Looking at the rising prices of crackers, the excise and taxation department has decided to marginally hike the lump sum tax being submitted by wholesalers and retailers of fireworks. As per the decision, the wholesalers will now have to pay Rs 31,000 as lump-sum tax apart from the sales tax,while retailers will have to pay Rs 11,000 per stall instead of last years rate of Rs 10,000.

Confirming the same, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Jaskaran Brar said: We have marginally hiked the lump sum taxes. While the wholesalers will be required to deposit the total tax on their sale apart from the lump sum, retailers will have to pay a one-time tax of Rs 11,000 to set up stalls in the designated sites of the district administration.While last year, the department had collected a tax amount totalling Rs 80 lakh from cracker sellers, this year it expects a 20 per cent jump owing to new brands and increase in prices.

Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner Gurtej Singh said: About 20 per cent increase in revenue is our set target and apart from this, we are already keeping an eye on sellers to check evasion. In the festive season, such extra measures are mandatory.
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