US HIRE bill may not pass as is, but India’s IT must stay watchful, say experts

India’s IT services industry may not face an immediate threat from the proposed US ‘HIRE’ bill, but legal and policy analysts believe the sector must remain alert to how the situation evolves.

The Halting International Relocation of Employment (HIRE) bill, introduced in the US Senate, seeks to impose a 25% tax on certain payments made to foreign companies for services consumed in America, a move that could impact Indian software exports significantly if enacted.

While experts say the bill is unlikely to pass in its current form, given strong US…