The monthly budget is once again under attack. Residents of Noida and Ghaziabad should prepare themselv
es for a hike in prices of basic items such as soaps, detergents, cosmetics and biscuits and other goods such as cement, motor vehicles, electrical goods, etc.
Anxious to meet the its ambitious revenue target, Uttar Pradesh’s commercial tax department is gearing up to increase the rate of special additional tax (SAT) yet again and reintroduce entry tax on natural gas.
Hindustan Times has learnt that the state Cabinet will soon clear a proposal to increase SAT by half a percentage point - from one per cent to 1.5 per cent - in respect of all items on which 12.5 per cent value added tax (VAT) is levied.
The commercial tax department had introduced a half per cent SAT a year ago amidst protests by traders and increased it to one per cent four-five months ago.
The department will also reintroduce entry tax on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). The department expects to generate additional revenues of Rs 700-800 crore from these measures.