Indirect tax collection surpasses estimates

The central government's indirect tax collections have surpassed the revised estimate of Rs 2,79,316 crore for 2007-08, said P C Jha, chairman, Central Board of Excise and Customs.

Though the final figures will be available after a few days, initial estimates show a shortfall of Rs 2,947 crore in excise duty collections as total receipts stood at around Rs 1,25,000 crore in 2007-08.

Customs duty collections, however, exceeded the revised estimate by Rs 3,234 crore to reach Rs 1,04,000 crore.

Service tax collections were over Rs 50,000 crore and in line with revised budget estimate for 2007-08.