NEW DELHI: The number of new income-tax filers increased nearly a crore in 2017-18, taking the total income tax returns filed to 6.84 crore, up 26% from 5.43 crore in the previous year. The higher filings allowed the government to meet the direct tax collections target for the financial year and almost reach the slightly higher revised numbers for the year.“The increase in total returns filed and new returns filed during FY 2017-18 is a result of sustained efforts made by the Income Tax Department in following up with potential non-filers through email, SMS, statutory notices, outreach programmes, etc. as well as through structural changes made in law and the government’s emphasis on widening of tax net,” the Central Board of Direct Taxes ( CBDT ) said in a statement.The number of new income tax filers increased 99.49 lakh in 2017-18, 16.3% more than 85.52 lakh added in the previous fiscal.“There has been a sustained increase in the number of ITRs filed in the last four financial years. As compared to 3.79 crore ITRs filed in FY 2013-14, the number of ITRs filed during FY 2017-18 (6.84 crore) has increased by 80.5%,” the statement said. The number of e-filings increased to 6.75 crore during the fiscal, up from 5.28 crore in the year before.The provisional numbers released by CBDT showed net direct tax collections at Rs 9.95 lakh crore, 17.1% more than the net collections for 2016-17. The total net collections are 101.5% of the budget estimate of Rs 9.8 lakh crore and 99% of the revised Rs 10.05 lakh crore estimated in the February 1 budget presented by finance minister Arun Jaitley.Gross collections before refunds rose 13% to Rs 11.44 lakh crore. Refunds amounting to Rs 1.49 lakh crore were issued during 2017-18.Net corporate income tax collection rose 17.1% and 18.9% for personal income tax, including STT . The provisional numbers are subject to change."The impact of demonetisation and GST implementation has resulted into higher formalisation of economy. This is further substantiated by filing of more than 1 crore IT returns by tax payers during FY 2017-18 (6.84 Cr ITRs) in comparison to FY 2016-17 (5.43 Cr ITRs)," Jaitley said in a tweet on Tuesday.The minister said direct tax collections for FY 17-18 had crossed Rs 10 lakh crore, 18% higher than previous year."The data reveals the efficiency of tax Dept.& rise in no. of honest tax payers. This historical revenue receipt is a factual testimony of accountable governance under PM Narendra Modi," he said.According to a Central Board Direct Tax official about 9 lakh companies had filed returns this year as against 7 lakh earlier even though government had cancelled registration of 2 lakh shell companies.