India’s net direct tax collections declined 3.95% year-on-year to Rs 6.64 trillion in the period from April 1 to August 11, data from the Income Tax Department showed on Tuesday. This decline was largely due to a rise in tax refunds issued during the period. Meanwhile, on a gross basis, before accounting for refunds, direct tax collections stood at Rs 7.99 lakh crore—a 1.87% drop from Rs 8.14 lakh crore collected during the same period last year.