DW BUREAU / Chandigarh The gross GST revenue collection for Punjab stands at Rs 987.20 crore during the month of August, 2020 against Rs 1014.03 crore for the corresponding period of last year thereby registering a decline of 2.64 per cent. Notably, the taxpayers had been provided relief in the furnishing of returns for the previous months due to COVID-19. Further, taxpayers with turnover less than Rs. 5 crore in the previous year continue to enjoy relaxation in furnishing of returns till September, 2020. According to a spokesperson of Punjab Taxation Commissioner's Office, the gross GST revenue collection for Punjab for the period April to August, 2020 stands at Rs 3630.48 crore in comparison to Rs 5266.06 crore for the similar period of last year thereby denoting a fall of 31.05 per cent. Pointing out further, the spokesperson said that the protected revenue for the month of August, 2020 is Rs. 2403 crore against which the State has collected and received Rs. 987.20 crore that corresponds to approximately 41.08% of the protected revenue. Thus, for the month of August 2020 the amount of compensation due is Rs. 1415.8 crore which is awaited. Further, the amount of compensation due for the period April to July, 2020 is Rs.6965 crore which is also awaited. The Spokesperson further said that the National Gross GST revenue collection during the month of August, 2020 is Rs. 86,449 crore of which CGST is Rs. 15,906 crore, SGST is Rs. 21,064 crore, IGST is Rs. 42,264 crore (including Rs. 19,179 crore collected on import of goods) and Cess is Rs. 7,215 crore (including ?673 crore collected on import of goods) whereas the National Gross GST revenue collection during the month of August, 2019 stood at Rs.98,202 crore of which CGST was Rs.17,733 crore, SGST was Rs.24,239 crore, IGST was Rs. 48,958 crore (including Rs. 24,818 crore collected on imports) and Cess was Rs. 7,273 crore (including Rs. 841 crore collected on imports). The National Gross GST revenue collection during the month of August, 2020 is 88% of that collected in the same month last year. Further, the National Gross GST revenue collection from import of goods as well as from domestic transactions (including import of services) stands at 77 pc and 92 pc respectively of the figures for the same month last year. (editor@dailyworld.in)