Professional tax enrollment drive launched in Manipur

Imphal: Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh launched a month-long state-wide Professional Tax enrolment drive at his secretariat on Wednesday.

The enrollment drive will cover all kinds of professions, established trades and employment of all individuals who earn a living through any medium.

The Professional Tax is derived from Article 276 of the Constitution of India which empowers the state government to levy professional tax on professions, trades, callings and employment with a maximum cap of Rs. 2500 annually.

During the programme, a new application developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC) to facilitate on-line enrolment was also rolled out. The application can be accessed at https://professionaltax.mn.gov.in/.  The initiative is taken up to improve the ease of doing business and improving tax administration and compliance.

Chief secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar, commissioner of Taxes Mercina R. Panmei and officials of the Taxation department attended the programme among others.

The launching programme was also attended by officials of District Administration of different districts, Autonomous District Councils, Urban Local Bodies and other concerned officials among others through video conferencing.

Biren appreciated the officials for their coordination and hard work towards smooth running of the government. It was through the joint efforts of the officials that the State had been able to overcome the Covid-I9 pandemic.

He said diplomats from different foreign countries had shown their interest to visit the Ssate. It is a sign of development, he added. He also stressed the need for mobilization funds and resources for the state’s further development. He said Manipur, being a state with less resources and less revenue generation, had been facing lots of difficulties in carrying out certain development works.

Biren informed that the state takes assistance from the central government for infrastructure development works. However, the state has not been able to provide its share for funding the same due to less revenue generation. As such, the state needs to enhance its revenue generations, he added.

Informing that the amount of revenue generated from professional tax is around Rs. 30 crores annually, the chief minister appealed to the deputy commissioners to constitute dedicated teams to assist and facilitate the enrolment drive. Such efforts could increase the revenue generation from the professional tax to double the amount generated earlier, he said.

He appealed to the officials to put joint efforts to make the enrollment drive a success and achieve the target.