India’s net direct tax collections rise 23% to Rs 8.11 lakh crore

India’s net direct tax collections increased more than 23 per cent year-on-year to Rs 8.11 lakh crore in the current financial year up to August 10, with non-corporate taxes accounting for the largest share of the mop-up, according to provisional government data. Net collections were 23.09 per cent higher than during the corresponding period last year. Gross direct tax receipts, before adjusting for refunds, rose 19.75 per cent to about Rs 9.55 lakh crore.

Non-corporate taxes lead growth

Net non-corporate tax collections, which include personal income tax and levies paid by several other categories of taxpayers, increased to Rs 5.07 lakh crore from Rs 4.11 lakh crore in the same period last year. This represented year-on-year growth of 23.42 per cent and made non-corporate taxes the biggest component of the overall direct tax receipts during the period.

Non-corporate taxpayers include individuals, Hindu Undivided Families, firms, associations of persons, bodies of individuals, local authorities and certain other entities. On a gross basis, non-corporate tax receipts climbed to around Rs 5.41 lakh crore from about Rs 4.43 lakh crore a year ago.

Corporate tax mop-up strengthens

Corporate tax receipts also registered a strong increase. Net corporate tax collections reached about Rs 2.70 lakh crore, compared with Rs 2.26 lakh crore during the corresponding period of the previous financial year. The increase translated into year-on-year growth of 19.83 per cent. Before refunds, corporate tax collections stood at about Rs 3.80 lakh crore, up from Rs 3.32 lakh crore in the year-ago period.

STT collections jump over 51%

Collections from the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) recorded an even sharper increase during the period. Net STT receipts surged 51.30 per cent to Rs 33,823.74 crore, against Rs 22,354.31 crore collected during the comparable period last year. STT is levied on specified transactions involving securities, including purchases and sales of shares through recognised stock exchanges.

Gross collections near Rs 9.55 lakh crore

The government’s total direct tax receipts before refunds stood at approximately Rs 9.55 lakh crore as of August 10, compared with Rs 7.97 lakh crore at the same point last year. This marked an increase of around Rs 1.57 lakh crore and year-on-year growth of 19.75 per cent. Direct taxes broadly comprise corporate income tax, non-corporate taxes including personal income tax, STT and other direct levies.

Refunds rise to Rs 1.43 lakh crore

Meanwhile, tax refunds issued between April 1 and August 10 amounted to about Rs 1.43 lakh crore, compared with Rs 1.38 lakh crore during the corresponding period last year. Refunds consequently increased 3.79 per cent year-on-year, considerably slower than the growth in gross collections. After accounting for these refunds, the government’s net direct tax revenue stood at Rs 8.11 lakh crore. The latest numbers indicate a strong start to direct tax mobilisation in 2026-27, supported by higher receipts from both corporate and non-corporate taxpayers as well as a sharp rise in securities transaction tax collections.