Despite GST hiccup, Telangana marks 19.42 pc revenue growth

​Hyderabad: Despite facing initial hiccups in the tax collections after the introduction of single tax regime on July 1 last year, the State government registered 19.42 per cent growth in the revenues generated through sales taxes in 2017-18. The total revenues generated by the State was Rs 42,074 crore (including GST) as against Rs 35, 231 crore earned in 2016-17.

Revenue collected from liquor, petrol, and diesel was phenomenal and all thanks to the constant increase in the fuel prices and abnormal growing liquor consumption. Tax collections from liquor had been increased to Rs 10, 543 crore as against Rs 8,320 crore in the previous corresponding year. From the fuel sales, government earned Rs 9, 176 crore as against 7,514 crore in 2016-17.

Top officials of the State Commercial Taxes department said the contribution from SGST (State GST) to State revenues was Rs 6, 539 crore and from IGST nine (Integrated GST) it was Rs 6,533 crore. The official said the State got Rs 169 crore as GST compensation from the centre in 2017-18. The remaining Rs 9,114 crore revenues was generated through VAT between April and June before the enforcement of GST.  

Officials claimed that the government achieved the targets in the tax collections with constant efforts put in by the Commercial Taxes department in plugging loopholes in the tax collections post GST regime. The government also collected all the tax arrears pending by slapping notices on more than 14,000 commercial establishments which alone helped to generate Rs 1,500 crore in the last two quarters. Officials said the revenue target in 2018-19 will be 20 per cent more than previous year.