New Delhi: The average monthly gross Goods & Services Tax (GST) collection for the third quarter of FY 2021-22 has been Rs 1.30 lakh crore against the average monthly collection of Rs 1.10 lakh crore and Rs 1.15 lakh crore in the first and second quarters respectively, Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

The Minister further stated that a record GST collection of Rs 1,40,986 crore is reported in the month of January, 2022 and this collection has been the highest since implementation of the GST. There was a minor dip in the GST collection in the month  of December, 2021 as compared to the months of October and November, 2021 but it touched  the highest ever collection of Rs 1,40,986 crore in January, 2022, the Minister stated.

The Minister also stated that the Central government is making concerted efforts to raise tax revenue collections which inter-alia include GST rate rationalization to improve tax compliance, e-invoice system, mandatory e-filing and e-payment of taxes, penalty for delayed payment, extensive use of third- party sources such as State VAT Department, Income Tax etc. for compliance verification, regular enforcement and compliance verification of tax returns, taxpayer education and media campaign.

He said that system based analytical tools and system generated red flag reports, which are shared with the Central as well as state tax authorities to take action against tax evaders. It is, therefore, expected that the GST collection may remain buoyant in the coming months as well, he said. /BI/