GST will be most significant reform in India’s indirect taxes’ history: FM

23 Feb 2012 Evaluate

Describing introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) as the most significant reform in the history of indirect taxes in the country, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee affirmed that once implemented it will bring about a paradigm shift in the arena of indirect taxation. With India being at the door step of implementing the crucial reform, the finance minister remained confident that GST will prove to be a more efficient system of taxation and is likely to give a boost to the tax revenues of the Centre and the States by removing barriers amongst States and converting the entire country into a common market.

Commending the performance of the Central Customs and Excise Department in adapting quickly and successfully to the changing economic environment, the finance minister stated the Central Excise revenue has more than doubled over the last ten years from Rs. 68,282 crore in 2000-01 to Rs 137,427 crore in 2010-11, which is 40% of the total revenue from Indirect Taxes. However, he said that still further efforts are required to ensure to meet the target of indirect tax collections for the current fiscal.

With India’s indirect tax collections increasing to Rs 317,233 crore till January 2012 in the current financial year, which is 15% more as compared to the revenues of the corresponding period last year, the government was optimistic that the Budget Estimates for the financial year will be completely met.

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