VAT maximum revenue earner of Manipur: Shailesh Kumar

IMPHAL, AUGUST 3: Value Added Taxes is the maximum revenue earner Manipur, said Shailesh Kumar Chourasia, Commissioner of Taxes, Government of Manipur while interacting with media persons at today’s press conference as part of the series organized by DIPR at its office premises, Moirangkhom to highlight the developmental activities undertaken by the various departments of the Government of Manipur. According to the Commissioner, the revenue collected under the head VAT & CST (central sales tax) has shown a steady increase over the last seven years and is expected to go up further in the coming years, especially in the likelihood of the Goods and Service Tax being introduced across the country. In the current year 2015-16, the Department of Taxes, Government of Manipur has so far collected Rs468.24 crore as of present and the final figure is expected to go up to Rs 480- 490 crore. The amount collected in the year 2009-10 under this head was Rs 163.28 crore, this rose up to Rs. 395.74 and 432.49 in 2013-14 and 2014-15 Compared to VAT &CST, the revenue collected from professional tax was just Rs 20.73 crore showing an increase of just Rs 3.1 crore from the 2010-11 figure of Rs 17.63 crore. The revenue collected under the head Amusement & Luxury Taxes, as per the figure given by the department, makes the least of the total revenue collect with a mere Rs 0.2991 crore for the year 2015-16. One of the major reason for this stagnation under this head, as per Superintendent of the department is the discontinuation of screening of Hindi films because of which many cinema halls have either gone out of business or are in a very bad shape. Department of Taxes initially operated under the Assam Sales Tax Act, 1947 (as extended to the State of Manipur) & The Manipur (Sale of Motor Spirit and Lubricant) Taxation Act, 1962 which were then replaced by the Manipur Sales Tax (MST) Act, 1990 in the year 1990. Then on 1st July, 2005, the Manipur Value Added Tax (MVAT) Act, 2004 came into force. Under MVAT Act Tax is levied at every points of sale starting from the level of manufacturer to the level of retailer only on the incremental value caused by value addition. The other Acts & Rules the Department of Taxes administers include the Manipur Professions, Trades, Calling & Employment Taxation Act, 1981 and Rules framed there under, the Assam Amusement and Betting Tax Act, 1939 (as extended to Manipur) and Rules framed there under and the Manipur Tax on Luxury (Hotel & One of the significant step taken up the Department of Taxes is the computerization project under the Mission Mode Project of Commercial Tax (MMP-CT) financed by Centre and State in the ratio of 90:10 as part of the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP. This according to the Commissioner Taxes will bring about transparency and improve efficiency by simplifying tax administration.