FM refuses to commit on tax moderation

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New Delhi, January 1:: Finance Minister P Chidambaram parried questions on moderating taxes in the next budget even as direct tax collections this fiscal are set to cross Rs 300,000 crore, a 12 per cent jump over budget estimates.

"Let me recall what I said. If voluntary compliance (in taxes) increases there is a case for moderation. That does not mean the case has been accepted. You make a case for moderation instead of writing imaginary stories," Chidambaram told a press conference.

He was replying to a question on his earlier statement that there was a case for moderation of taxes if voluntary compliance raised tax collection. During April-December period, direct tax collections after paying refunds crossed Rs 2,05,000 crore. registering a growth of 42.36 per cent.

For the first time, direct tax collections would surpass indirect tax collections, Chidambaram said.

Corporate tax collections grew 39.84 per cent to Rs 1,27,683 crore, while personal income tax, including security transaction tax, fringe benefit tax and banking cash transaction tax, grew by 50.06 per cent to Rs 77,380 crore.