Assam Finance Minister Prioritizes Tax Base Expansion and Technology-Driven Revenue Mobilization Ahead of State Budget

Ahead of presenting his first state budget, Assam’s newly appointed Finance Minister, Jayanta Mallabaruah, chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the Commissionerate of Taxes at Kar Bhawan in Guwahati to evaluate departmental performance and outline strategies for revenue generation. Pointing out that Assam’s current taxpayer-to-population ratio remains below the national average, Mallabaruah stressed the critical importance of expanding the tax base and bringing more eligible individuals and entities into the tax net. The Minister emphasized that the state must aggressively boost its revenue mobilization without imposing any additional tax burdens on already compliant, honest taxpayers and local businesses. To support this growth, he directed the department to accelerate data-driven analysis to identify compliance gaps, closely monitor sectors showing unusual reporting trends, and systematically eliminate revenue leakages and fraudulent practices.

Central to the new fiscal strategy is the deep integration of advanced technological solutions to modernize Assam’s tax administration with minimal human intervention. The meeting focused on adopting systems for better real-time tracking of goods movement and deploying sophisticated digital tools to increase internal efficiency, transparency, and structural accountability. Mallabaruah later extended these discussions into interactive sessions with key regional stakeholders, including the Tax Bar Association, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), and various transport bodies, to address procedural challenges and gather practical feedback on the taxation ecosystem. With the first budget session of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly scheduled to commence on July 6, the state government has reaffirmed its commitment to establishing a highly transparent, technology-enabled, and taxpayer-friendly environment conducive to long-term economic growth.