AP achieves 94.47% of tax collection target in first half of 2022

Amaravati: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy directed the revenue-generating departments to ensure transparency while plugging loopholes and leakages in tax collection in order to increase state revenues.

During a review meeting of revenue-generating departments, the Chief Minister was told that the half-yearly revenue collection was encouraging at 94.47% of the target. The Chief Minister told the officials to avail the services of professional agencies to plug leakages in tax collection, if need be. "There should be no leakages while gaining more efficiency in tax collection. If necessary, avail the services of established professional organisations and agencies for this," he said.

Expressing satisfaction over achieving targets of up to 94.47% in the collection of taxes in the first half of the current financial year, officials informed Jagan about the steps being taken to increase tax collection efficiency.

While the average GST collection across the country stands at 27.8%, AP has exceeded it by achieving 28.79%. The state collected Rs. 25,928 crores as against the target of Rs. 27,445 crores in the first half of the present financial year till September 2022.

Illicit liquor

Exhorting the officials to provide alternative employment opportunities to improve the living standards of people brewing hooch, Jagan directed them to get daily reports on illicit liquor and belt shops from women police working in villages. "You need to draw and work on a special action-oriented plan to stop illicit liquor manufacturing," he stressed.

Increase revenue

Aiming at steps to increase revenue generation in the stamps and registrations department and meet targets successfully, he constituted a special committee with senior IAS officers and directed it to submit a report in two weeks. The committee, consisting of IAS officers M.T Krishna Babu, Rajit Bhargava, Nirab Kumar Prasad, and Gulzar, will submit a report on steps to increase revenue generation while ensuring flexible and transparent policies for the benefit of people. He told the officials to study the registration policies and methods in vogue in other states.

Encourage registrations

Stressing the need to create an innovative atmosphere on registrations, Jagan asked officials to create awareness through posters at village secretariats and sub-registrar offices to inform the taxpayers of the available services. "Not only lands and other properties, but people should also know the details of other services which can be registered," he said.

Mining

Making a special mention of the mining activity in the state, the Chief Minister asked the officials to take steps to solve the problems of mining leaseholders. "All mines which are not in operation should become operational to enhance the state's revenues. For this, you need to work to solve their problems," he told the officials.

Transport dept

Reviewing the transport department, Jagan asked the officials to ensure that more vehicles are sold in the state compared to other states. "There are incidents of dealers not delivering the vehicles after collecting the money. You must initiate all possible legal action against such dealers," he instructed officials.