Question : TAX COLLECTION

(a) whether the Union Government have lost Rs. 12,000 crore as tax dues due to lesser tax collections;

(b) if so, the main causes of lesser tax collection;

(c) whether 20 percent of total sales revenue is from the foreign companies;

(d) if so, the efforts being made to improve tax collection;

(e) whether large number of tax amount is still due from the filmstars and industrialists;

(f) if so, the total arrears from these tax payers for the last three years, year-wise; and
(g) the action taken against them?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI GINGEE N. RAMACHANDRAN)

(a): No, Sir. The tax collection upto November, 2000 is Rs. 107261 crore, which is 17.57% higher than the collection during the corresponding period of last year.

(b): Does not arise.

(c): Records of the sales tax department are kept assessee-wise and not in terms of the nationality of the company.

(d): In view of reply to (a) above, question does not arise.

(e): The total arrears of income tax demand as on 31.3.2000, was Rs. 52970 crore. This includes arrear demand of film personalities and industrialists.

(f): The arrears in respect of individual film persona- lities are consolidated as dossier cases, where total tax outstanding is Rs. 1 lakh and more. The total tax demands outstanding for such cases were Rs. 1712.74 lakh as on 31.12.98, Rs. 4243.18 lakh as on 31.12.99 and Rs. 6711.64 lakh as on 30.9.2000. Separate details of outstanding demands under the head of arrears due from industrialists alone, are not maintained.

(g): High priority is give to collection/reduction of arrears demand, and appropriate administrative, legal and other measures are taken to recover the same. Request is made to the concerned appellate authorities for early disposal of the cases. Coercive measures are also taken in suitable cases for speedy recovery of demand. In bigger cases, dossiers are maintained , and the recovery position is reviewed regularly.