Kolkata, July 30 -- West Bengal's Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection rose 12 per cent in the first quarter (April-June) of 2026-27 compared with the corresponding period last fiscal.
The state collected Rs 12,905 crore during the quarter, an increase of Rs 1,373 crore over the same period of 2025-26. "Our emphasis on data analytics has contributed to higher GST collections through targeted enforcement, real-time invoice matching and rapid fraud detection. Tools such as artificial intelligence and big data platforms have helped tax authorities detect massive Input Tax Credit (ITC) discrepancies while expanding the formal taxpayer base," a senior state Finance Department official said.
GST collections had come under pressure after the GST Council rationalised rates from 18 per cent to 5 per cent in September 2025, reducing taxes on white goods, FMCG products and small cars. The state's inter-state GST (IGST) performance remained strong. Outbound IGST-levied on goods and services consumed in other states-grew 17 per cent in 2025-26. However, in the first quarter of 2026-27, outbound IGST recorded a marginal de-growth of 0.2 per cent, while inbound IGST rose 4 per cent. Officials attributed the marginal decline in outbound IGST to the detection and elimination of fake IGST transactions.
According to a tax expert, the 0.2 per cent de-growth actually reflects an effective gain of more than 17 per cent in IGST collections after accounting for fraudulent claims. The state's annual GST collection in 2025-26 stood at Rs 47,201 crore, up from Rs 45,224 crore in 2024-25.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.