Indirect tax base has surged 65% to 11.6 mn since GST roll-out: PM Modi

Experts feel this might prompt govt to cut rates

The indirect tax base in the country has expanded by 65 per cent to 11.6 million in a year since the roll-out of the goods and services tax (GST) on July 1, 2017, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech on Wednesday.

Under the previous tax regime, it was 7 million. The number of people filing direct taxes has also increased to 67.5 million, compared to 40 million in 2013-14 — a rise of 68 per cent.

The PM urged everyone to pay their taxes, which fund programmes for the poor. “An honest’s taxpayer’s family feeds three