Karnataka ranks first in GP tax collection: Priyank Kharge

Kalaburagi: Rural development & panchayat raj and IT, BT minister Priyank Kharge said that Karnataka has emerged as the best-performing state in tax collection of 5,943 gram panchayats of the state by collecting more tax and consolidating more revenue this year than last year.Speaking to TOI, Priyank said that the state achieved the best performance in tax collection and revenue consolidation last year. The minister said he was proud to see the state ranked first at the national level and shared that the progress in tax collection reflects efficient administration, strict enforcement of regulations and improved tax collection system.Gram panchayats collected Rs 1,272.5 crore tax for the first time in the history of the department in the financial year 2024-25. 80% of the current demand was recorded by tax collection. Rs 1,382.5 crore was collection in the year 2025-26. Rs 110 crore in excess tax was collected when compared to last year. A record 89% of the current year's demand was collected, said minister Priyank Kharge.A record tax collection has been made in gram panchayats through extensive publicity programmes on tax collection and continuous efforts through tax collection campaigns. The minister congratulated the team of employees and officials and said that this result was possible with the hard work of all the officers starting from the GP bill collectors.Minister Priyank Kharge said: "Since our govt came to power, there has been an upswing in fund collection for the last three years. Every rupee collected is being reinvested for public works, better services and local development in villages. This is the beginning of the all-round progress of rural areas."Priyank said that 11 districts of the state have taken the lead in tax collection by collecting more than 100%.