Amaravati, July 1 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh recorded 16 per cent year-on-year growth in commercial tax collections in June 2026 while net GST grew 21 per cent.

Chief Commissioner of State Tax said that the State continued the strong performance seen in April and May 2026, rounding off an excellent first quarter of financial year 2026-27.

Cumulatively, total collections for the first quarter (up to June 2026) rose to Rs 15,323 crore from Rs 12,480 crore a year earlier — a 22.78 per cent growth — led by net GST, which grew 25.07 per cent (from Rs 7,978 crore to Rs 9,978 crore), alongside a 21.28 per cent rise in VAT on petroleum products.

In June 2026, total collections across all tax heads reached Rs 4,830 crore, up 15.93% from Rs 4,166 crore in June 2025.

Cumulatively through June 2026, total collections across all sectors reached Rs 15,323 crore, up 22.78% from Rs 12,480 crore in the same period last year.

Building on the 6 per cent cumulative growth achieved in FY 2025-26, the Commercial Taxes Department has maintained its trajectory of disciplined revenue mobilisation. Net GST collections for June 2026 rose 21.35 per cent year-on-year, from Rs 2,591 crore in June 2025 to Rs 3,144 crore. Net GST accrues to the State and reflects consumption within it.

The department said in a release that the increase is driven by improved tax compliance, stronger enforcement, enhanced revenue monitoring and broader economic activity. This growth was achieved against a challenging backdrop of the GST 2.0 rate rationalisation reforms, which simplify the tax structure and ease compliance costs for businesses.

According to A. Babu, Chief Commissioner of State Tax, June 2026 growth was led by Net GST and by select services (real estate, construction) and goods (electrical machinery and equipment, bullion and jewellery), while goods GST was pulled down by rate cuts on vehicles, cement and metals.

“Through intelligent enforcement, technology integration and proactive compliance, Andhra Pradesh continues to set a benchmark for modern tax administration and is well-positioned for sustained and accelerated revenue growth in FY 2026-27, underpinning the State’s developmental ambitions,” he said.

Andhra Pradesh’s 21% growth exceeds the national average of 9% (excluding imports) and leads the southern states — ahead of Karnataka (11%), Telangana (11%), Tamil Nadu (11%) and Kerala (8%), with Odisha at 8%.

New initiatives introduced during the year — AI-based data analytics, AI-powered scrutiny, AI-based IGST reversals, UPI-based analytics enforcement, DISCOM-linked registration verification and Aadhaar-integrated expansion of Profession Tax — generated significant incremental revenue, strengthening June 2026 collections.

According to the department, June collections have grown year-on-year consistently since GST was introduced in 2017. Despite policy-driven rate reductions, the State has sustained this upward trajectory, reflecting strong administrative capacity and improving taxpayer compliance.

–IANS

ms/uk