Indicating a rapid economic recovery after the second wave of Covid-19, Punjab’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue receipts have registered a growth of 24.76 per cent. GST revenue receipts for the state during September 2021 stood at Rs 1,316.51 crore against Rs 1,055.24 crore for the same period previous year (September, 2020).

The sectoral analysis of the GST receipts of the State suggest healthy growth in sectors such as Iron and Steel, Automobiles, Insurance, Telecom, Transport, Banking and non-VAT petroleum products.

The GST revenue, up to the month of September 2021, has witnessed a high growth of nearly 67.55 per cent as compared to corresponding period last year. Even, when compared to the pre-pandemic financial year of 2019-20, the growth during the first half of the current year is 54 per cent higher.

Besides, the base effect of the abnormal previous year, the said growth is attributed to strong anti-evasion activities of the department, better compliance by the taxpayers, effective data analysis based on machine learning and intelligent on-road detention with special focus on taxpayers engaged in fake billing, added the spokesperson. The positive trend witnessed in the revenue so far is likely to continue in the coming months as well, said the spokesperson while adding that the fiscal year 2021-22 reflected a tremendous growth as compared to the same period last year, for VAT and CST revenue collection have displayed a growth of 41.09 per cent and 18.68 per cent this year.

The total revenue collection comprising GST, VAT and CST registered a growth of 29.47 percent with a collection of Rs 1,965.99 crore this September as against Rs 1,518.52 crore during the corresponding month of 2020-21.