Date:09/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/02/09/stories/2005020902091700.htm

Back AP Minister's fiat to tax officials on VAT regime

Our Bureau

Hyderabad , Feb. 8

THE Andhra Pradesh Government has asked the officials of Commercial Taxes Department to be thorough with VAT (Value-Added Tax) rules.

Addressing deputy commissioners of the department here, Mr K. Ramakrishna, Minister for Commercial Taxes, told them to study the rules in order to clear doubts of people in general and traders in particular.

The Minister said there might be a dip of Rs 600 to 800 crore in revenues as against Rs 17,000 crore that was originally feared. This was due to continuation of CST (Central Sales Tax) for some time.

The one-day meeting was aimed at discussing VAT implementation and departmental performance.

He asked the officials to set up counselling centres in all districts and other important towns to bring awareness on VAT.

Allaying fears that there might be a cut in jobs in the post-VAT scenario, the Minister said there was no such move. On the other hand, more jobs would be created in the middle level. Even this would be compensated by the Centre.

The department recorded collections of Rs 1,004 crore in January, highest for a month. The target for the next months was Rs 2,500 crore. The revised target for the whole year was put at Rs 11,004 crore. The total collections so far were Rs 8,559 crore.

He attributed the phenomenal performance to significant increase in industrial and agricultural production.

He asked the officials to complete online connectivity soon in order to let traders to download applications and forms easily.