New Delhi: VAT-implementing States have recorded a 23.41 per cent increase in tax revenues in April-January 2007 to Rs109,095 crore compared with the collection level of Rs88,403 crore during the same period of the previous year.

This shows a slight decline to the recorded growth rates of 24-25 per cent so far during this fiscal. Official sources attributed the slight slowdown in the growth rates in collection to the inclusion of Tamil Nadu under the VAT-implementing States category from January 1. Tamil Nadu (with growth rates of about 18 per cent) is said to have pulled down the overall growth rate as its growth rate is lower than the national average.

The Finance Ministry expects further moderation in growth rates in February and March, when refund issues crop up.

The tax revenues of some of the major VAT implementing States during April-January 2007 are Andhra Pradesh Rs12,357 crore (Rs9,725 crore); Gujarat Rs9,330 crore (Rs7,030 crore), Delhi Rs5,458 crore (Rs4,682 crore), Rajasthan Rs4,930 crore (Rs4,067 crore), Haryana Rs4,419 crore (Rs3,653 crore), Karnataka Rs8,348 crore (Rs6,566 crore), Maharashtra Rs18,841 crore (Rs15,001 crore), Tamil Nadu Rs13,232 crore (Rs11,138 crore) and Kerala Rs6,714 crore (Rs5,406 crore).

As regards the non-VAT implementing States, the tax revenues of Uttar Pradesh for the period under review stood at Rs10,057 crore (Rs7,972 crore). Tax revenue of Puducherry during April-January 2007 stood at Rs303 crore (Rs250 crore).