‘Graft behindlower tax collection’

PMK founder S. Ramadoss on Tuesday criticised the State government for its alleged inability to mobilise the projected commercial tax of ₹77,234 crore. He said that the government had managed to garner only ₹73,000 crore as commercial revenue and alleged that ‘corruption’ in the administration was the prime reason.

According to him, commercial tax collection had come down to the tune of ₹4,234 crore. “In the 2017-18 budget, the State government said that its tax revenues will be ₹99,590 crore and its commercial taxes would total ₹77,234 crore. But the actual commercial tax revenue has been ₹73,000 crore. It is 5% less than the projected amount,” he said.

Mr. Ramadoss further pointed out that a major portion of commercial taxes came from sale of liquor apart from diesel and petrol.

“Around ₹36,000 crore comes from liquor sales. The State has collected this much commercial tax revenue because it levies 34% tax on petrol and 58% on liquor. If petrol and diesel come under the GST, Tamil Nadu won’t even have this,” he said.