Ahmedabad has topped the chart when it comes collection and evasion of Value Added Tax. Of the 995 cases of VAT evasion reported, the city topped the chart with 228 cases.

The government in a reply to Borsad MLA Amitkumar Chavda's question said that of the nearly Rs 25,500 crore VAT collection in the financial year 2010-11, Ahmedabad recorded the maximum collection of 41 percent which was to the tune of Rs 10,613.16 crore.

In the first quarter of financial year 2011-12, the collection totaled Rs 3,198.58 crore. Officials said that the cities of Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot and Valsad put together account for about 70 per cent of the collection in the state. The five districts cumulatively account for over Rs 17,500 crore in collection as against the total collection of Rs 25,490 crore.

Also, in the first quarter, the government has collected Rs 7,712.45 crore, while in the same period 327 cases of VAT evasion have been reported. According to officials, at least 424 industries in the state have VAT and sales tax dues, which are over Rs 1 crore. The government has admitted that 424 industries have not paid VAT and sales tax worth Rs 11,671.45 crore. The government replied to Rapar MLA Babubhai Shah saying that there are 118 units which have VAT dues of over Rs 5 crore. In the year 2008-09, the number was 31, while 25 new units were added to the list in 2009-10. In the year 2010-11, the number of fresh units having VAT dues over Rs 5 crore was 62.

As per government figures, in the last three years, only Rs 45.2 crore have been deposited in the state exchequer. In the financial year 2008-09, only Rs 4.20 crore was recovered, while in 2009-10 the figure was Rs 7.03 crore. In the year 2010-11, Rs 33.97 crore was recovered.