The total Goods and Services Tax collection fell for the second straight month in February to Rs 85,174 crore, the Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday. Around 59.51 lakh assesses – 69% of total taxpayers – filed their returns.

The total Central GST collection in February was Rs 14,945 crore while Rs 20,456 crore was collected as State GST revenue. Rs 42,256 crore was received as Integrated GST, the government said. Under the GST compensation cess, Rs 7,317 crore was collected.

An amount of Rs 25,564 crore will be transferred from IGST to CGST/SGST. “Thus, the total collection of CGST and SGST up to 26th March [for the month of February] is Rs 27,085 crores and Rs 33,880 crore respectively, including transfers by way of settlement,” the statement added.

Goods and Services Tax collections were over Rs 83,000 crore in November, over Rs 88,000 crore in December and Rs 86,318 crore in January.