Net direct tax mop-up jumps 16% to Rs 6.5 lakh crore

India's net direct tax collections rose 16% year-on-year to Rs 6.5 lakh crore in the April-July 13 period, led by a 22% jump in corporate tax to Rs 2.40 lakh crore and 11.7% growth in non-corporate taxes to Rs 3.85 lakh crore. Securities transaction tax stood at Rs 26,429 crore, while gross collections rose 16.1% to Rs 7.74 lakh crore with refunds of Rs 1.22 lakh crore issued. Experts said the numbers indicate robust tax collections and signal healthy revenue growth in FY27, providing fiscal headroom for the government, which has budgeted Rs 26.97 lakh crore in direct taxes this fiscal.