Trust Registration

Validity: Perpetual (a Trust cannot be dissolved unless permitted by its deed or a court)Handled by verified compliance experts. 100% online process.

What is Trust Registration?

Register a Public Charitable Trust under state-specific Trust Acts. The simplest NGO structure in India — suitable for charitable, educational, religious, and welfare activities with 12A/80G tax exemption eligibility.

Public Charitable Trusts in most states are registered under state-specific laws (e.g., the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act 1950). The Trust Deed must be executed on stamp paper and registered with the Sub-Registrar of Assurances (or Charity Commissioner in Maharashtra/Gujarat).

Who Needs Trust Registration?

Organisations doing charitable work in education, health, religion, poverty alleviation, environment, and social welfare — especially those that want to receive donations and apply for 12A/80G tax exemptions. Trusts are the simplest and most flexible NGO structure, commonly preferred in South India.

What's Included

Trust Deed drafting (comprehensive, covering objects and succession)
Stamp paper execution and notarisation
Sub-Registrar or Charity Commissioner registration
PAN application in the trust's name
12A income tax exemption application (Form 10A)
80G donor deduction certificate application

⚠️ Penalty for Non-Compliance

A trust operating without 12A registration pays full income tax on its surplus. Without 80G, donors cannot claim deductions — reducing your fundraising appeal. Applications for both 12A and 80G must now be filed online with the Income Tax Department within 3 months of registration.

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How It Works

1
Draft Trust Deed
We draft a comprehensive Trust Deed covering objects, trustees, management, succession, and dissolution terms.
2
Stamp Paper Execution
The deed is executed on stamp paper of the prescribed value for your state (varies from ₹200 to ₹2,000+).
3
Sub-Registrar Registration
All trustees appear before the Sub-Registrar (or Charity Commissioner in Maharashtra/Gujarat) to register the deed.
4
PAN Application
We apply for a PAN in the trust's name, which is required for banking and tax filings.
5
12A and 80G Application
We file Form 10A online with the Income Tax Department to obtain 12A (income tax exemption) and 80G (donor deduction) certificates.

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Documents Required

Items marked Required are mandatory; others are situational.

Trustee Documents

PAN Card of each trustee (min. 2)Required
At least 2 trustees required
Aadhaar Card of each trusteeRequired
For address verification
Passport-size photographsRequired
2 copies per trustee

Trust Details

Name of the TrustRequired
We check for conflicts before drafting the deed
Objects of the TrustRequired
Must be charitable — education, religion, relief of poverty, etc.
Initial corpus / settlement amountRequired
Minimum nominal corpus of Rs 1,000 is typical; amount stated in the deed

Registered Office

Latest utility billRequired
Not older than 2 months
NOC from property ownerRequired
Signed, on plain paper

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Fees & Pricing

Government Fees

Stamp duty on Trust Deed

State-specific — Rs 200-5,000 based on corpus

Varies

Sub-Registrar registration fee

State-specific — Rs 500-2,000

Varies

12A/80G filing

No government fee

Free

Professional Fees

Trust registration package

Includes deed drafting, registration, PAN, 12A/80G filing

Varies

* Government fees may vary. GST applicable on professional fees. Final pricing confirmed after review.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many trustees are required to form a trust?

A minimum of 2 trustees is required. There is no maximum. Best practice is to have 5–7 trustees for a public charitable trust to ensure smooth succession.

What is the difference between a Public Trust and a Private Trust?

A Public Charitable Trust operates for the benefit of the general public or a segment of it. A Private Trust manages assets for a specific family or named beneficiaries. Public trusts are eligible for 12A/80G; private trusts are not.

Is a trust better than a Section 8 Company for an NGO?

Trusts are simpler to form and have fewer compliance requirements. Section 8 companies have stronger corporate governance and are preferred by institutional donors, CSR funders, and for FCRA applications. The choice depends on your funding model.

Can a trust own property?

Yes. A registered public trust can own immovable property in India in its own name. The property is held by trustees for the trust's objects and cannot be distributed to beneficiaries as personal assets.