Andhra Pradesh’s commercial taxes revenue i.e. GST, VAT on petroleum products & Profession Tax have all seen an increase in its collections for the first 2 quarters of this fiscal i.e. April-Sept 22. As per the figures obtained from the state’s commercial tax department the state registered revenues of Rs 25,449 (for GST, VAT on petroleum products & Profession Tax) in the first 6 months of FY23. This marked a growth of 15.5% compared to the same period last year. The department had collected revenues of Rs 22029.07 during the April-Sep 21 period.
Individually the state’s GST revenue saw an increase of 14% with revenues of Rs 16,741.67 crores, VAT on petroleum products increased 18% with revenues at Rs 8569.17 crores while profession tax rose 13% with revenues of Rs 138.87 crores. Speaking to Vizag Industrial Scan, Chief Commissioner of State Tax, Mr Mandalika Girija Shankar, IAS attributed the increase in revenues to factors such as increase in public consumption and also to an enhancement in the department’s efficiency in collections.
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With increased use of data analytics through our dashboard we have been efficient in our revenue collections. Mr Mandalika Girija Shankar IAS, |
‘With the increased use of data analytics through our dashboard we as a department have been effectively able to gauge the returns filed and also of people who haven’t filed’ stated the chief commissioner. He informed that a lot of scrutiny is being held on returns and that the department has been given standard operating procedures to increase revenues.
‘With the wealth of scientific data we possess and with audits, inspection and vehicular checks we have been successful in catching tax evaders’ informed Mr Girija Shankar. The top 3 divisions in terms of revenue collections were state offices at Rs 2355.43 crores, Vijayawada 2 at Rs 1492.18 crores and Visakhapatnam 1 at Rs 1101.38 crores (See pie graph).
Similarly the highest growth in percentage terms was recorded by Chittoor division at 32.93% followed by Nellore division at 30.77% and Vizianagaram division at 29.54%. Barring the division of Anantapur all divisions witnessed an increase in collections (See Table).
Big decline in VAT on Liquor
Revenues for VAT on liquor however declined dramatically from Rs 4104.26 crores in April-Sept’21 to a mere Rs 478.90 crores in the same period this fiscal.
Clarifying the drop in revenues Mr Girija Shankar informed that due to a change in policy decision revenues of VAT on liquor are now being collected by the excise department hence the decline.
