In March 2022, we published a blog post explaining that broadband grants are apparently subject to federal income taxation. Three years later, and with $42.5 billion in BEAD grants on the verge of disbursement, nothing has changed.
As discussed in 2022, the taxability of broadband grants seems to be an unplanned quirk of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Prior to that, broadband grants were generally exempt from taxation based on a favorable IRS interpretation of Section 118 of the tax code. But the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act amended Section 118 to the effect that “contributions to capital” (including grants) made from governmental or civic groups to a corporation are taxable as gross income.
Recent recipients of state and federal broadband grants are already struggling with this. Crucially, the tax bill applies to grants used to cover front-end costs relating to construction of a broadband network, with taxes likely due on the grant before revenues ramp up. If a company receives $50 million in grant funds in 2024 to construct a rural broadband network, the company would need to pay $10 million in taxes on the grant (give or take) in 2025. The very substantial tax bill would come due while the network developer is still building up operations, and may in fact threaten the operational feasibility of the entire project.
Bipartisan legislation has been repeatedly introduced over the past several years to address this issue, to no avail. But on February 24, a bipartisan group of Senators announced the re-introduction of the Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act, with such varied supporters as Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL). (Notably, the Act would apply to amounts received in taxable years ending after March 11, 2021.)
Broadband providers have reason to be optimistic that the Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act will finally be enacted this session. But until that occurs, it would be prudent to set aside funds to cover the tax bill associated with broadband grants.