Aspireitacademy at 15:48, 21 April 2026

2026-04-21T15:48:12Z

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{{Short description|Revenue department of Kerala state, India}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2025}}

{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name = Department of Taxes
| logo = Government of Kerala Logo.svg
| logo_width = 120px
| logo_caption = Emblem of Kerala
| jurisdiction = [[Kerala]]
| headquarters = [[Thiruvananthapuram]], Kerala, India
| minister1_name = [[K. N. Balagopal]]
| minister1_pfo = Minister for Finance
| minister2_name = [[Kadannappalli Ramachandran]]
| minister2_pfo = Minister for Registration
| minister3_name = [[M.B. Rajesh]]
| minister3_pfo = Minister for Excise
| chief1_name = K.R. Jyothilal [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]]
| chief1_position = Additional Chief Secretary (Finance & Taxes)
| parent_agency = [[Government of Kerala]]
| child2_agency = [[Kerala Excise]]
| child3_agency = Kerala State Lotteries Department
| child12_agency = Kerala State GST Department
| website = [https://keralataxes.gov.in/ Department of Taxes]
}}

The '''Department of Taxes''' is one of the administrative departments of the [[Government of Kerala]]. It is responsible for the formulation and implementation of tax policies, collection of state taxes, and administration of tax laws in [[Kerala]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2025-11-03 |title=State GST department launches GST registration drive in Kerala |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/state-gst-department-launches-gst-registration-drive-in-kerala/article70236645.ece |access-date=2025-11-13 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Leadership ==
The department is headed by Minister of Finance, and incumbent minister is [[K. N. Balagopal]]. The department is administratively headed by an [[Additional Chief Secretary|Additional Chief Secretary to Government]] (Taxes), an [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]] officer. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Council of Ministers {{!}} I&PRD : Official Website of Information Public Relations Department of Kerala |url=https://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/en/council-of-ministers |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=www.prd.kerala.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Department of Treasuries, Kerala |url=https://portal.treasury.kerala.gov.in/home/ |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=portal.treasury.kerala.gov.in}}</ref> The current Secretary to Government is K.R. Jyothilal IAS.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kerala Government reshuffle IAS officers: KR Jyothilal appointed Additional Chief Secretary of Finance Department |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=1529717&u= |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=keralakaumudi.com}}</ref>

The respective line departments are headed by the Commissioner of State GST, the Excise Commissioner, and the Director of State Lotteries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kerala Excise |url=https://keralaexcise.gov.in/en/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250430031356/https://keralaexcise.gov.in/en/ |archive-date=2025-04-30 |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=keralaexcise.gov.in |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Functions ==
The department is primarily responsible for the assessment, collection, and enforcement of various state taxes including [[Goods and Services Tax (India)|Goods and Services Tax]] (State GST), agricultural income tax, [[luxury tax]], and [[Excise|excise duties]]. It also coordinates with other state and central agencies for effective tax administration and revenue monitoring.<ref name="policy">{{cite web |url=https://keralataxes.gov.in/ |title=Department of Taxes |publisher=Government of Kerala |access-date=13 November 2025}}</ref> The department is responsible for administrative supervision of the line departments.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://keralataxes.gov.in/2017/08/03/about-the-department/ |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=keralataxes.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rules of Business of the Government of Kerala – Part II, First Schedule |url=https://gad.kerala.gov.in/sites/default/files/general_attachment/Rules%20of%20Business%20-%20Part%20II.pdf |publisher=General Administration Department, Government of Kerala |access-date=13 November 2025}}</ref>

The Department of Taxes is responsible for the enforcement of the following Acts in the State of Kerala:<ref>{{cite web |title=Rules of Business of the Government of Kerala – Part II, First Schedule |url=https://gad.kerala.gov.in/sites/default/files/general_attachment/Rules%20of%20Business%20-%20Part%20II.pdf |publisher=General Administration Department, Government of Kerala |access-date=13 November 2025}}</ref>

* Agricultural Income Tax Act
* Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985
* Abkari Act
* [[Goods and Services Tax (India)|Goods and Services Tax Act]]
* [[Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985|Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act]]
* Medicinal and Toilet Preparations (Excise Duties) Act
* Prohibition Act
* Money Lenders Act
* [[The Indian Partnership Act, 1932|Indian Partnership Act]]
* Non-Trading Companies Act
* Indian Registration Act
* Indian Stamps Act
* Kerala Stamp Act
* Transfer of Property Act
* Travancore–Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act

== Sub-departments ==
The following offices and organisations function under the administrative control of the Department of Taxes:<ref name="policy" />
* [https://keralataxes.gov.in/ Kerala State Goods and Services Tax Department]
* [[Kerala Excise|Kerala Excise Department]]
* [[Kerala State Beverages Corporation]]
* [https://www.statelottery.kerala.gov.in/ Kerala State Lottery Department]
* [https://registration.kerala.gov.in/en/home/ Registration Department, Kerala]

== See also ==
* [[Department of Finance (Kerala)]]
* [[Department of Revenue (Kerala)]]
* [[Government of Kerala]]
* [[Economy of Kerala]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://keralataxes.gov.in/ Official website of the Department of Taxes, Kerala]
* [https://kerala.gov.in/ Official website of the Government of Kerala]

[[Category:Government departments of Kerala]]

Department of Taxes (Kerala) - Revision history

Aspireitacademy at 15:48, 21 April 2026