Surprise checks one of Goa's plans to boost GST mopup
Panaji, May 9, 2023
The department of state tax is working to increase the tax base in Goa to boost tax collections and plug leakages, reports Newton Sequeira.
The department is focused on data gathering, enforcement, and surprise inspections to achieve the goals. Goa's monthly tax mop-up has increased by 20% over the past few months due to higher economic output and better tax compliance.
"The department has done a lot of data collection from other departments. We have increased enforcement and our officers are conducting surprise inspections," said GST commissioner Sarpreet Singh Gill.
Goa raked in Rs 515 crore and Rs 620 crore in March and April respectively in GST collections, recording on average a 32% year-on-year increase in tax collections.
‘Goa ranks third in GST collection
April marks the first instance since the launch of the GST of the revenue from it crossing the Rs 600-crore mark for Goa.
Gill said that the “positive steps” taken by the department to encourage tax payment have helped improve revenue collection, pushing Goa to outpace other states in GST growth in percentage terms. The significant jump in GST collections in March and April also reflects tax payments for the last quarter of the financial year and the yearend tax filings.
“Among states, Goa’s growth in GST collections is the third highest in the country. We have increased the tax base and closed down tax leakages,” said Gill. The state has 40,832 registered GST taxpayers, of whom 25,540 are under the state GST and 15,292 under the central GST.
“When you tighten the screws, people will come forward and pay,” said Gill. “Our hope is that the tax base will increase further and people will willingly come forward to pay tax which will be good for the Centre and Goa.”
The department of state tax has an intelligence and data analytics wing that collects data from the income tax department, the Union ministry of corporate affairs, and the tourism department to identify the likely instances of tax evasion.
Most of Goa’s tax collection comes from the tourism industry and the services sector. Fuel and alcohol remain out of the GST regime.
[The Times of India]
