Orissa to raid business houses to curb tax evasion

Bhubaneswar, Jan 18 (UNI) Orissa Finance Minister P C Ghadei today directed the commercial tax staff to conduct raids on business and industrial houses indulging in tax evasion.

The Minister's directive came after a review meeting, attended by the commercial tax officers on the progress of tax collection in the state.

Mr Ghadei later told newspersons that till December 31, the state had been able to collect tax to the tune of Rs 3,070 crore as against the target of Rs 6,110 crore.

The government, he said, had received Rs 1,231 crores on account of Value Added Tax (VAT) as against the target of Rs 2,220 crore during the year. The Minister was, however, hopeful that the state would be able to achieve the target.

In 2007, till December, the state had been able to collect seven per cent more tax as compared the corresponding period in 2006.

Mr Ghadei asked the officials to conduct a series of raids on the business and industrial houses involved in tax evasion and focus on the circles which has less collection to achieve the target.

UNI DP KK/src SG BD1940