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Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram , May 3

TAX collection in Kerala has gone up after the introduction of value-added tax (VAT) system.

According to the Finance Minister, Mr Vakkom Purushothaman, tax collection increased by more than Rs 15 crore to Rs 118.04 crore in April this year, the first month under the VAT regime, from Rs 102.54 crore in the corresponding month last year.

He told newspersons here on Tuesday that the rise in collection was clear indication that the traders in the State had been complying with the new tax regime.

The last date for registration by the traders under VAT had been extended from April 30 to May 15.

The tax system had become more transparent and corruption-free, the Minister claimed.

Referring to the allegation by the Opposition leader, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, that the Government was planning to bring in an ordinance to exempt traders from the scrutiny of their accounts for the period between 2000-01 and 2004-05, Mr Purushothaman said that some officials of the department might have misled him.

All the pending assessments for the previous years would be processed by the department, he added.

Mr Achuthanandan had alleged that the Government move had been prompted by payment of bribe to the tune of Rs 200 crore and that it would result in a loss of Rs 5,400 crore to the exchequer.

The Minister noted that when the accounts of the traders were verified under the Sales Tax Act, there was always scope for corruption at the official level.

On the other hand, allowing the traders to declare their turnover without any sales tax assessment would minimise corruption, he said.

The Government had sanctioned an all-time high of Rs 19 crore for paddy procurement in the State.

The Minister, however, said he was not aware of any move by the Food Corporation of India to procure paddy in the State.

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