Additional Commissioner (sales tax) Ranjandas Jadhav who heads the Pune division told mediapersons here today that the department stands to recover sales tax and other arrears of about Rs 200 crore pending since the last 15 years. Over 9000 cases are presently in appeal making it difficult for the department to recover these pending dues.

Describing the scheme as a golden opportunity for dealers to clear their tax arrears, Jadhav explained that the scheme was applicable to all registered dealers as well as unregistered dealers with the aim of clearing their sales and other tax arrears. The scope of the scheme would cover assessment orders passed prior to April 1, 1998, appeal orders passed prior to May 1, 1999 and would be applied in two phases - June 1, 1999 to July 31, 1999 and from August 1, 1999 to September 30, 1999. Payement is required to be made either under the first phase or the second phase.

Under the first phase, if the dealer pays 50 per cent of the outstanding tax and 10 per cent of the interest or penalties, the balance will be waived. During the second phase, the dealers pay 60 per cent of the outstanding tax and 20 per cent of the interest or penalties and the balance will be waived. The department has promised a 100 per cent waiver of the post-assessment interest or penalty. Jadhav hopes to collect around Rs 50 crore in the first phase of the scheme.