According
to the latest national figures available, Andhra Pradesh, with
a high growth rate of 24 per cent, is number one in the
country as far as VAT collection growth for the year 2007-08
is concerned, while surprisingly Bihar stands at number two
with 23 per cent growth in VAT collection over the previous
year.
Haryana,
with 20 per cent growth in VAT collection for the previous
financial year just ended, stands third. What is creditable is
that Haryana has not just beaten neighbours Punjab, Delhi,
Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, but also states with booming
economies like Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Compared
to the growth of 20 per cent of VAT collection of Haryana,
other states lagging behind were Gujarat with 17.5 per cent,
Rajasthan with 17 per cent, Delhi 15.7 per cent, Maharashtra
15 per cent, Punjab and West Bengal with 14 per cent each.
Uttar Pradesh with 8 per cent growth and Tamil Nadu with a
mere 3 per cent were at the bottom of the table, said sources.
Expressing
satisfaction over the high percentage of growth of VAT
collection, Haryana Excise and Taxation Commissioner Arun
Kumar said Haryana has consistently been doing well.
“The
first state in the country to introduce VAT in 2003-04,
Haryana has been achieving double figure growth in VAT
collection rate every year. So well has the state done that
for the last five years, it has always touched the 20 per cent
growth mark every year.’’
Arun
Kumar attributes the good result to transparency in the system
and the number of raids carried out by the Haryana Excise and
Taxation Department to check any tax evasion.
“As
many as 14,000 checks were conducted during the last financial
year. As many as 11,000 new tax payers were also added by the
department in the last year,’’ he says.
“Haryana
is already the number one state in the country as far as per
capita investment is concerned. It is fast heading towards
becoming a state with fastest growth rate of VAT collection
per year,’’ adds Arun Kumar.
So
