her assets to the designated beneficiaries selected by the grantor when the Trust is about up. Heir, members of the family, or charity are some common beneficiaries of the Trust in India.

Trusts will be utilized to cut back taxes, simplify or avert the probate process & safeguard assets.

There are various kinds of Trust in India, such as;

• Revocable
• Testamentary
• Irrevocable
• Charitable
• Asset protection
• Spendthrift
• Special needs

Parties during a Trust

• Author/Settlor/Trustor/Donor: For the creation of the trust, the person who wishes to transfer his property and place his trust in another.
• Trustee: The one who accepts the arrogance for the creation of the trust
• Beneficiary: The one who will take pleasure in the trust within the near future.

Who can create Trust?

A trust is also created by:

• Every person who is competent to contracts: This includes a private, AOP, HUF, company, etc.
• If a trust is to be created on behalf of a minor, then the permission of a Principal Civil Court of original jurisdiction is required.

Further, it also depends on the law good that’s prevailing at that specific point of your time and therefore the extent to which the author of the trust may get rid of his property.

What are the categories of Trusts?

There are Four kinds of trusts in India:

• Public Trust
• Private Trust
• Public Cum-Private Trust
• A Company formed under Section 8 of the businesses Act (2013)

Private trusts are governed by the Indian Trusts Act of 1882, whilst public trusts are divided into religious and benevolent trusts. Many significant acts for the enforcement of public trusts in India include the Religious Endowments Act of 1863, the Charitable and Non-Secular Trust Act of 1920, and the Bombay Trust Act of 1950.

Private Trust

A private trust is a legal structure established for the benefit of individuals rather than for a public or charitable purpose. It was established for the financial benefit of one or more beneficiaries known to the Trustor. The benefits of a Private Trust are only available to chosen beneficiaries and serve no philanthropic purpose. The Indian Trusts Act of 1882 will undoubtedly be followed by such trusts.

Public Trust

A charitable trust is primarily for the benefit of the general population. Public trusts, unlike private trusts, are not governed by the Indian Trusts Act and are established for philanthropic or religious purposes. For the time being, such a Trust adheres to the general law. These trusts, like private trusts, might be established inter vivos by will.

Public-Cum-Private Trusts

The Public-Cum-Private Trusts, as their name implies, serve a dual role. They can utilize their earnings for both public and private reasons. This means that the Trust’s beneficiaries could be public or private individuals or both.

A Company formed under Section 8 of the businesses Act (2013)

Section 8 of the businesses act governs private limited enterprises. These enterprises, on the other hand, are unable to generate profits. The goals of the companies founded as a result of this are to promote education, crafts, science, the arts, sustainable development, and environmental initiatives.

Why Trust Registration Process is Required?

Trusts are formed for the only real purpose of promoting non-commercial activities. These activities need to be within the field, promoting development within the field of arts, science, education, and therefore the environment. Therefore registering a trust is crucial. the subsequent benefits are obtained from registering a trust in India.

• To ensure that the activity carried out on behalf of the trust is properly governed.
• To develop and promote activities resulting in a much better society.
• Trust registration is required to assert revenue enhancement benefits under 12A and 80 G.
• In the case of a trust, beneficiaries are the overall public. Every trust must act within the best interests of the general public to push the event of trust.
• This license is required so that the companies of trust are conducted as per the law.
• To develop various sectors in society.

Who regulates Trust Registration?

The primary regulatory agency for trust registration is the Registrar of Trusts. The registrar of trusts maintains all the data on the trusts which are registered in India. The Trusts Act, 1882 governs registrations of personal Trusts.

No law governs the registration of trusts. Separate state acts apply to trusts registered in multiple states, which the applicant must be aware of. The Bombay Trust Act governs the registration of trusts in Bombay. In India, public trusts must be registered with the appropriate state authorities (if required).

The following laws regulate trusts:

• Trusts Act, 1882
• Income Tax Act, 1961
• Societies Registration Act, 1860.

What are the advantages of Trust Registration?

To Involve In Charitable Undertakings

Public trust is primarily how to line up your assets to learn you, concerned beneficiaries, & a charity simultaneously. A trust like this could provide several benefits to someone looking to help society with non-essential assets like stocks or real estate.

Accessibility to Tax Exemptions

The Income-tax department provides several tax breaks to all registered trusts in India. Because, unlike NGOs, the Trust’s mission does not revolve around profit generation, they are entitled to a variety of tax breaks. However, such an advantage is only available to trusts that have a registered deed on hand.

Trusts are very useful for obtaining capital and income tax benefits. The Trust may offer stronger protection to the settlor, beneficiaries, and trust assets from more stringent tax regulations.

Provide Benefits to Financially Aggrieved Individuals

The registered Trust provides much-needed assistance to the disadvantaged and the general public through charity initiatives.

Encounter Minimal Legal Hindrances

The 1882 Indian Trusts Act gives the Trust a lot of legal protection. It also prohibits any third party from filing a baseless claim that could harm Trust’s legal position.

Ensures Legal Coverage for the Family Wealth

Trust is often accustomed allocate specific assets like land/interest within the entity formed by the family, which otherwise wouldn’t be practical for a trustor to separate between individuals.

Avert tribunal

Anybody can leverage trust registration as a tool for transferring an asset to the heir within the absence of a Will. because the legal title of the assets transfers from the settlor to the Trustee within the case after they are “settled”, there’s no change of ownership after settlor demise, thus evading the necessity for probate of a will on account of trust assets.

Unlike probate, the trust acts as a non-public agreement that skips the necessity for added registration. the utilization of a trust may also avert the economic adversity often encountered by a surviving spouse while awaiting a grant of probate.

Immigration/Emigration of Family

When a private & her/his family move to a different nation, it’s an ideal event to determine a trust to induce obviate taxation within the destination country, thereby safeguarding the family assets and facilitating flexibility in its organization.

Eligibility Criteria for Trust Registration

The following criteria would apply to trust registration:

• There must be a minimum of two or more persons for forming the trusts.
• The trust must be formed in keeping with the provisions of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882.
• The parties must not be disqualified under any law operative in India.
• The objectives of the trust must not go against any law operative in India.
• The trustee’s actions must be consistent with the law.
• The formation of the trust must not go against public interest or the other law effective
• Any trust activities must not injure someone.
• The activities conducted by the trust must not go in keeping with the memorandum.
• Trust Deed must be properly drafted and intend the 000 interests of the parties forming the trust.
• If there are over two purposes of making trust, then both the needs must be valid. If one object is valid and another object is invalid, then the trust can’t be formed.

Fundamental Documentation Required for Trust Registration

The following are key documents that one has to arrange for trust registration:

• Proof associated with Identity for Trustor & Trustee like Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport, DL
• Address Proof associated with Registered Office like a Copy of Certificate of Property/Utility Bills
• No objection certification from the owner of the property is rented.
• Trust deed’s objective
• Detail about the Trustee and settlors like Self-attested copy Id & Address Proof and occupation
• Trust Deed on Proper Stamp Value
• Trustee and settlor Photos
• Trustee and settlor
• PAN details
• Trust deed must reflect the subsequent information:
• Number of trustees
• Trust registered address
• Proposed name of the trust
• Proposed Rules that may govern the trust
• Presence of settlor in addition as two witnesses at the time of registration of Trust

Step-by-Step Procedure for Registering a Trust in India

The following are the steps in the detailed procedure for trust registration:

Step 1: Select an Apt Name for the Trust

The first and foremost step within the process of Trust registration is the name selection for the proposed Trust. Be mindful while serving such a purpose and take the subsequent points under consideration to avoid any hassles:

• The name should adhere to the Emblems and Names Act of 1950.
• There should be no violation whatsoever when it involves Trademark Act.
• The name should stay the original.

Step 2: Drafting of the deed of trust

Drafting of the instrument is a crucial undertaking because it’s the sole thing that creates the Trust legally enforceable.

In general, the legal document consolidates the below-mentioned clauses:

Objects

The Object clause reflects the article behind the formation of the Trust

Acceptance of Funds

This section allows the Trust to collect contributions, donations, and subscriptions in the form of cash, immovable properties, and subscriptions from any individual, government entity, or philanthropic outlet. Furthermore, any gifts that interfere with the Trust’s mission are not allowed, according to the condition.

Investments: The investment clause lays out the terms under which the Trust’s fund will be administered legally and efficiently. Furthermore, this section outlined parameters for the efficient allocation of spare funds that do not appear to be in use and will aid in the generation of additional income through investment.

Power of the Trustees

This specific clause discusses the trustees’ obligations, as the name implies.

Generally, such clauses confer the subsequent powers to the trustees.

• Appointing employee(s)
• Alienating the trust properties
• Opening the checking account within the Trust’s name
• Suing defaulters just in case of legal dispute on behalf of the Trust
• Accepting any gift or donation from a legitimate person or source
• Investing additional funding in securities

Accounts and Audit

This clause mandates the trustees to administer the book of account on an everyday basis. Further, it also sets out the necessity for account auditing that ought to be conducted by the certified CA.

Winding Up

A trust is tense when all of the Trust properties/assets are lawfully distributed to the beneficiaries or an identical entity, either directly or via resettlement. The involved parties must identify any tax obligations incurred because of the transfer of assets when the Trust is aroused. Furthermore, this clause renders the necessity of conducting such a legal undertaking with the approval of the charity commissioner/Court/any other law to mitigate any chances of legal dispute.

Penalties for violating Compliances of Trust Registration

Civil and Criminal Penalties

The violation of provisions of the legal document incurs both civil and criminal penalties for the defaulters. Sections 405 to Section 409 of the IPC 1860 embarked on the provisions associated with the criminal breach of trust.

Application for write-down Account Number

Soon after being registered, the Trust or Institution must make an official request to the Assessing Officer for the assignment of a tax write-off account number. Trust can use form-49B, which is provided by the IT department, for this purpose. All challans for payment of sum u/s 200 and TDS certificate, as well as returns, delivered u/s 206, 206A, and 206B, should include the write-down Account Number.

The penalty imposed on the Trust if it fails to get the write-off Account Number is discussed in Section 272BB. In the aforementioned situations, the abovementioned provision imposes a penalty of Rs 10,000.

Failure to Furnish the Return of Income

The Act imposes severe penalties for failing to assist in the repatriation of income. The return of income will not be invalidated if the TDS certificate was not submitted with the return of income due to the taxpayer’s failure to produce such certificate. Taxpayers are required to provide this certificate within two years of the assessment year’s end.

Role of Section 12AB on the Registered Trusts

Ensuring continual exemption u/s 10 or 100 all the active existing trust or institutions are mandatorily required to secure the new registration u/s Section 12AB which are registered under the given sections;

• Section 12A
• Section 12AA
• Section 10(23C)
• Section 80G

In addition, trusts registered under section 10 (23C) or section 12AA must renew their registration under section 12AB. Section 12AA, which specifies the procedure of registration for trusts or institutions, will no longer be in effect, and replacement section 12AB will take effect as soon as the stipulated term expires, whichever comes first.

The grant date of registration u/s12AB or

The last date by which an application for registration & permission is required is formed.

Why approach Finaxis for obtaining Trust registration?

Our professionals will be at your disposal to provide the necessary help for Trust Registration and compliance. In India, trust registration entails delicate and error-prone legal ramifications. This is when our knowledge comes in handy. Our experts affirm that you now have a better understanding of the governing provisions of Trust in India, allowing you to conduct Trust-related operations with fewer legal snags.

How Can Finaxis Help?

Governing compliances and registration legalities could run any client into the difficulty of application rejection and re-filing, which indeed may be a time-consuming and cumbersome task. However, all such nuisances may be overcome if you choose to proceed via finaxis way.

• Examination of the client’s requirements for the establishment of a trust in India.
• Name Selection for the Trust seeable of prevailing bylaws
• Identification of applicable provisions and legalities
• Insertion of Relevant clauses within the legal document counting on the character of the Trust
• Availing of necessary authorization from Sub-Registrar