ISLAMABAD, Nov 30: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has collected Rs292.4 billion during the first five months (July-Nov) of the fiscal year 2006-07 as against the target of Rs292.1 billion set for the same period, indicating an increase of only 0.1 per cent.

Provisional figures released here on Thursday by the CBR showed that almost all the three leading federal taxes—general sales tax, customs duty and federal excise duty collection remained short of their targets during the period under review.However, the income tax collection has surpassed the target due to maximum collection of revenue with returns and advance tax taken from the major taxpayers.

The overall tax collection during the July-Nov period of the current fiscal year registered an increase of 17.5 per cent in comparison with the last year’s collection of Rs248.8 billion.The tax-wise break up showed that the revenue on account of direct taxes has shown an increase of 17.25 per cent over the target by collecting Rs96.5 billion during the July-Nov period of the current fiscal year against Rs82.3 billion target set for the same period this year.

The sales tax collection reached Rs123.7 billion during the period under review as against the target of Rs128.8 billion, indicating a decline of 3.95 per cent.

The tax receipt on account of excise duty has recorded a decline of 4.8 per cent as the collection has reached Rs23.7 billion during the July-Nov period of the current fiscal as against Rs24.9 billion target set for the same period this year.