Infrastructure Grants to Concessionaires Not Taxable u/s 194C, Says High Court: Funds Are Public Utility Support.

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....The High Court held that the capital grant subsidy or viability gap funding provided by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to its Concessionaires for infrastructure projects does not constitute payment for 'work' u/s 194C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and hence, is not subject to tax deduction at source. The key points are: The Concessionaire's primary obligation is to raise funds and implement the project, while NHAI extends financial aid through viability gap funding. Section 194C requires tax deduction on sums paid to a contractor for carrying out 'work', which implies a physical or tangible activity involving labor. The capital grant subsidy is not payment for work per se but financial support from NHAI for creating a public.........