Patna: The latest report from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has revealed significant gaps in revenue collection in Bihar, with outstanding dues amounting to Rs 4,844.46 billion, according to findings presented during the 18th day of the budget session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly.
The audit document paints a troubling picture of the state’s fiscal management, noting that the government has struggled to recover substantial sums across multiple tax categories. Sales and trade tax arrears alone total Rs 2,371.9 billion, with Rs 1,289.39 billion of that figure remaining unpaid for more than five years. Meanwhile, taxes on goods and passengers account for a further Rs 2,485.8 million in outstanding dues.
The report breaks down the arrears across various departments. Electricity-related taxes and duties account for Rs 20 lakh in unpaid dues, while goods and services taxes contribute Rs 32.5 million to the deficit. State excise duties represent Rs 543 million of outstanding revenue, and the mining and metallurgical sector owes Rs 1,505.16 million. The audit notes that the Mines and Geology Department has failed to provide details on these dues for more than five years.
Efforts to recover the outstanding sums have included the filing of certificate cases in land revenue, but progress remains unclear. The transport sector also features prominently in the arrears, with Rs 183.39 million in unpaid vehicle taxes. The Transport Department, according to the CAG, has not supplied details of long-standing dues or clarified the status of recovery efforts. Similarly, the land revenue department is reported to have Rs 302.47 million in outstanding payments, with no substantive information provided for half a decade.
The revelations highlight ongoing challenges in fiscal administration and revenue mobilisation in Bihar, raising questions about the effectiveness of existing mechanisms for tax collection and accountability. Officials have yet to respond publicly to the audit’s findings.
