The Central Government has notified income-tax exemption to the West Bengal Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board under the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961.
As per Notification No. 7/2026, issued vide S.O. 194(E) dated 14 January 2026, by the Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the exemption has been granted under clause (46) of section 10 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, in respect of specified income of the Board.
Specified Income Covered under Exemption
The exemption shall apply to the following income of the Board:
- Cess collected under the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1996 and rules made thereunder;
- Registration fees and annual subscription collected from registered construction workers;
- Grants-in-aid and loans received from the Government; and
- Interest income earned from investments.
Conditions for Availing Exemption
The notification shall be effective subject to the following conditions:
- The Board shall not engage in any commercial activity;
- The nature of activities and specified income shall remain unchanged during the relevant financial years; and
- The Board shall file its return of income in accordance with clause (g) of sub-section (4C) of section 139 of the Income-tax Act, 1961.
Non-compliance with these conditions may result in withdrawal of the exemption and initiation of penal action under the provisions of the Income-tax Act.
Applicability
The notification shall be deemed to have been applied for Assessment Years 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26, corresponding to Financial Years 2021-22 to 2024-25, and shall also apply for Assessment Year 2026-27, relevant to Financial Year 2025-26.
The Explanatory Memorandum clarifies that granting retrospective effect to the notification does not adversely affect any person.
The Notification can be accessed at: https://a2ztaxcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/CBDT-NN-7-2026.pdf
