The government has mopped up direct tax arrears worth Rs 1,240 crore (Rs 12.4 billion) during the first quarter of the current fiscal. It is a nearly 13 per cent jump compared with Rs 1,100 crore (Rs 11 billion) collected during April-June last year.

According to finance ministry data, Rs 180 crore (Rs 1.8 billion) is from income tax arrears and Rs 1,060 crore (Rs 10.6 billion) from corporation tax arrears.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram has set a Rs 10,000-crore (Rs 100 billion) target for direct tax arrear collection for the current financial year. While fixing the target, all arrears demands, including demands, which have not fallen due, have also been included.

The total direct taxes arrears demand had increased to Rs 98,606 crore (Rs 986.06 billion) on April 1, 2005 compared with Rs 93,901 crore (Rs 939.01 billion) a year earlier. Of this, 85 per cent is the net collectible demand, while 25 per cent demand has not fallen due so far.

Actual arrear collection from each region last year has also been considered while fixing the target. The target for each region has been fixed to ensure that it is not less than 100 per cent or more than 200 per cent of the actual collection last year.

The strategy for arrear recovery for the current fiscal includes identification of high-demand cases pending before commissioners (appeals), identification of worthwhile cases where recovery of arrears can be made during the course of the year, and surveys and secret enquiries done by investigation wings to aid the recovery process.

The CBDT has also been asked to monitor the progress of the high-demand cases before the income tax appellate tribunal and ensure that department representatives do not seek adjournment in such cases without the prior approval of the respective chief commissioners.

Good yield

• Direct tax arrears mop-up at Rs 1,240 crore in Q1 '05
• Rs 180 crore from income tax arrears
• Rs 1,060 crore from corporation tax arrears
• Rs 10,000-crore target for direct tax arrear collection in 2005-06
• Total direct taxes arrears demand increased to Rs 98,606 crore on April 1
• Of this, 85 per cent is the net collectible demand, 25 per cent demand has not fallen due so far