Sales Tax revenue touches Rs. 22,662 crore in four years

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Finance Minister Vakkom Purushothaman informed the State Assembly that the total revenue from sales tax during the last four years stood at Rs 22,662.55 crore.

In a written reply to P.K.K. Bava (IUML) and others, he said the tax arrears during the same period was Rs 1,413.12 crore. District Collectors have been directed to speed up revenue recoveries. Besides, officials from the Sales Tax Commissionerate will swing into action where minimum tax collection was reported, he said.

On court stays, he said the government would appoint special pleaders to argue the cases. In February and March last year, through a special ''settlement scheme,'' the department had recovered Rs 2,311.5 crore.