Indirect tax collections have grown by 16.1 per cent to Rs 2,85,787 crore during the April-December period largely accounted for by a robust growth in service tax.

In December, the indirect tax mop up was up 15.9 per cent at Rs 34,819 crore as against Rs 30,054 crore during the same period last year. The indirect taxes Central Excise, Customs duty and service tax mop-up stood at Rs 2,46,168 crore during the April-December period in 2010-11.

We hope we will be able to meet the Budget Estimates of Rs 3,92,908 crore this fiscal, S K Goel, chairman, Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), said while releasing the figures. The total collection in the nine months is 72.7 per cent of the Budget Estimates for 2011-12.

The collection in December reflects the improvement in the core sector industries, which grew by 6.8 per cent in November.

In addition, collection from excise duty was up 9.7 per cent at Rs 12,546 crore in December. Excise collection was down 6.5 per cent in November. Customs collection was up 4.1 per cent at Rs 12,608 crore in December as against Rs 12,109 crore during the same period in the last fiscal. Both excise and customs collections have increased despite the Rs 36,000 crore revenue foregone on account of duty and excise cuts on petroleum products in June.

Goel said that growth in service tax collection was up 48.6 per cent in December to Rs 9,665 crore from the year ago period.