New Delhi, Aug. 13 -- India's gross direct tax collection fell to Rs.7,98,822 crore in the current financial year up to August 11 from Rs.8,14,048 crore in the same period last financial year, registering a contraction of 1.87% because of higher refunds to corporate assesses and lower collections from individual taxpayers, according to government data. Overall refunds to taxpayers (both corporate and individual assesses) jumped by nearly 10% to Rs.1,34,948 crore in 2025-26 (from April 1 to August 11) as compared to Rs.1,22,895 crore in the same period of financial year 2024-25, contributing to a year-on-year fall in net direct tax revenue. Net direct tax collections after refunds in FY26 (as on August 11) fell by 3.95% to Rs.6,63,874 crore as compared to Rs.6,91,153 net revenue up to August 11 of FY25, the data showed. Refunds to corporate taxpayers surged over 21.24% to Rs.1,03,863 crore in the current period (FY26 up to August 11) as compared to Rs.85,664 crore in the same period of FY25. In comparison to that, refunds to non-corporate taxpayers (mainly comprising individuals) saw a contraction....