The Centre collected 20.2 per cent more revenue from taxes at Rs 3,65,274 crore (Rs 3652.74 billion) during 2005-06 against Rs 3,03,888 crore (Rs 3038.88 billion) in the previous fiscal.

The growth in tax collections during the fiscal ended March 31, 2006, was a tad lower than 20.3 per cent achieved during 2004-05, official sources said.

While direct tax mop up was up 23.6 per cent at Rs 1,63,787 crore (Rs 1637.87 billion), government got 16 per cent more revenue from indirect taxes at Rs 2,01,162 crore (Rs 2011.62 billion).

Corporation tax fetched the exchequer Rs 99,047 crore (Rs 990.47 billion) last fiscal, up 19.8 per cent over Rs 82,680 crore (Rs 826.80 billion) during 2004-05.

Income tax collections grew 29.8 per cent at Rs 64,740 crore (Rs 647.40 billion) against Rs 49,858 crore (Rs 498.58 billion) despite increase in exemptions limit to Rs 1 lakh and tax benefits for savings instruments up to Rs 1 lakh, the sources said.

Within income tax, the controversial fringe benefit tax stood at Rs 4,570 crore (Rs 45.70 billion) and banking cash transaction tax yielded Rs 310 crore (Rs 3.10 billion). These two taxes were introduced for the first time in 2005-06. Security cash transaction tax collections stood at Rs 2,513 crore (Rs 25.13 billion).

The government mopped up Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion) from STT last year, but the figure is not comparable since the tax was first imposed only in October, 2004. All these taxes formed part of Income Tax.

Excise duty collections rose by 12.7 per cent at Rs 1,11,957 crore (Rs 1119.57 billion) against Rs 99,352 crore (Rs 993.52 billion).

Government got Rs 65,248 crore (Rs 652.48 billion) from customs duty, up 13.3 per cent over Rs 57,566 crore (Rs 575.66 billion) during 2004-05.

The booming service industry led the government to collect 68.8 per cent more revenue through service tax at Rs 23,975 crore (Rs 239.75 billion) against Rs 14,199 crore (Rs 141.99 billion).

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