Bhopal, September 08 (Pervez Bari): Madhya Pradesh has posted a close to 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.
The commercial tax revenue in year 2003-04 was Rs. 3,952.25 crore, which rose to Rs. 12,342.16 crore 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 the year 2003-04, revenue of Rs. 2,916.73 crore was received by way of VAT, Rs. 454 crore through Central Sales Tax, Rs. 392.71 crore as Entertainment Tax, Rs. 184.58 crore and Rs. 4.21 crore as Hotel Tax.
Compared to this, revenue of Rs. 9679.91 crore was received by way of VAT, Rs. 682.72 crore through Central Sales Tax, Rs. 1745.78 crore as Entertainment Tax, Rs. 15.79 crore as Hotel Tax and Rs. 217.96 crore as Professional Tax.
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 per cent VAT was payable on these commodities. The VAT on diesel has been reduced from 28.75 per cent to 25 per cent. The reduction is 3.75 per cent. From April 1, last year the parts of flour mill and Isabgol were exempted from VAT. The products of research and training institutes were exempted to the extent of Rs. 25 lakh annual. The VAT on cooked food has been reduced from 13 percent to 5 percent. Besides, the metal used for manufacturing coins has been exempted from Entry Tax. The foot wares priced up to Rs. 250 has been exempted from Entry Tax on other commodities has also been reduced.
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 per cent 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, 5,57,967 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 need 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, 58,795 traders have availed this facility.
Similarly, 5,792 traders have availed the facility of online application for registration in the department. The TIN is issued to the trader the same day and its information is provided on the portal.
The declaration form (form-60) for goods transportation from railway premises can also be obtained online. Now there is no need to get the railway declaration form endorsed at the circle office.
The verification of registration certificate is also done online. With this facility now the traders can avoid dealing with such traders who are not registered or whose registrations have been cancelled. (pervezbari@eth.net)