India's central tax collections decline in August 2026 as direct tax receipts fall sharply

Key facts

• Major central tax receipts slipped in August 2026, driving an almost 15 per cent decline in total tax collections compared to the same month last year.
• In August 2026, corporation tax fell by 20 per cent, personal income tax by 37 per cent, and Union excise duty by 21 per cent.
• Central goods and services tax (CGST) rose by 13 per cent and Customs duty collections inched up by 1.5 per cent in August 2026.
• In cumulative collections for April-August of FY 2026-27, central tax collections rose 6.5 per cent, trailing the 9 per cent Budget target, with only Union excise duty receipts falling, down 22.5 per cent due to cuts in petroleum rates.