Better tax management in MP

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सी आई मिरर डाट काम

Muslim Saleem

Bhopal, September 16, 2011

Madhya Pradesh has posted about four fold increase in commercial taxes revenue over last seven years. This creditable achievement, despite exempting many commodities and reducing rates on some others, is attributable to efficient tax administration, effective curb on evasion and positive attitude of traders. This significant increase in commercial tax revenue has been achieved despite exempting food grain, pulses, farm implements and fuel wood from VAT. Earlier, a 4 percent VAT was payable on these commodities. The VAT on diesel has been reduced from 28.75 percent to 25 percent, reports SMS News and Features.

The commercial tax revenue in year 2003-04 was Rs, 3,952 crore 25 lakh, which rose to Rs. 12 thousand 342 crore 16 lakh in 2010-11. This increase assumes greater significance given the fact that VAT on many items has been removed and reduced on some others. These taxes include Central Sales Tax, VAT Entertainment Tax, Hotel Tax, Professional Tax etc. The buoyancy in tax collection has pushed the development of the state.

In year 2003-04, revenue of Rs, 2,916 crore 73 lakh was received by way of VAT, Rs. 454 crore through Central Sales Tax, Rs. 392 crore 71 lakh as Entertainment Tax, Rs. 184 crore 58 lakh and Rs. 4 crore 21 lakh as Hotel Tax.

Online Facilities for Traders: The Commercial Taxes Department has provided a number of online facilities for the convenience of traders making the best possible use of Information Technology. Following this, now the traders no longer need to visit the circle offices in person to get their works done. Most of their works are done online.

First the facility of online downloading Form-49 was introduced. Encouraged by the response of traders some other facilities were provided online. These include e-return, e-registration, Form-60 etc. At present there are 2 lakh 40 thousand registered traders in the state and out of them over 90 percent are availing online facilities.

The facility of online downloading the declaration form (form-49) pertaining to check post has provided following which now these forms are available free of cost to the traders. So far, 5 lakh 57 thousand 967 Form-49 have been downloaded.

Now the tension of check post is also gone. If a trader enters duly filled declaration on the web portal giving the date and time of entering, the transporter does not deed to get it passed from the check post. If there is no check post on the route in that case, too, he need not visit the nearest circle office.

The facility of filing online statement has also been made available on the web portal. So far, 58 thousand 795 traders have availed this facility.