20.54 pc increase in VAT revenue: Gaur

Bhopal, Jan 16 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Commercial Tax and Public Sector Undertaking Minister Babulal Gaur today said revenue receipts had increased significantly by 20.54 per cent within one year of implementation of the Value Added Tax (VAT) system.

''Since the VAT system was implemented on April 1, 2006, revenue receipts for the period April 2006 and March 2007 had grown by 20.54 per cent as compared to previous year,'' Mr Gaur said, while talking to reporters at his residence here today.

Besides, revenue from entry tax for the period grew by 28.85 per cent.

Mr Gaur said Rs 2,738.41 crore had been collected as VAT, central and entry tax by September 2007 against a target of Rs 2,693.51 crore.

This collection -- 101.6 per cent of the target -- was 11.93 per cent more than the revenue receipts of previous fiscal.

An Anti-Evasion Bureau (AEB) has been set up by the department with its headquarters at Indore for preventing tax-evasion.

The AEB had conducted raids on 131 business establishments in 2007-08 and unearthed tax-evasion to the tune of Rs 14.98 crore.

The bureau had collected Rs 4.21 crore as tax and penalty on the spot. A penalty of Rs 10.86 crore was collected as penalty during inspection on 2,191 vehicles.

A cabinet sub-committee was formed for resolving problems that came up after implementation of the VAT. As per the recommendations of this committee, a tax relief of Rs 100 crore was given in tax rates in 2006-07.

Foodgrains and pulses had been kept free from VAT for the welfare of majority despite the fact it was decided with common consensus to impose VAT on foodgrains and pulses.

Mr Gaur said better results had come up following changes in excise policy with sale in liquor shops increasing by 18.6 per cent as compared to previous year. A revenue of Rs 810.88 crore was earned against the target of Rs 702 crore.

A revenue of Rs 1,536.31 crore was earned as excise duty as against the target of Rs 1,450 crore. The collection was 106 per cent of the target.

Likewise, a revenue of Rs 21.46 crore has been earned against the target of Rs 13.50 crore as entertainment tax.

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