State records ₹14,395 crore in September collections amid consumer push for billing
Bengaluru
Karnataka has emerged as the top-performing state in GST revenue growth during the Dasara festival season, recording a 10 percent rise in September collections. The impressive surge reflects strong consumer participation, driven by greater awareness about demanding bills and benefiting from the recent GST rate rationalisation that reduced prices on several goods.
According to official data, the state collected ₹14,395 crore in September compared to ₹13,080 crore in the same month last year. This includes all components—Central GST, Integrated GST, inter-state tax, and cess. After deductions, Karnataka’s net share stood at ₹7,065 crore. The state’s growth far outpaced the national average of 2 percent, even as India recorded a total GST collection of ₹1.96 lakh crore.
Among the top five states, Karnataka’s performance was unmatched. Maharashtra recorded 3 percent growth with ₹32,025 crore, Gujarat achieved 6 percent growth with ₹12,113 crore, Tamil Nadu posted 4 percent with ₹15,588 crore, and Uttar Pradesh saw a modest 2 percent increase with ₹9,806 crore. Only Telangana matched Karnataka’s growth rate at 10 percent, but with a lower base of ₹5,726 crore, it was not ranked among the top five contributors.
Officials attributed Karnataka’s growth to several factors—an early wave of festive demand following the Centre’s announcement of GST rate cuts, effective monitoring by the Commercial Taxes Department, and improved tax compliance through technology-based enforcement. Consumers increasingly demanding bills for purchases also contributed significantly to higher returns.
The strong collection reinforces Karnataka’s position as one of the country’s most economically progressive states, highlighting both fiscal discipline and robust consumption trends during the festive season.
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10% Rise in Returns Filed Reflects Compliance, Says Commissioner
“The department’s focus on strict enforcement and consumer education has paid off. There was a 10 percent increase in tax returns filed compared to the usual monthly average of seven lakh,” said Commercial Taxes Commissioner Vipul Bansal, adding that consistent compliance efforts boosted the overall collection during the festive month.
