GST collections jumped 15 per cent on an annual basis to nearly Rs 1.68 lakh crore in November from Rs 1.45 lakh crore a year ago.

Collections were less than in October, which were Rs 1.72 lakh crore.

Central GST collections were Rs 30,420 crore and state GST, was Rs 38,226 crore.

Integrated GST — the taxes on interstate purchases of goods and services — stood at Rs 87,009 crore, including Rs 39,198 crore on imports. The Centre also got Rs 12, 274 crore in cess.

Vivek Jalan, partner, Tax Connect Advisory, said tax notices issued by the authorities have been a factor in the high collections. “The last date for notices for the year 2017-18 expired September 30 and 2018-19 it will lapse in December 2023. Due to this, the GST departments have seen heightened activity this fiscal as demands are and pre-deposits collected, even as taxpayers go to appeals.”

MS Mani, partner, Deloitte India, said “the collections averaging Rs.1.66 lakh crore per month in the current fiscal reflect the inherent growth in production and consumption as they are a good barometer of the state of the economy.

"Significant efforts made by the tax authorities to improve compliance and deter evasion are also resulting in more businesses coming under the GST net. The stability shown in the GST collections would give the policy makers the confidence to move ahead with the next phase of GST reforms.”

Aditi Nayar, chief economist, Icra said: "The healthy growth in GST collections is enthusing, although it may partly reflect the later onset of the festive season this year. We expect CGST collections to modestly exceed the budget estimates."

Bengal bust

The Directorate of Commercial Taxes (State GST) of West Bengal has unearthed massive fake GST invoice rackets involving a turnover of Rs 4,716 crore and arrested four key operators, officials said on Friday.

This is the first time in the history of the directorate since 1941 that arrests have been made directly under its Bureau of Investigation. Earlier, help from the police was taken for arrests, they said.

"The tax evasion involved in the two rackets was a staggering Rs 801 crore," directorate of commercial taxes commissioner Khalid Anwar told PTI.