Indirect tax collection up 13.5% in July

Driven by good realisation of custom duties, indirect tax collection went up by 13.5 per cent to Rs 20,019 crore in July.     

While the central excise collection during July soared by 8.9 per cent, realisation from custom duties increased by 18.7 per cent in the month over the corresponding period last year, said an official release.     

Total indirect tax collection during the month worked out to be Rs 20,019 crore, up from Rs 17,639 crore recorded in July 2007.     

The indirect tax collection during April-July period increased by 12 per cent to Rs 74,359 crore.     

During the four-month period of the current fiscal, customs realisation increased by 20.3 per cent, while excise revenues were up by 4.4 per cent only.      

As regards service tax, the release said, collection during June increased by 21 per cent to Rs 5,064 crore.     

During the first quarter (April-June), the service tax collection surged by 29 per cent to Rs 14,838 crore.