Lucknow, May 2 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials of the state tax department to ensure enhanced transparency and widespread adoption of AI and other advanced technologies to bolster Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Value Added Tax (VAT) collection.

As per a press statement, during a comprehensive review meeting held on Friday, the chief minister declared that "tax evasion is a national loss" and mandated stringent measures, including the increased utilisation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics, to effectively curb this practice.

This directive came as the department reported a total collection of Rs 1.14 lakh crore in GST/VAT for the financial year 2024-25. Setting an ambitious target of Rs 1.75 lakh crore for the current fiscal year 2025-26, the chief minister said the tax collection of Rs 9,986.15 crore in April was satisfactory, but stressed the need for significant improvements in the coming months to achieve the new goal.

In an interaction via video conferencing with additional commissioners, the chief minister reviewed the on-ground situation, emphasising the importance of consistent communication and dialogue with traders. He urged officials to proactively address challenges faced at the field level and ensure timely guidance on return filings and tax procedures. PTI CORR CDN HVA

Tax collection enforcement using AI and data analytics to strengthen GST and VAT compliance and improve return filing guidance. The government directed tax officials to adopt Artificial Intelligence and data analytics to enhance transparency and detect tax evasion in GST and VAT administration. The mandate links technology-driven monitoring and analytics-led risk identification with a strengthened enforcement focus, while requiring proactive engagement with traders and timely guidance on return filings and tax procedures to meet elevated collection targets.