Advance tax: SBI, ICICI see sharp fall; LIC, RIL pay more

Mumbai: Traditionally big taxpayers like large banks failed to cheer taxmen with their second quarter advance tax payouts, but others including steel and cement companies have done comparatively better, helping the department remain hopeful of meeting the annual target.

"Tax collection from the city is rising, despite adverse business situation and below-par performance by several important sectors like banks," principal chief income tax commissioner of Mumbai D S Saksena told PTI Thursday. "Mop-up is rising and is likely to improve further going ahead."

Saddled with high bad loans and resultant spike in provisions, largest lender State Bank of India has paid an advance tax of only Rs 1,200 crore for the second quarter, down from Rs 1,620 crore in the year-ago period, showing a fall of 26 percent, department sources said.

Similarly, largest private sector lender ICICI Bank too paid 20 percent less tax at Rs 1,200 crore. In the September tranche last year, it had paid Rs 1,500 crore.

But insurance behemoth LIC's tax payment has risen 13 percent to Rs 2,235 crore from Rs 1,970 crore a year ago.

Reliance Industries paid 27 percent more at Rs 2,667 crore. In the second quarter last fiscal, it had paid Rs 2,108 crore in advance taxes.

Software major TCS has paid 11 percent less at Rs 1,550 crore from Rs 1,750 crore a year ago.

Private sector banks like HDFC Bank and Yes Bank have done better. While HDFC Bank has paid Rs 2,400 crore, 20 percent over Rs 2,000 crore a year ago, mortgage lender HDFC paid an advance tax of Rs 860 crore, against Rs 810 crore year ago.

Mid-sized private sector lender Yes Bank too has paid higher amount at Rs 435 crore, which is up 40 percent.

Foreign lender Citibank is learnt to have paid Rs 700 crore, down 3 percent from Rs 720 crore last year.