Chandigarh, August 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab has recorded a 20 per cent growth in Gross GST revenue during the first four months of the financial year 2026-27, with collections reaching ₹10,447.9 crore compared to ₹8,708.48 crore during the corresponding period last year, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said on Saturday.
Cheema said the increase was driven by improved tax compliance, technology-based administration, intelligence-led enforcement and action against fraudulent billing networks.
Sharing the monthly performance figures, the Finance Minister said Punjab collected ₹2,614.45 crore in Gross GST revenue in July 2026, registering an increase of ₹200.54 crore or 8.31 per cent compared to ₹2,413.91 crore collected in July 2025.
He highlighted that SGST cash collection recorded a significant rise of 16.23 per cent during July, increasing from ₹815.84 crore in July 2025 to ₹948.29 crore in July 2026. Cheema said the growth was among the highest in the country and reflected improved voluntary compliance and actual tax payments by businesses operating in the state.
The Finance Minister said the Punjab Government has also focused on facilitating genuine taxpayers by ensuring timely processing of GST refunds. During July, refunds exceeding ₹200 crore were sanctioned to improve liquidity and support ease of doing business.
At the same time, the Excise and Taxation Department intensified action against tax evasion and fraudulent practices. Cheema said enforcement measures during July resulted in penalties exceeding ₹200 crore, with officials using data analytics and risk profiling to identify tax evasion cases and fake Input Tax Credit networks.
He said an FIR was registered in Jalandhar in connection with a bogus billing case involving transactions of around ₹55.35 crore, leading to the arrest of the main accused under provisions of the Punjab GST Act.
The Minister further said the department had launched a verification drive against fraudulent GST registrations obtained by misusing provisions of Rule 14A. More than 100 GST registrations were cancelled following field verification and investigations to prevent misuse of the registration system and fraudulent ITC claims.
Cheema added that the department had recovered ₹12.39 crore during the current financial year through attachment and auction of properties belonging to chronic VAT defaulters.
Reiterating the government’s approach, Cheema said Punjab would continue to support compliant taxpayers through transparent administration while maintaining a strict policy against tax fraud, fake billing and misuse of GST provisions.
He said the department would further strengthen compliance through digital governance, advanced analytics and targeted enforcement to improve revenue mobilisation while ensuring accountability and ease of doing business in Punjab.
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