Mahendra Singh Dhoni emerged as the highest individual taxpayer across Bihar and Jharkhand during the financial year 2025–26, according to senior Income Tax Department officials. The update came alongside the announcement that the combined tax collection from the two states stood at around ₹20,000 crore.
Officials confirmed that while the total figure reflects strong overall compliance, Dhoni continues to stand out as the leading individual contributor in the region. However, the exact amount of tax paid by the former India captain was not disclosed.
Strong Regional Tax Performance Driven by Jharkhand
Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (Bihar-Jharkhand) D. Sudhakara Rao stated that Jharkhand alone contributed approximately ₹12,000 crore to the total collection, while Bihar accounted for the remainder. He noted that nearly 70% of the overall revenue came through Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), reflecting the dominance of salaried income, corporate earnings, and structured compliance in the system.
Jharkhand’s higher share was attributed to its strong industrial and mining base, which continues to play a key role in regional tax generation.
Dhoni’s Consistent Position Among Top Taxpayers
Based in Ranchi, Dhoni remains one of India’s most prominent celebrity taxpayers. His income streams include earnings from cricket, brand endorsements, investments, and business ventures, keeping him consistently among the country’s top individual taxpayers year after year.
Officials reiterated that his position as the highest taxpayer in Bihar and Jharkhand highlights the scale of his financial footprint in the region.
Corporate Sector Contribution Led by Mining PSUs
On the corporate side, public sector mining entities such as Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), and CMPDI were identified as major contributors to tax revenue.
Officials also noted that mining activity was partially affected in the previous financial year due to heavy rainfall, which had some impact on collections from the sector.
Large Tax Base but Low Filing Ratio
The department highlighted a significant gap between registered PAN holders and active tax filers. Bihar and Jharkhand together have around 5.5 crore PAN card holders, but only about 40 lakh individuals file income tax returns. This points to considerable potential for expanding the tax base and improving compliance.
Outlook and New Income Tax Framework
Despite sectoral fluctuations, officials expect the combined tax collection to remain strong and potentially exceed ₹20,000 crore in the current financial year as well.
The announcement was made alongside discussions on the new Income Tax Act, 2025, which will replace the 1961 legislation from April 1. Officials said the new law is aimed at simplifying tax compliance through clearer language and a more streamlined structure without altering core policy principles.
The department also plans extensive outreach programmes across Bihar and Jharkhand to help taxpayers, banks, and public sector organisations adapt to the new framework.
