Punjab's GST Collections Surge 24.45% in First Quarter
Punjab Finance, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Cheema announced on Wednesday that the state recorded a 24.45% increase in Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections during the first quarter of the 2026-27 financial year. Gross GST collections rose to Rs 7,833.45 crore in the April-June quarter, compared to Rs 6,294.57 crore in the same period last year, an increase of Rs 1,538.88 crore.
Rs 1,270 Crore in GST Refunds Disbursed
The state government also disbursed Rs 1,270 crore in GST refunds to improve business liquidity, providing relief to taxpayers and supporting economic activity.
SGST Cash Growth Outpaces National Average
Cheema highlighted that Punjab recorded a 9% growth in State GST (SGST) cash collections, significantly higher than the national average of 3%. He attributed the robust performance to sustained economic activity, improved tax compliance, and administrative reforms within the Excise and Taxation Department.
“The growth of over Rs 1,538 crore in GST and Rs 242 crore in VAT/CST collections demonstrates the effectiveness of the state’s revenue mobilisation strategy and the strengthening of Punjab’s fiscal position,” Cheema said.
Zero-Tolerance Policy Against Tax Evasion
Reiterating the government’s zero-tolerance policy against tax evasion, Cheema stated that penalties worth approximately Rs 633 crore were imposed and recovered during the first quarter. This marks a 207% increase over the Rs 207 crore recovered in the same period last year.
In June alone, penalties amounting to Rs 225 crore were imposed, and 20 FIRs were registered against alleged bogus taxpayers involved in fake invoicing and fraudulent registrations.
Property Auctions Recover VAT Arrears
The department also conducted property auctions in June to recover long-pending VAT dues, resulting in the recovery of about Rs 14 crore in arrears, further strengthening the state's revenue base.
