Former India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been identified as the top individual taxpayer across Bihar and Jharkhand for the last financial year. This announcement came from Dr. D Sudhakara Rao, Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax for Bihar and Jharkhand, during a press briefing in Ranchi on May 7.
Dr. Rao also revealed that the Income Tax Department successfully collected around Rs 20,000 crore from the two states during the 2025-26 financial year. Notably, approximately Rs 12,000 crore of this total was contributed by Jharkhand alone. A significant portion, nearly 70 percent of the total collection, was received through tax deduction at source (TDS).
While Dhoni's specific tax returns were not disclosed, officials mentioned that major corporate taxpayers included Central Coalfields Limited, Bharat Coking Coal Limited, and CMPDI. Dr. Rao acknowledged that heavy rains during the previous fiscal year had impacted mining activities, which in turn affected revenue collections. Despite this, the department expressed optimism about surpassing the Rs 20,000 crore mark in tax collection for the current financial year.
Further insights into the region's tax landscape indicated that Bihar and Jharkhand collectively have about 5.5 crore PAN card holders. However, only 40 lakh of these individuals currently file their income tax returns, highlighting a significant gap between potential and actual compliance.
In a related development, Dr. Rao chaired a meeting with over 100 Income Tax officers from Bihar and Jharkhand regarding the new Income Tax Act, 2025. This new legislation, effective from April 1, is set to replace the six-decade-old Income Tax Act, 1961. The Principal Chief Commissioner emphasized that the new Act aims for greater clarity and ease of compliance through simplified language and a streamlined structure, without altering underlying tax policies. Extensive outreach programs are planned to educate bankers, PSUs, and other stakeholders on the new tax law's details.