18 July 2008
can co-operatives societies like "souharda"as they are called who are mainly engaged in providing credit facilities to its members can claim sec 80P under the income tax act from A.Y.2007-08.( as far as a plain reading of the act goes it looks like we cant . but i have come across a lawyers elaborate explaination saying it can be claimed)
16 April 2013
As per latest decisions of various ITATs all societies except "co-operative banks" which are controlled by RBI are eligible for deduction u/s 80(P). Please go through the decision of Jananagri credit society in this regard.