New Delhi: The government expects service tax collection to touch Rs14,150 crore in the current fiscal against Rs7,888 crore during 2003-04. Talking to press persons, finance minister P Chidambaram said: “This is an increase of 80 per cent and we are doing reasonably well. I am confident of achieving the target.”

The direct tax collection till September 17, has also shown an increase of 48 per cent, touching Rs38,364 crore in comparison to Rs25,982 crore during the corresponding period last year.

Chidambaram said that income tax collections went up by 69 per cent at Rs 21,158 crore during April-September 17, while it was Rs 12,534 crore in the same period last fiscal.

The finance minister added that the corporate tax collection was up by 33 per cent during the same period, at Rs17,206 crore, compared to Rs13,448 crore.

There were 4,31,965 service providers as of August 31, he said, adding that 28,109 service providers have been added between April 2004 and July 31, 2004.

“This is a very small number and we need to vastly expand the number of assessees, Chidambaram said. The government will launch a campaign to increase service tax collection,” he added.