Direct tax collections during the first nine-and-a-half months of the current fiscal have risen by 18.7% to Rs 6.89 lakh crore, the tax department said on Wednesday.The collections till January 15, 2018 represent over 70% of the Rs 9.8-lakh-crore revenue target from direct taxes, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said in a statement.Gross collections (before adjusting for refunds) have increased by 13.5% to Rs 8.11 lakh crore during April, 2017 to January 15, 2018. Refunds amounting to Rs 1.22 lakh crore have been issued during this period.

Source - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com