GST brought in an average Rs 975.4 billion ($14.2 billion) a month in revenue, government data reported in the three months to June shows, compared with a target of nearly Rs 1.1 trillion.
One year after India introduced the goods and services tax (GST), the results have been mixed.
Hailed as one of the biggest reforms by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the goods-and-services levy has helped increase tax collections in a country where compliance is historically low.
While monthly receipts have picked up after a chaotic rollout, they are still not strong enough to meet the government’s annual tax target. GST brought in an average Rs 975.4 billion ($14.2 billion) a month in revenue, government data reported in the three months to June show, compared with a target of nearly Rs 1.1 trillion.
The government needs the revenue to keep its budget deficit in check as Modi prepares to ramp up spending on welfare programs from health to farming before general elections next year. The government has already widened its deficit goal for the current fiscal year to 3.3% of gross domestic product from 3%, putting pressure on bond yields.
The budget gap may reach 3.5% of GDP this year as GST revenue trails, Suvodeep Rakshit and Upasna Bhardwaj, analysts at Mumbai-based Kotak Mahindra Bank, said in a note on Monday.
But there may be signs of improvement. Nomura Holdings Inc. analysts say the introduction of electronic bills for transporting goods between states has led to a rise in GST collections, giving them confidence that the budget targets will be met. Finance minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday tax collections are expected to pick up during the rest of the year and the government will likely raise Rs 13 billion from GST.
Tax-to-GDP ratio touched its highest level of 11.6% last fiscal year, according to a report by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Pvt., a Mumbai-based business information company. This is seen rising further to 12.1% this year.
“Collections are definitely improving,” said Pratik Jain, partner and national leader for indirect tax at PwC India. “That said, it is still lower than the budget for 2018-19.”