My ward's school (in Gurugram, Haryana) is denying to mention 'Tuition Fee' instead of it, they have mentioned 'Composite Fee' while till last year they were mentioning 'Tuition Fee' in the fee receipt so there was no issue claiming the Tax Rebate.
1) The school states that they are not charging any Tuition fee, instead they are just charging a composite fee, so they have mentioned it also they are not ready to give any break up on 'Composite Fee'
2) The school also says that they have got directions from the DEO (District Education Officer) to do so (I don't think so as there was not any such ruling/news recently or were no changes in Income Tax Act/new directions).
My Questions:
1) What remedies do I have as a parent on this, can we compel the school to mention the 'Tuition Fee' as earlier?
2) How can I take the rebate under Sec 80C for school fees in such a situation
3) Why the school would be doing so or what are they trying to hide, as they will also get their books audited before filing their TAX/ITR
Yes, the total fee has increased by around 10 percent annually. The whole drama started after COVID, as we (parents) didn't submit the 'Annual charges' as per the Govt. guidelines for the 2020 session. While in 2021 we submitted the 'Annual Fee' in the last quarter as Govt. didn't give any clear guidelines and kids were going to school / taking online classes half of the time.
Then the new session started in 2022, the school clubbed all the fee charges/components like - Tuition Fees, Annual Charges, Computer Fees, and Exam Fees as well, and the total annual fee was divided into four parts, per quarter which we have paid for last three quarters.
Now we are paying a lumpsum amount per quarter as a 'Composite Fee'. The school also changed their 'Fee Booklet' as well in the same year (2022) and distributed the parents, the modified breakdown as 'Composite Fee' (there is nothing like tuition fee/exam fee or computer fee now) + bicycle fee/transport fee. While till last year there were the fee components bifurcated in the Fee Booklet as 'Tuition Fee' + Computer Fee + Exam Fee + Bicycle/Transport Fee etc.
Now the school is fooling us or playing with words stating that they are not charging any 'Tuition Fee' so they will not mention it in the fee booklet. While the fee exemption is given on Tuition Fee only under Sec. 80C.
Please confirm what are our rights now or what can we do as this is quite hard to believe that the school doesn't know these all things.
Yes, the total fee has increased by around 10 percent annually. The whole drama started after COVID, as we (parents) didn't submit the 'Annual charges' as per the Govt. guidelines for the 2020 session. While in 2021 we submitted the 'Annual Fee' in the last quarter as Govt. didn't give any clear guidelines and kids were going to school / taking online classes half of the time. Then the new session started in 2022, the school clubbed all the fee charges/components like - Tuition Fees, Annual Charges, Computer Fees, and Exam Fees as well, and the total annual fee was divided into four parts, per quarter which we have paid for last three quarters.
Now we are paying a lumpsum fee/amount per quarter as a 'Composite Fee'. The school also changed their 'Fee Booklet' as well in the same year (2022) and distributed the parents, the modified breakdown as 'Composite Fee' (there is nothing like tuition fee/exam fee or computer fee now) + bicycle fee/transport fee. While till last year there were the fee components bifurcated in the Fee Booklet as 'Tuition Fee' + Computer Fee + Exam Fee + Bicycle/Transport Fee etc.
Now the school is fooling us or playing with words stating that they are not charging any 'Tuition Fee' so they will not mention it in the fee booklet. While the fee exemption is given on Tuition Fee only under Sec. 80C. Please confirm what are our rights now or what can we do as this is quite hard to believe that the school doesn't know these all things.
15 December 2022
Parents' union can demand the segregation Composite fees, & tuition fees charges separately, citing the exemption available u/s. 80C of IT act.
15 December 2022
1) What remedies do I have as a parent on this, can we compel the school to mention the 'Tuition Fee' as earlier? Schools aren't allowed to bifurcate fees as per law.
2) How can I take the rebate under Sec 80C for school fees in such a situation There is no information available.
3) Why the school would be doing so or what are they trying to hide, as they will also get their books audited before filing their TAX/ITR The law specifies charging only composite fees. So they can't bifurcate.
4) Any legal advice in such a situation No advise. The amount of tuition fee is required to claim deduction.
15 December 2022
Parents' association can send legal notice to enquire fees structure to school management, citing the claim available only to tuition fees u/s. 80C of IT act... Send a copy each to::: a. Secratary, education department. ::: b. CIT, income tax Department. ::: c. consumer forum...
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