Indian government set to tax ICC for 2026 T20 World Cup - Know all about it

The Indian government plans to impose a major tax on the International Cricket Council (ICC) which will host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India. The tax amount is expected to range between $35 million and $40 million which is approximately Rs 315 crore to Rs 360 crore. The current situation follows an established pattern because international cricket tournaments in India have historically resulted in high tax requirements.

The ICC has previously experienced similar financial obligations. The ICC World T20 tournament in 2016 which India hosted resulted in the cricket governing body incurring approximately $23.75 million in tax expenses. The ICC paid Indian tax authorities approximately $55 million during the 2023 ODI World Cup which created a larger financial burden. These statistics demonstrate the business size of ICC tournaments together with their associated tax requirements which follow Indian taxation regulations.

The upcoming tax obligation will undergo a new procedure for its assessment. The ICC established its expense allocation for the previous revenue cycle through a tax deduction which reduced the share of ICC revenues allocated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The mechanism created disputes because it required the host board to bear costs which resulted from a worldwide event organized by the ICC.

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ICC to bear tax burden directly as India gears up for high-revenue T20 World Cup 2026

The ICC will start paying all taxes directly to the Indian government from this current cycle onwards instead of using BCCI revenue shares to cover its tax payments. The global governing body has adopted this new financial system because it creates better transparency and requires the organization to handle all required legal obligations for its international tournaments.

The 2026 T20 World Cup in India will create substantial revenue through its broadcasting and sponsorships and ticket sales. The tax expenses reach a high amount which shows the extensive economic benefits generated by hosting a major ICC event in one of cricket's top markets.

While preparations for the event progress the tax problem will not affect actual sports play the situation shows the complicated financial situation that exists for international cricket events held in India.