Patna: The commercial taxes department collected 8.14 per cent higher revenue in the financial year 2017-18 over the previous fiscal.

A total of Rs 20,277 crore in taxes was collected by the department in 2017-18. For the current fiscal (2018-19), a target of Rs 27,000 crore has been set, which is 35 per cent more than what had been collected in 2017-18. The numbers came to the fore during a review meeting of the commercial taxes department chaired by deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Wednesday. Senior officials of the department took part in the meeting, which lasted more than two hours. A sum of Rs 5,548 crore was collected as taxes levied on petroleum products and Rs 237 crore came from electricity duty.

A sum of Rs 3,041 crore came as GST compensation from the Centre. After the GST regime began in July last year, the Centre committed it would ensure that revenue collection in states grew by at least 14 per cent every year; in case, it did not happen, the Centre would compensate the states for five years.

During the meeting, it was also decided that a team from the commercial taxes department would be sent to two or three states to study the implementation of GST there. Also, it was decided that a meeting of traders from across the state would be convened this month for their feedback on problems they might be facing in complying with GST norms.

Modi directed officials to resolve all issues that are raised at the meeting.