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 sales taxes, and administration of commercial taxes, excise, and registration laws in Kerala. The Taxes Department is one of the three major revenue-collecting departments of the Government of Kerala.
Leadership The department is headed by Cabinet Ministers of the Government of Kerala, and the incumbent Minister for Commercial Taxes and Lotteries is V. D. Satheesan, the Minister for Excise is M.Liju, and the Minister for Registration is O. J. Janeesh.
The Taxes department is administratively headed by an Additional Chief Secretary to Government (Taxes), an IAS officer. The current Secretary to Government is K.R. Jyothilal IAS.
The respective line departments are headed by the Commissioner of State GST, the Excise Commissioner, Inspector General of Registration, and the Director of State Lotteries. + Heads of Departments (HODs) Designation Incumbent Ref. Excise Commissioner Seeram Sambasiva Rao I.A.S State GST Commissioner P.B. Nooh I.A.S Director of State Lotteries Inbasekar K. I.A.S. Inspector General of Registration Meera.K I.A.S
Sub-divisions
Agricultural Income Tax and Sales Tax Department of Commercial Taxes (Commissionarate of State Goods and Services Tax) Goods and Services Tax (GST) Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 Sales Tax both Central and State Excise Excise Department Abkari Act Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act (NDPS) Prohibition Act BEVCO Kuries and Chitties and Money Lending Kerala State Financial Enterprises Limited Money Lender’s Act Non-banking finance companies Lotteries State Lotteries Department Registration Registration Department Indian Registation Act Stamps Indian Stamps Act Kerala Stamps Act Stamp Depot Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act Transfer of Property Act
Functions The department is primarily responsible for the assessment, collection, and enforcement of various state taxes including Goods and Services Tax (State GST), agricultural income tax, luxury tax, and excise duties. It also coordinates with other state and central agencies for effective tax administration and revenue monitoring. The department is responsible for administrative supervision of the line departments.
The Department of Taxes is responsible for the enforcement of the following Acts in the State of Kerala:
Agricultural Income Tax Act Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 Abkari Act Goods and Services Tax Act Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act Medicinal and Toilet Preparations (Excise Duties) Act Prohibition Act Money Lenders Act 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: Kerala State Goods and Services Tax Department Kerala Excise Department Kerala State Beverages Corporation Kerala State Lottery Department Registration Department, Kerala
List of Ministers
Commercial Taxes, Agricultural Income Tax and Lotteries
K. Sankaranarayanan (2001-2004) Vakkom Purushothaman (2004-2006) T. M. Thomas Isaac (2006-2011) K. M. Mani (2011-2015) Oommen Chandy (2015-2016) T. M. Thomas Isaac (2016-2021) K. N. Balagopal (2021-2026) V. D. Satheesan (2026- Incumbent)
Registation
T. M. Jacob (18-05-2011 — 30-10-2011) Anoop Jacob (2012-2016) G. Sudhakaran (2016-2021) Kadannappalli Ramachandran (2021-2026) O. J. Janeesh (2026- Incumbent)
Excise K. Sankaranarayanan (26-05-2001 - 11-02-2004 K.V. Thomas (11-02-2004 - 29-08-2004) Vakkom .B. Purushothaman Babu Divakaran (2004-2006) P. K. Gurudasan (2006-2011) K. Babu (2011-2016) T. P. Ramakrishnan (2016-2021) M. V. Govindan (2021-2022) M. B. Rajesh (2021-2026) M. Liju (2026- Continues)
See also Department of Finance (Kerala) Department of Revenue (Kerala) Government of Kerala Economy of Kerala
References
External links Official website of the Department of Taxes, Kerala Official website of the Government of Kerala