Kerala to take tough stand on tax evasion: Minister

Kochi, May 15 (UNI) Setting a sales tax collection target of Rs 11,100 crore this fiscal, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Issac today said the tax collection machinery would be strengthened to avoid tax evasion in the state.

Speaking to reporters here, he said ''the State collected Rs 8,600 crore as sales tax last year, registering an increase of 24 per cent, and the target for this fiscal will be Rs 11,100 crore.'' Admitting that tax evasion was worrying the Government, the minister said stringent measures coupled with strengthening the tax collection machinery would enable a clamp down on tax evasion.

Mr Issac said a Check Post Plaza would be set up in Palakkad and the check posts would be computerised to reduce the instance of tax evasion.

''The Government was forced to take these measures as 70 per cent of the commodities are coming from other States,'' he noted.

Besides, mobiles squads would be constituted and random bill checking in individual shops undertaken to discourage people from tax evasion, he informed, adding that strict measures should be taken to stop tax evasion on goods entering the State by Railways and waterways.

UNI