The countrys tax department is on a roll with indirect tax collections rising by 22.5% in the first seven months of this fiscal. Custom duty collections have seen a 32.7% rise from last financial year to Rs 49,216 crore this year.

Excise tax collections have also increased by 5.8% to Rs 60, 401 crore. These have amounted to a 16.4% jump till October and the Centres kitty has swollen to Rs 1,09,617 crore.

Meanwhile service tax collections till September this year have risen by a massive 65% to Rs 15,971 crore, against 64.4% increase in the corresponding period last fiscal. This means to reach the budget targets for this year, indirect taxes need to grow at 8.5% during the remaining months of the year.

The Central Board of Excise and Customs is optimistic of overshooting the budget targets. Tax collectionsboth direct and indirecthave seen a phenomenal rise this fiscal due to greater tax compliance by the people as well as a good GDP rate of about 8.7%.