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                   83 Points
                   Joined September 2007
                
               
			  
			  
             
            
             This is actually a very good question raised in CAClubindia. I actually dont believe it is not taxable because it is too less...... What if, an article who is working in any of the BIG 4 Accounting firm earning more the non taxable slab....... Hmm Tell me....
 
I feel stipend is not taxable as it cannot be charged to tax anywhere under the Income Tax Act. Because, there is no employer-employee relationship in place... It is more of a teacher-student relationship. Stipend is paid to cover the cost incurred getting yourself trained. Not to make profits in lieu of it. Of course, BIG 4s do pay huge stipend. But still you cant ignore the fact of absence of employer-employee relationship.
Apart from that, according to what I have remembered(Tch, tch... My memory is too weak, so better corroborate this point with someone) there is a case law, a judgement given by some high court saying that stipend should not be taxed. I cant confirm on this. So better take some homework and the get the citation and post it here......