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The collection of indirect taxes during the month of October, 2004 shown a buoyancy of over 20%. The collection from Customs, Excise and Service Tax during the month of October, 2004 was Rs. 14,747.24 crores as compared to Rs. 12,992.44 crores during October, 2003. The Customs duty realised during the month of October, 2004 stood at Rs. 5,525.69 crores as compared to Rs.4,625.04 crores during October, 2003 showing an increase of 19.47%. The Excise duty realisation during October, 2004 was Rs.8,191.22 crores as compared to Rs. 7,476.51 crores during October, 2003 showing an increase of 9.56%. The Service Tax collection during October, 2004 was Rs.1030.33 crores as compared to Rs.890.89 crores during October, 2003 showing an increase of 15.65%.
The total revenue collection from indirect taxes during the first 7 months of the financial year 2004-2005 is Rs. 89,379.54 crores as compared to Rs. 79,384.03 crores during the corresponding period of the preceding financial year. The collection of indirect taxes during the first seven months is Rs. 9995.51 crores more than the corresponding period of preceding year which in percentage terms works out to 12.59%. The collection of Customs duty from April to October, 2004 is Rs. 30,742.60 crores as compared to Rs. 27,793.00 crores during the corresponding period of financial year 2003-2004 showing an increase of 10.61%. The collection of excise duty during the same period stood at Rs. 52,685.36 crores against Rs. 47,885.66 crores during the corresponding period of preceding year showing an increase of 10.02%. The collection from Service Tax during the first seven months has increased by 60.62% as compared to the preceding financial year.
During the month of October, 2004 Central Excise Department throughout the country organized special camps for on-the-spot registration of the service providers. The declarations made by the service providers have been accepted and on the spot registrations were issued. More than 81,000 service providers obtained registrations in these camps. On great demand by the chambers of Commerce and Industry and Trade Associations, the facility for on the spot registration camps without penalty and acceptance of self-declarations without any inquiry has been extended upto 30th November, 2004. At the same time, anti-evasion activities against the unscrupulous service providers have also been strengthened. Two major cases involving evasion of Service Tax of Rs. 11.17 crores have been booked against Mumbai based security provider and a courier company. A case of evasion of Service Tax of Rs. 3.00 crores has been detected against the Sales Agents who are getting commission from banks for assisting in car loans and no Service Tax is paid by banks on such commission. Cases of evasion of Service Tax of Rs.3.20 Crores have been detected against some Mumbai based brokers for sale of RBI Bonds and Mutual Funds.
The anti evasion activities of the Customs and Central Excise Department have also been strengthened with intention of augment the revenue realisation. The Department issued notices demanding duty of Rs. 1300 crores to unscrupulous manufacturers who were evading central excise duty. The major commodities which have been found to be evasion prone are automobile components and parts, iron and steel products, pan masala, gutkha, chewing tobacco, polyester yarn and bulk drugs.
During the first seven months of this financial year, Customs duty amounting to Rs. 161.64 crores has been realised from the unscrupulous importers and show cause notices demanding duty of Rs. 716.80 crores have been issued. On the anti-smuggling front, the Customs officers from April to October, 2004 seized goods valued at Rs. 577.06 crores. The main items seized are machinery and equipments, petroleum products, electronic goods, cigarettes, Red sanders wood, sea horses and consumer goods. In first seven months, 225 persons were arrested under the Customs Act and 58 persons have been detained under COFEPOSA.
In order to combat the menace of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, during October, 2004 departmental officers seized 4.98 kgs. of heroin, 3329 kgs. of ganja, 310 kgs. of cannabis, 8.5 kgs. of opium and 49 kgs. of hashish. The value of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances seized during October, 2004 is approximately Rs. 2 crores. The total value of nartoic drugs seized during first seven months of this financial year is approximately Rs. 48 crores. In order to preserve the foreign exchange reserves of the country, officers also seized foreign currency of Rs. 66.5 lakhs.
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