The Centre’s direct tax collections, after refunds, grew 15.9% year-on-year to Rs 16.9 lakh crore till January 12 in the current financial year, data released by the finance ministry showed on Monday.

The growth in mop-up so far surpassed the direct tax collection growth pegged in the Budget, at 12.8%, mainly due to sharper net non-corporate tax (mainly personal income tax) collections.

As on January 12, the mop-up from net non-corporate taxes stood at over Rs 8.74 lakh crore, up 21.6% year-on-year, and net corporate tax collections were around Rs 7.68 lakh crore, up 8.2% on year.

The Budget had presumed personal income tax collections to grow 14% on year, and corporate tax to grow by 12%.