Robust corporate earnings pushed up Direct Tax collections by 19 per cent to Rs 38,759 crore (Rs 387.59 billion) till October this year compared to Rs 32,674 crore (Rs 326.74 billion) during April-October 2003.

Corporate tax surged by over 34 per cent to Rs 20,909 crore (Rs 209.09 billion) till October 2003 from Rs 15,561 crore (Rs 155.61 billion) in the same period last fiscal, official sources said on Thursday.

In October alone, the corporate tax mop up was about Rs 3,374 crore (Rs 33.74 billion).

Income-Tax collections inched up by 5.4 per cent to Rs 17,816 crore (Rs 178.16 billion) till October 2003 from Rs 16,902 crore (Rs 169.02 billion) in the same period last year, they said. Income-Tax collection in October was at Rs 1,905 crore (Rs 19.05 billion).

Direct Tax collection in October was Rs 5,319 crore (Rs 53.19 billion) this year as against Rs 2,917 crore (Rs 29.17 billion) last year.

The direct tax collections till October works out to be 40 per cent of the Rs 95,714 crore (Rs 957.14 billion) estimated in the Budget for the entire fiscal year, officials added.

The gross collections were higher by 23 per cent to Rs 57,391 crore (Rs 573.91 billion) till October this year compared to Rs 46,652 crore (Rs 466.52 billion) in the same period last year, official sources said Thursday.