Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday said the state recorded a 22.11% year-on-year growth in net GST collection during September 2026.
According to the figures released by the Finance Department, Punjab’s net GST collection increased from ₹1,973.12 crore in September 2025 to ₹2,409.47 crore in September 2026, registering an increase of ₹436.35 crore.
Cheema said the state’s SGST cash collection rose from ₹738.05 crore to ₹877.82 crore, recording 19% growth, which he described as the highest in the country. The state’s cumulative gross GST collection up to September 2026 stood at ₹15,405.12 crore, compared with ₹13,112.27 crore during the corresponding period last year, marking a growth of 17.39%.
VAT, CST Collections Also Rise
The minister said VAT and CST collections during September increased by 28.70%, rising from ₹577.11 crore in September 2025 to ₹742.75 crore in September 2026.
Cumulatively, VAT and CST collections reached ₹4,558.48 crore, compared with ₹3,982.43 crore during the corresponding period last year. This represents a growth of 14.46%, with an increase of ₹576.05 crore.
Cheema said Punjab’s GST revenue grew by 16% during September, compared with 14% growth at the national level. He added that Punjab’s SGST cash collection grew by 19%, against 8% growth recorded at the national level.
₹142 Crore Penalties Imposed
The Finance Minister said the Excise and Taxation Department also intensified intelligence-based enforcement and anti-evasion operations during the month. Penalties amounting to approximately ₹142 crore were imposed in September.
The enforcement drive focused on cases involving fraudulent Input Tax Credit (ITC), bogus billing, undocumented movement of goods and high-risk industrial and commercial corridors.
Cheema said proceedings against M/s Jagat Metals Pvt. Ltd., Mandi Gobindgarh, detected suspected wrongful availment of ITC amounting to approximately ₹22.53 crore. Following the proceedings, the taxpayer deposited ₹9.50 crore as SGST in cash.
In another statewide road-checking operation, officials detained 332 vehicles carrying mainly iron scrap and iron and steel goods worth more than ₹10 crore. Proceedings related to these vehicles have so far resulted in the recovery of ₹5.07 crore in penalties.
Cheema said proceedings against nearly half of the detained vehicles were still pending and the penalty recovery could potentially double as the remaining cases are processed.
The minister said the state government would continue to focus on tax compliance through technology-driven analytics, intelligence inputs and coordinated field enforcement.
He added that the department would maintain close scrutiny of fraudulent ITC chains, bogus billing networks and movement of goods without prescribed documents, with action taken according to law.
