2009 (7) TMI 15 - BOMBAY HIGH COURT

Concept of Mutuality – Taxability of Income received from its members – Co-operative Housing Society - High Court held that concept of mutuality can be tested considering the followings (1) Is there any commerciality involved. (2) From the moneys received are the services offered in the nature of profit sharing or privileges, advantages and conveniences. (3) Are the participants and contributors identifiable and belong to the same class in the case of cooperative housing society. (4) Do the members have the right to share in the surplus and do they have a right to deal with its surpluses. - Once these tests are satisfied, there can be no doubt that the principle of mutuality will apply to a cooperative Housing Society which has its predominant activity, the maintenance of the property of the society which includes its building or buildings and as long as there is no taint of commerciality, trade or business – Transfer fee received from its members it not taxable.