The State collected a total of Rs40.19 crore as VAT and Entry Tax in 2013-14 from all 17 border check-gates working under the Commercial Tax Department, informed Finance Minister Pradip Kumar Amat on Monday in the State Assembly. The tax amounts collected from these gates stood at Rs 47.71 crore in 2011-12 and Rs 46.28 crore in 2012-13, Amat said while replying to a question put by member Sanjib Kumar Sahoo.
Amat said while highest amount of Rs 14.08 crore was collected from luharchati check gate, the lowest amount of Rs 7.30 lakh was collected from a border gate located at Chitrakonda during the year. The other check gates are located at Ramshola Ghat, laxmannath, Girishola, Champua, Nalada, Badadalima, Gobindpur, Biramitrapur, Riverjonk, Birahandi, Sunki, Batua, Dandasara, Kerada and Chikiti.
Informing that the main objective of the check gates is not to collect tax but to check tax evasion, Amat said VAT is collected from unregistered and temporary businessmen and Entry Tax from goods coming into the State. Tax evaders are punished as per VAT Act, he said, adding that all check gates have been computerized in the State.