Hike in oil prices, GST likely to boost revenue of states by Rs 37,400 crore in FY 19

Rising oil prices and better tax collection under GST are likely to help states gain an additional Rs 37,426 crore in revenue in the current fiscal. According to a report by SBI Research, as many as 16 of the 24 states have seen their revenue increasing over and above the 14 per cent baseline - a mutually accepted minimum tax growth rate between the Centre and the states post-GST rollout below which the states have to be compensated.

"We have found that on an aggregate lever, the states have gained by Rs 18,698 crore in additional revenue in FY18. If we combine this figure with the gains that the states have made due to increase in crude prices, the overall figure will be Rs 37,426 crore," the report said.

The amount will be sufficient to neutralize the Rs 34,627 crore of revenue forgone if the states impose VAT only on base the price of crude. The new taxation system was rolled out last year in July. Post-GST implementation, the tax revenue of the states has gone due to increased tax compliance and broader tax base.

While Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Punjab have gained the maximum from GST, Karnataka, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Assam have reported a decline in tax collection post-GST.

These states were impacted due to the changes in the nature of taxation as GST subsumed indirect taxes such as service tax, VAT, excise duty, entry tax, entertainment tax into one, including the taxes under the Centre and the states which contribute to an aggregate of over 55 per cent of tax revenue of these states.

"We expect that while there is a need to optimise tax revenue, for funding social security programmes, there is also a need to insulate consumers from adverse price shocks," the report said.

(With inputs from PTI)