Himachal collects record Rs 3,045-cr in tax revenues

Himachal Pradesh’s tax revenues, including VAT, have gone up 34 per cent in the last financial year, the highest ever, officials said. The total tax collections rose to Rs 3,045 crore as compared to Rs 2,274 crore the previous year. The average growth has been over 20 per cent since 2005, dropping to 14 per cent two years ago. The revenue from the sale of liquor in the hill state rose to Rs 580 crore, which was higher than the target of Rs 550 crore.The target for liquor revenue collection for the next year has now been set at Rs 710 crore. Officials of the excise and taxation department say that with the switchover to e-tax administration, the department is now in a better shape to detect evasion. At 6.4 per cent, the state’s tax to gross domestic product ratio is one of the lowest in India.