Not feasible to reduce fuel tax, says Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan

“Tamil Nadu levies ad valorem taxes after union govt levies the taxes and the reduction in fuel taxes by Rs 5 on petrol and Rs 10 for diesel has resulted in a loss of Rs 1,050 crore for the state govt per annum as the state govt has to reduce the tax by further Rs 0.65 per liter of petrol and Rs 1.1 per liter of diesel. While the union govt continues to levy exorbitant rates of taxes it is neither fair nor feasible for the state govt to further reduce taxes”, said the Finance Minister, in a statement.

After the center reduced the tax on fuel, the state govts were also asked to reduce the tax on fuel for which some BJP ruling states responded but as far as Tamil Nadu was concerned there was no major change in the tax structure for which there were criticisms from opposition parties.

The Finance Minister replied that since 2014 center has continuously increased the tax despite opposition.