Reasons cited by them include being dependent on their accountants or CA firms, who somehow ignored the deadlines, difficulties like floods and mis-handling of log-in or passwords by their CAs.
All NGOs, which receive foreign funding, have been given one-time exemption of 60 days up to May 18 by the Union Home Ministry to file their annual financial statement.
In a notification issued on Wednesday, the ministry said the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act mandated submission of annual returns by all NGOs and associations which have been granted certificate of registration or prior permission.
However, many NGOs and associations have sent representations to the Union Home ministry for review of the cancellation of their FCRA certificates explaining their circumstances that led to non-filing of annual returns for 2017-18.
Reasons cited by them include being dependent on their accountants or CA firms, who somehow ignored the deadlines, difficulties like floods and mis-handling of log-in or passwords by their CAs.
One common grievance raised by most of the NGOs is that all FCRA process is online and in many cases, the CAs or tax consultants who operate the online account are not aware of the strict monitoring by the Union Home ministry.
Aditi Mehta 