The GST investigation branch DGGI has detected 6,084 cases of GST evasion worth Rs 2.01 lakh crore in the financial year 2023-24. This amount is double the GST (Goods and Services Tax) evasion of Rs 1.01 lakh crore caught in 4,872 cases during 2022-23. During the investigation, online gaming, BFSI services and metal business have emerged as the sectors most prone to tax evasion. Apart from this, voluntary tax of Rs 26,605 crore was paid in 2023-24, which is more than Rs 20,713 crore in 2022-23.

Big theft in pan masala, tobacco sector too

The report said that during 2023-24, maximum tax evasion of Rs 81,875 crore was found in 78 cases in the online gaming sector. This was followed by the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector where 171 cases of tax evasion of Rs 18,961 crore were detected. The iron, copper, scrap and alloy sectors saw 1,976 cases of GST evasion, involving tax evasion of Rs 16,806 crore. The pan masala, tobacco, cigarette and bidi industry saw 212 cases of tax evasion of Rs 5,794 crore.

This is how tax evasion was done

According to the annual report of the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), about 46 per cent of tax evasion cases are related to non-payment of tax (through secret supplies and under-assessment). Apart from this, 20 per cent cases are related to fake input tax credit (ITC), and 19 per cent cases are related to wrongful availment of ITC.