Bihar clocks 29% hike in commercial tax collection: Modi

In another first in the country, tax collection in Bihar in the 2012-13 fiscal jumped to 29 per cent, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said today.
"The achievement becomes all the more impressive considering that the world was witnessing an economic slowdown," Modi, also the Finance minister, told a review meeting of the commercial tax department here.
Other states registered a growth rate of 16-17 per cent when Bihar saw a 29 per cent hike, Modi said, adding that 60 per cent of the total revenue collection came from commercial tax collection.
Reeling out figures, he said commercial tax in the state leap-frogged from Rs 6,600 crore to Rs 11,000 crore in the last six years reflecting the state's march towards development.

He said this could be achieved due to computerisation, efficient working at check posts and tracking of freight vehicles.
Increase in supply of cement, iron, steel and timber due to boom in the construction business also multiplied tax collection, he added.
Modi said computerisation of the entire network cut down corruption and also provided service to traders at home itself.
He said online scrutiny of returns service would be launched soon in the state.