A Non Governmental Organization is perceived to be an association of persons or a body of individuals. An association of persons with non-profit motive may be registered under any of the following Indian Acts:

1. As a Charitable Trust
2. As a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act
3. As a Company licensed under section 25 of the Companies Act

Procedures of Formation:
Trust: "Trust" is defined as an obligation annexed to the ownership of property, and arising out of a confidence reposed in and accepted by the owner or declared and accepted by him for the benefit of another, or of another and the owner.

A Trust may be created by any language sufficient to know the intention and no technical words are necessary. A trust deed, generally, incorporates the following:

i. The name(s) of the author(s)/settlor(s) of the trust;
ii. The name(s) of the trustee(s);
iii. The name(s) if any, of the beneficiary/ies or whether it shall be the public at large;
iv. The name by which the trust shall be known;
v. The name where its principal and/or other offices shall be situate;
vi. The property that shall devolve upon the trustee(s) under the trust for the benefit of the beneficiary/ies;
vii. An intention to divest the trust property upon the trustee(s);
viii. The objects of the trust;
ix. The procedure for appointment, removal or replacement of a trustee. Their rights, duties and powers etc;
x. The rights and duties of the beneficiary/ies;
xi. The mode and method of determination of the trust.

A charitable trust is not required to obtain registration under the Indian Registration Act.

Society: A society may be defined as a company or an association of persons united together by mutual consent to deliberate, determine and act jointly for same common purpose. Minimum seven persons, eligible to enter into a contract, can form society. When an NGO is constituted as a society, it is required to be registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

The chief advantage of forming a society are that it gives a corporate appearance to the organization, and provides greater flexibility as it is easier to amend the memorandum and bye laws of the society than in case of trust, terms of which are strictly manifested in the trust deed. However, formation of a society requires more procedural formalities than in case of a trust.

A Society for its inception requires:-

I. Memorandum of Association, and
II. Rules and Regulations

For the purpose of registration, following documents are required to be filed with the registrar of Societies:

a) Covering letter requesting for registration stating in the body of the letter various documents annexed to it. The letter is to be signed by all the subscribers to the memorandum or by a person duly authorised by all of them to sign on their behalf.
b) Memorandum of Association, in duplicate neatly typed and pages serially numbered.
c) Rules and Regulations/Bye-Laws, in duplicate, certified by at least three members of the governing body.
d) An affidavit of the president/Secretary of the society, on a non-judicial stamp paper of prescribed value, stating the relationship between the subscribers, duly attested by an oath commissioner, notary public or 1st class magistrate.
e) Documentary proof such as house tax receipt, rent receipt in respect of premises shown as registered office of the society or no objection certificate from the landlord of the premises.
f) An authority duly signed by all members of the managing committee.
g) A declaration by the members of the managing committee that the funds of the society shall be used only for the purpose of furthering the aims and objects of the society.

Company: Under Section 25 of the company's act, an association formed or to be formed:

a) For the purposes of promoting commerce, art, science, religion, charity to any other useful object
b) With intention to apply its profits or other income for promoting its objects, and
c) Which prohibits payment of any dividend to its members,

Is permitted to be incorporated without addition of the word "Limited" or "Private Limited". Procedure for applying is same as applicable in the case of all companies.

If the registrar is satisfied that all formalities have been complied with, he will issue a certificate of incorporation from which date the company comes into existence.

Note: An association already registered as a company, may also apply for a licence u/s 25.

INCOME TAX EXEMPTION FOR NGO
TRUSTS:
Under section 11(1)(a) to (c), income derived from property held under trust is exempt if the following conditions are satisfied:
a) The property should be held under trust wholly for charitable or religious purposes.
b) Income from such property should be applied to charitable or religious purposes. (Exemption is available to the extent of such application)
c) Income should be applied in India
d) At least 85% of the income derived from property held under trust, should be applied to charitable or religious purposes in the relevant previous year in order to claim full tax exemption.
Note :

1. The assessee is to apply for registration in Form No. 10A in duplicate before the expiry of 1 year from the creation of trust.
2. Under Section 11(4) property held under trust includes a business undertaking held under trust.
3. Any voluntary contribution received by a trust or institution is exempt if (a) the trust is created wholly for charitable purposes and (b) contribution is not made with a specific direction that it shall form part of the corpus of the trust.