The Classic Partners LLP

Charitable Trust Registration

Charitable trust registration in India for education, relief of the poor, medical relief and other public-benefit objects. We draft the trust deed, register it with the Charity Commissioner or sub-registrar, and obtain 12A and 80G so your trust is exempt and your donors get tax benefits.

Talk to a Charitable Trust Expert

What is a Charitable Trust?

A charitable trust is a public trust created to advance charitable objects such as education, relief of poverty, medical relief, religious purposes or other objects of general public utility. Its income and property must be used only for these objects and not for private benefit.

A charitable trust is the traditional vehicle for running an NGO, school, hospital or relief organisation. To be fully effective it should be a registered charitable trust with 12A and 80G registrations. Many founders also compare it with a Section 8 Company, which offers similar non-profit benefits with company-style governance.

Who Should Register a Charitable Trust?

Founders running schools, colleges or educational institutions.
Promoters of hospitals, clinics and medical-relief initiatives.
NGOs working on poverty relief, environment or social welfare.
Religious and devasthan organisations managing temple or institution funds.
Trusts seeking CSR funding, grants and tax-deductible donations.

Our Charitable Trust Services

Trust Deed Drafting

Deed defining charitable objects, trustees and fund utilisation.

Registration

Registration with the Charity Commissioner or sub-registrar.

12A & 80G

Registrations so income is exempt and donations are tax-deductible.

Accounting & Book-Keeping

Maintenance of receipts, payments and corpus fund records.

Trust Audit

Annual audit under the Trust Act and income-tax filings.

Advisory & Governance

Guidance on governance, donations and compliance.

Why Choose The Classic Partners

Specialised non-profit experience across charitable and religious trusts.
End-to-end setup — deed, registration, 12A and 80G together.
Donor-ready structure built for grants and CSR funding.
Ongoing compliance including the annual trust audit.

Related Services

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifies as a charitable purpose for a trust?

Charitable purposes typically include relief of the poor, education, medical relief, advancement of religion, and other objects of general public utility. The trust's income must be applied only to these objects.

How is a charitable trust registered?

A charitable trust is registered by executing a trust deed and registering it with the Charity Commissioner in states that require it, or with the sub-registrar, after which 12A and 80G can be obtained.

What is the benefit of 12A and 80G for a charitable trust?

12A registration exempts the charitable trust's income from tax, while 80G allows donors to claim a deduction on their donations, which makes it easier for the trust to raise funds.

Can a charitable trust receive foreign donations?

A charitable trust can receive foreign contributions only after obtaining registration under the FCRA. We can guide you on eligibility and the FCRA application process.

Is a charitable trust required to be audited?

Yes. A charitable trust whose income exceeds the prescribed limit must have its accounts audited each year and reported to the Charity Commissioner, and an audit report is also needed to retain income-tax exemption.

Should I choose a charitable trust or a Section 8 Company?

A charitable trust is simpler to set up, while a Section 8 Company offers stricter governance and wider recognition. The right choice depends on your scale, funding sources and compliance preferences, which we help you assess.

Ready to register your Charitable Trust?

Build a credible, tax-exempt charitable trust with full compliance support.