Lucknow, March 3: The Yogi government has set new records in revenue collection over the past nine years. In this sequence, the State Tax Department achieved a remarkable achievement by collecting ₹9,731 crore in revenue in February. This is ₹352 crore more than last year. In the current financial year, a total revenue of ₹1,03,779 crore has been collected, which is ₹402 crore more than the same period last year. The Yogi government’s rationalization of GST rates, simplification of the tax system, and technology-based transparency have led to increased revenue.
The State Tax Department focused on rate rationalization and process simplification under GST 2.0. Compliance has been simplified for taxpayers by strengthening e-invoices, e-way bills, and online return filing systems. This has curbed tax evasion and encouraged voluntary tax payment. Trader dialogue programs were organized in all 75 districts of the state, attended by over 10,000 traders. These programs covered topics such as GST reforms, return filing, e-invoices, and e-way bills. Meetings were also held at the headquarters level with GST stakeholders and various trade organizations. Additionally, coordination meetings between officials and trade representatives at the zone level ensured prompt resolution of issues.
The State Tax Department implemented an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based return scrutiny system. Transaction data of over ₹48,000 crore from 1.59 lakh taxpayers was analyzed. This data was made available on officials’ logins, enabling the identification of suspicious cases and prompt action. The process of compliance and review of judicial orders has also been initiated digitally on a pilot basis. This has increased transparency and reduced the possibility of human intervention.
A massive campaign was launched against bogus firms to prevent revenue loss. The department detected fraudulent input tax credit (ITC) irregularities worth ₹2,166 crore. A total of 345 FIRs were registered in this case, including 228 central and 117 state-level actions. Furthermore, 86 accused were arrested and ITC worth ₹137 crore was blocked. Due to the activeness of the Enforcement and Special Investigation Units, an amount of more than ₹1,642 crore has been deposited so far.
A state government spokesperson stated that the State Tax Department has also made significant progress in recovering outstanding dues. ₹2,406 crore was recovered under GST and ₹711 crore under VAT. The total collection reached ₹3,117 crore, an increase of ₹1,939 crore compared to the previous year. High-level meetings were also held with taxpayers involved in the brick kiln industry. In January 2026, revenue from this sector reached ₹47.62 crore, more than double the December revenue. The State Tax Department also conducted skill-enhancement programs for officials. In 2025-26, 55 sessions were held on various topics such as adjudication, tax audits, and enforcement, training 1,424 officials. The Yogi government’s focus on transparency, technological innovation, strict enforcement, and dialogue-based policy has led to significant results for the State Tax Department.