Deduction for donations given to political parties

An Indian Company can claim the deduction under Chapter VI-A of any amount that is contributed/ donated through a bank to a Political Party or Electoral Trust.

For the purposes of sections 80GGB, “Political party” means a political party registered under section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951).

An Individual Taxpayer including NRI, Hindu Undivided Family, Association of Person, Body of Individuals, Partnership Firms, Foreign Company or Artificial Juridical Person(which is not be funded by Government) can claim the deduction under Chapter VI-A of any amount that is contributed/donated through a bank to a Political Party or Electoral Trust.

Note: Local Authority or Artificial Juridical Person funded partly or wholly by Government cannot claim deduction u/s 80GGC.

As such, there is no limit to donating/contributing to a Political Party or Electoral Trust. But to claim deduction under section 80GGB or section 80GGC payment should be made through banks only for the above donations.

Note: The deductions are covered by Chapter VI-A so the maximum deduction that can be claimed is restricted to aggregate taxable income.

Deduction under section 80GGB or section 80GGC can not be claimed if made in any other mode than from bank through cheque, net banking, debit card, credit card, UPI, etc.

To claim deduction one needs the receipt issued by the Political party or Electoral Trust which should contain the following details of

Political party/ Electoral Trust – Name, Address, PAN, TAN, Registration number
Donor – Name, Address, PAN, Amount of donation, and mode of payment

Note: Receipt is not to be submitted or uploaded on Income Tax Portal while filing the return of income but it will serve as documentary evidence/proof of donation.

NRI and Foreign Company can claim a deduction for a donation to Political Party or Electoral Trust u/s 80GGC. (not u/s 80GGB)

Yes.
The above deduction can be claimed while filing the original return u/s 139(1) or/and belated return u/s 139(4) or/and revised return u/s 139(5).