• By Kamakshi Bishnoi
  • Mon, 24 Mar 2025 11:48 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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The government has introduced the 'Amnesty' scheme to provide relief to traders, allowing them to clear dues by paying only the basic tax while receiving a full waiver on penalties and interest.

Moradabad has benefitted the most from this scheme, followed by Gorakhpur in second place, Varanasi Second Zone in third, Ayodhya in fourth, and Lucknow First Zone in fifth. Traders who failed to pay taxes between July 1, 2017, and March 31, 2020, are now leveraging this opportunity. 

The State Tax Department (SGST) operates across 20 zones in Uttar Pradesh, with 3,788 traders from Moradabad, 3,356 from Gorakhpur, 3,139 from Varanasi II, and 2,800 from Ayodhya availing the scheme’s benefits.

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Statewide, around 1.92 lakh traders are eligible, with outstanding tax dues amounting to Rs 7,770 crore. In Purvanchal alone, nearly 19,000 traders owe Rs 1,072.95 crore, comprising Rs 521.38 crore in tax and Rs 551.57 crore in interest and penalties.

According to Mithilesh Kumar Shukla, Additional Commissioner (Grade-1) of Varanasi State Tax Department, 9,985 traders in Varanasi II Zone qualify for the scheme. By paying just Rs 275.10 crore, they can receive relief from Rs 319.08 crore in interest and penalties. 

So far, 3,139 traders have benefited, saving Rs 19.86 crore by settling Rs 25.49 crore in taxes, including Rs 12.76 crore in interest and Rs 7.10 crore in penalties.

Varanasi’s State Tax Department operates two zones:

-Varanasi First Zone: Covers city blocks 1 to 17, along with Ghazipur and Chandauli districts.

-Varanasi Second Zone: Includes city blocks 18 to 21 (Varunapar) and Azamgarh, Ballia, Mau, Jaunpur, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, and Sonbhadra districts.

Additional Commissioner Mithilesh Kumar urged eligible traders to apply online before March 31, 2025, to take advantage of the scheme.

Top 11 Zones Benefiting from the Amnesty Scheme:

  1. Moradabad – 3,788 traders

  2. Gorakhpur – 3,356 traders

  3. Varanasi II – 3,139 traders

  4. Ayodhya – 2,800 traders

  5. Lucknow First – 2,738 traders

  6. Bareilly – 2,689 traders

  7. Meerut – 2,664 traders

  8. Saharanpur – 2,407 traders

  9. Lucknow Second – 2,299 traders

  10. Noida – 2,042 traders

  11. Varanasi First – 1,951 traders