1Is a scholarship taxable?
No — a genuine scholarship to meet the cost of education is exempt from tax , regardless of amount, where it's truly a scholarship rather than payment for work.
Home -> Articles
ArticleStudents and interns often earn their first income through scholarships, stipends or part-time work — and whether it's taxable depends on what it actually is. Here's how students and interns are taxed.
Reviewed by CA Harika Chebolu, FCA · Last updated 2026-06-13
Quick answer
Scholarships are exempt, but a stipend may be taxable depending on its nature. Here's how students and interns are taxed.
A genuine scholarship granted to meet the cost of education is exempt from tax. So if you receive a scholarship to fund your studies, it isn't taxable income — regardless of the amount, where it's truly a scholarship.
A stipend's treatment depends on what it's for. Where it's effectively a scholarship to support learning, it can be exempt; where it's really payment for work done (like a paid internship doing a job), it's taxable as income. The substance, not the label, decides it.
Income from part-time jobs, freelancing or gigs is taxable like anyone else's — at your slab, after the basic exemption. For most students this is small and often below the taxable limit, but it should still be accounted for, especially if TDS was deducted.
If TDS was deducted on your stipend, internship or freelance income but your total income is below the taxable limit, file a return to claim it back. Many students leave deducted tax unclaimed simply by not filing — filing recovers it.
Even with small income, filing when required (or to claim a refund) builds a clean tax record useful later for loans, visas and bigger incomes. Report what's taxable, treat genuine scholarships as exempt, and keep it simple.
No — a genuine scholarship to meet the cost of education is exempt from tax , regardless of amount, where it's truly a scholarship rather than payment for work.
It depends on its nature — a stipend that's effectively a scholarship to support learning can be exempt, while one that's really payment for work done is taxable. Substance decides it.
Yes if income crosses the taxable limit, or to claim back TDS deducted on a stipend or freelance income when total income is below the limit. Filing recovers tax many students leave unclaimed.
Earning a stipend or freelancing as a student? Write to the firm and we'll claim any refund and keep it simple.