- ✓Up to 40% savings for employees vs buying at retail (GST set-off + tax treatment).
- ✓Zero balance-sheet impact for the organization — device sits on the lessor.
- ✓19,000+ pincodes served across India for delivery and pickup.
- ✓1-year upgrade path with assured buyback via OneAssist protection.
Smart EPP is a curated program by OEM Authorized Resellers, Leasing Partners and Protection Partners. It brings the latest smartphones, tablets and laptops to corporate employees with tremendous savings.
The short version: an Employee Purchase Plan (also called Employee Purchase Program, or EPP for short) lets your staff take home the latest iPhone, Galaxy, MacBook or ThinkPad on a company-backed lease, paid in small monthly amounts through payroll. This is a device benefit, not an ESPP stock scheme. The device sits off your balance sheet, the employee saves up to 40% against retail through GST set-off and tax treatment, and OneAssist covers accidental damage and theft for the full term. We have seen HR teams open the scheme to staff within a week of signing the master lease.
Employee Purchase Program (EPP) or ESPP? They are not the same
Search for “employee purchase plan” and half the results are about company stock. This program has nothing to do with shares. Here is the difference in one look.
| Employee Purchase Plan (devices) | Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) | |
|---|---|---|
| What the employee gets | A phone, tablet or laptop to use and then own | Company shares bought at a discount |
| Who runs it | HR, with a reseller and a leasing partner | Finance, with a broker or registrar |
| Main benefit | Up to 40% savings and no upfront cost | Buying stock below market price |
| Where Sirius Star fits | We supply and manage the devices | Not our area |
Available devices, delivered anywhere
Tablets
Laptops
19,000+ pincodes
The best of benefits. For all.
One program. Two winners.
For your organization
Business impact from day one
- Productivity boostTeams work faster with the latest smartphones, tablets and laptops.
- Talent retention and attractionA real benefit staff notice on day one. Shows up on Glassdoor.
- Employee wellbeingThe tools they use every day, upgraded without personal debt.
- Stronger employer brandVisible modern perk that lands in recruiter conversations.
For your employees
Latest devices, minimum outlay
- Zero upfront costNo down payment. Device arrives, payroll deduction starts next cycle.
- Easy monthly EMI through payrollFixed monthly amount deducted before salary hits the account.
- Lowest total cost of ownershipGST set-off plus tax treatment beats buying retail.
- 1-year upgrade optionNever stuck with an old device. Trade up when the next model ships.
0% hassle. 100% flexibility for your organization.
Zero financial liability
The organization carries no balance-sheet load.
Simple implementation
Master agreement once, run for years.
Minimal admin burden
Employees self-serve via the OneAssist app.
Upfront GST set-off
Available to the organization on day one.
Devices on offer
Smartphones
Latest Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy models.
Tablets
iPad Pro, iPad Air and Samsung Galaxy Tab.
Laptops
MacBook, ThinkPad, Latitude and EliteBook business lines.
Worked example: iPhone 16 Pro at 64% of MRP
| Line item | Value (Rs) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 16 Pro MRP | 1,19,900 | Manufacturer retail price |
| Cost including GST | 1,12,706 | 6% upfront corporate discount |
| Cost without GST | 95,514 | After 18% GST set-off |
| Interest for 1 year | 7,641 | 8% on invoice value |
| OneAssist plan | 6,686 | 1-year ADLD plus Theft cover |
| Tax saving | (-) 32,952 | Up to 30% tax discount on rentals |
| Effective price | 76,889 | 64% of MRP |
| Employee payment per month | 9,154 | Across 12 months |
Residual value of 2% to be paid at end of tenure. Option of assured buyback at end of tenure. Accessories can also be part of the plan.
Worked example 2: iPhone 16 (128 GB)
| Line item | Value (Rs) |
|---|---|
| iPhone 16 (128 GB) MRP | 79,900 |
| Insurance pack (ADLD) | 13,199 |
| Total package MRP | 93,099 |
| Monthly rent | 6,904 |
| GST on rent | 1,243 |
| Total monthly outflow | 8,146 |
| Net effective price per device | 56,660 (61% of MRP) |
| Employee savings | 39% |
CTC Device Leasing: how the tax mechanics actually work
CTC Device Leasing is the legal-tax framing of what happens under the hood of Smart EPP. Instead of the employee buying a device with post-tax rupees, the employer arranges a lease for the device and treats the lease rentals as part of the employee’s Cost to Company (CTC). The employee’s take-home salary reduces by the monthly lease rental, and the employee gets the device to use. At end of term, the lessor typically offers the device to the employee at the residual value.
Why this matters. Unlike CTC car-leasing where GST input credit is blocked, GST paid on device lease rentals is not blocked credit. That means the employer can claim the Input Tax Credit and pass the benefit through. Combined with the reduction in the employee’s taxable salary (because the lease rental sits inside CTC pre-tax), the employee saves 30 to 40 percent on the device’s effective cost.
Practical implication for the HR head. The employer stays cost-agnostic on the lease itself. The employee sees a lower take-home for the lease term, but ends up with a device that would otherwise have cost 40 percent more if bought retail with post-tax income. The organization gets a modern employee benefit without touching the balance sheet, and India’s DPDP + accounting norms are respected because the asset sits on the lessor.
Related enterprise term: this is a specific implementation of Device as a Service (DaaS) in India, where hardware is delivered as an ongoing service rather than an owned asset. DaaS is the broader model; CTC Device Leasing is the tax-efficient consumer-side of the same architecture.
The key players
Reseller
Sirius Star supplies the devices from OEMs and offers special corporate discount on MRP.
Lessor (Tata Capital and HP Financial Services)
Funds the device purchase and converts it into easy EMIs for the employee. Sirius Star Smart EPP works with India’s most trusted leasing partners including Tata Capital and HP Financial Services (HPFS), giving your organization enterprise-grade lease infrastructure at MSE-friendly rates.
OneAssist
Powers the protection plan during the lease including theft, ADLD repairs, dedicated app and buyback.
Your organization
Signs the master lease, rolls out the scheme via HR, sets policies on eligible bands.
How it works: 11 steps end to end
Master Lease Agreement
The organization signs a master agreement with the designated leasing partner.
Internal scheme announcement
HR announces the smartphone, tablet and laptop leasing benefit to eligible employees.
Employee device selection and order
Employees browse and order their preferred device through the OneAssist app.
OneAssist protection plan activation
A 1-year plan covering ADLD and Theft is automatically activated for the device.
Administrative approval
HR or the authorized SPOC approves the employee request within the app.
Device delivery
Upon approval, the reseller delivers the device directly to the employee.
Device enrolment
The device is enrolled in the organization work profile management system for OTA app deployment.
Invoice and proof of delivery
Reseller submits proof of delivery to the organization and the leasing partner, then invoices the lessor.
Lease rental payments
The lessor generates a rent schedule. The organization makes lease payments over 12 months.
End of lease options
Pay a 2% residual to own the device, or take Assured Buyback to upgrade to a new device.
(Optional) Assured Buy Back
If the employee chose ABB at the start, OneAssist buys the device back at an assured price for upgrade.
The OneAssist Advantage
Benefits of the protection plan
Accidental damage
Covered for the full lease term.
Liquid damage
Covered with pickup and drop service.
Theft protection
Included in every plan.
Assured buyback
Market-best rates at end of tenure.
Sirius Star role in Smart EPP
Sirius Star is the OEM Authorized Reseller in this program. We supply the devices and offer the corporate discount on MRP. The lease is funded by the leasing partner. The protection and the dedicated app are powered by OneAssist. If you would rather the company own and manage the fleet instead of the employee, look at laptop leasing for business. For the device menu your staff choose from, see our Samsung business mobiles and Apple for business ranges.
Common questions
Who carries the financial liability on the lease?
The leasing partner funds the device and the employee pays the monthly rent through payroll deduction. The organization does not carry the device on its balance sheet.
What is included in the OneAssist protection plan?
One year of Accidental Damage and Liquid Damage cover plus Theft protection. Repairs are arranged via pickup and drop across 19,000 pincodes. Assured Buyback is available at end of tenure if chosen at the start.
What happens at end of the 12 month lease?
Two options. Pay a 2% residual value and own the device. Or take Assured Buyback and upgrade to a new device with a fresh lease.
Can accessories be part of the plan?
Yes. AppleCare, screen protectors, keyboards and other approved accessories can be included in the lease bundle.
How do we get started?
Send your team size, eligible device categories and rollout timeline to care at siriusstar.in. We will reply with a written quote in 24 working hours.
Is this the same as an ESPP stock plan?
No. An ESPP lets employees buy company shares at a discount. The Employee Purchase Plan here is a device benefit. Your staff get the latest phone, tablet or laptop on a payroll-linked lease, with tax and GST savings and a protection plan. No shares are involved.
Who actually saves the tax, the company or the employee?
Both gain in different ways. The employee pays the lease rentals as part of CTC, which lowers taxable salary under the perquisite rules, so take-home savings can reach 40% against retail. The organization claims GST input credit on the lease and carries no asset on its books. Your finance team can confirm the exact treatment for your payroll structure.
Can employees pick any brand, or only one?
Any of the brands we carry. As an OEM Authorized Reseller we supply Apple, Samsung, Dell, Lenovo and HP, so an employee can choose an iPhone, a Galaxy tablet or a ThinkPad from the same program. You set the eligible bands and price caps by grade.
What happens if an employee leaves before the lease ends?
Your policy decides. The common options are the employee settles the residual and keeps the device, the lease transfers to their personal name, or the device returns under Assured Buyback. We help you write this into the scheme document before rollout so there are no surprises.
What is an Employee Purchase Program in India?
An Employee Purchase Program (EPP) in India is a corporate benefit where the employer arranges access to premium devices (laptops, smartphones, tablets) for employees through a CTC-linked lease. Employees get the latest Apple, Samsung, Dell or Lenovo device with monthly payroll deduction over 10 to 24 months. Employees save up to 40 percent through GST input credit and CTC tax structure. The employer’s balance sheet stays clean because the device sits on the lessor.
How does employee laptop leasing work in India?
Your HR team signs a one-time master lease agreement with a leasing partner (typically Tata Capital or HP Financial Services). Employees within the eligibility criteria browse the OneAssist Smart EPP app, pick a device, and confirm the lease. Sirius Star Smart EPP handles procurement, delivery, and OneAssist adds accidental and theft protection for the term. Employee’s payroll takes the monthly deduction. At end of term, employee can buy the device at residual value, return it, or upgrade to a new one.
Is Employee Purchase Program taxable for the employee in India?
Under CTC Device Leasing, the lease rental sits inside the employee’s Cost to Company pre-tax. This means the employee’s taxable salary reduces by the lease rental amount. The employee does not receive a taxable perquisite for the device during the lease term. At end of term, when the employee buys the device at residual value, the residual value payment is post-tax and not exempt. Consult your CA for your specific tax treatment. The net savings across GST + income tax typically work out to 30 to 40 percent versus buying retail with post-tax income.
Get a written quote in 24 working hours
Reply on WhatsApp +91 91375 93228 or email care at siriusstar.in.