Mumbai: Maharashtra's Sales Tax Department is reeling under acute staff shortage, resulting in slow pace of tax receipts, state Finance Minister Jayant Patil has been informed.

Patil attended a review meeting of the department at Vikrikar Bhawan at Mazgaon yesterday where he was informed by senior officials that over 40 per cent posts in the department were vacant, hampering tax collection targets, sources said.

"Last year, the department collected Rs 31,000 crore towards sales tax and VAT, and this year, the target is of 10 per cent increase over the last year," a source said. However, the acute staff shortage is hampering the work. Of the 10,500 sanctioned staff strength, there are only around 6,000 employees, they said.

Around 175 senior posts of Deputy Commissioners are also vacant, making it difficult to meet tax receipt targets, they said. As part of the drive against those failing to file returns, the department had filed cases against 200 people, of which 24 have been convicted and sentenced to a day's imprisonment, a senior department official said. When contacted, sales tax Commissioner Sanjay Bhatia said he was busy in a meeting.
Source : PTI