K'tka, only southern state with over 1 lakh Cr in taxes

Karnataka is the only South Indian state whose direct tax collection has topped Rs 1 lakh crore IN 2017-18. It is also among the three states which have accounted for a bulk of direct tax collection, the other two being Maharashtra and Delhi.

While Karnataka contributed a total of Rs 1,01,187.54 crore to the direct tax kitty, the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, where the degree of development is more, was way behind with Rs 63,583.63 crore. This was followed by Andhra Pradesh which collected Rs 42,236.97 crore, the recently released data by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has revealed.

Kerala collected Rs 17,139.32 crore, while the newly formed state Telangana accounted for a collection of Rs 7,035.54 crore.

Poll-bound Rajasthan, the most populous Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were among major states which registered a decline in direct tax collections at a time when the country as a whole registered an 18% increase in direct tax collection in 2017-18.

Uttar Pradesh registered the biggest decline of 20% in direct tax collections followed by Bihar and Rajasthan which showed a fall of 3-4%. These states had registered an increase in tax collections immediately after demonetisation but returned to the old pattern within a year.

While UP collected Rs 29,309 crore in direct taxes in 2016-17, it came down to Rs 23,515 crore in 2017-18. Rajasthan, which collected Rs 20,182 crore in 2016-17, could garner only Rs 19,201 crore in 2017-18.

Rajasthan had registered a 50% increase in direct tax collection post demonetisation.

The pan-India direct tax collection has registered a growth of 10.02% in 2017-18, which is 18% higher than the same collected in the year of demonetisation in 2016-17.